Los Angeles Judge Warns of 300 Lay Offs

Presiding Judge Tim McCoy, of the Los Angeles Superior Court, has said that the court will lay off 300 people or more in March. The court employs more than 5,500 people and will have a $79 million deficit in 2010. McCoy said the deficit is expected to increase to $130 million. McCoy said that unless they receive external help from budget cuts that have been imposed on the courts lay offs will probably be inevitable.

In March 330 employees may be laid off. By June 30th, 485 positions will be lost and in September the court may lay off 500.

Don Mike Anthony, president of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and partner at Hahn & Hahn, wrote a letter to the Judicial Council of California urging the release of approved construction bond money to pay the courts operating costs. This course of action is facing opposition from different groups including the Judicial Council itself.

The first round of layoffs would probably impact temporary and contract workers the most, followed by those employed by the traffic courts.