"Judges vow to shut 11 courts; Decry state’s budget, seek halt in appointments" July 13, 2011|By Michael Levenson and Noah Bierman, Globe Staff
The state’s top judges, angered by budget cuts approved Monday, urged Governor Deval Patrick yesterday to stop appointing new judges and said they have no choice but to close 11 courthouses and lay off employees.
In a strongly worded statement, Roderick L. Ireland, chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, and Robert A. Mulligan, chief justice for administration and management, said the budget Patrick signed jeopardizes the right of every person, guaranteed by the Massachusetts Constitution, to swift justice....
Probation got an increa$e.
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Just who do those judges think they are!
"Judges’ planned closings anger other state officials" July 14, 2011|By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff
If the state’s top judges wanted to draw attention to their budget crisis, they succeeded.
A day after they vowed to close 11 courthouses and urged Governor Deval Patrick to stop appointing judges, it seemed everyone on Beacon Hill was seething.
Lawmakers were furious that courts in their districts had been targeted. Administration officials were incensed that judges wanted the governor to relinquish one of his most solemn constitutional duties.
But the judges stood firm, saying they did what they believe is necessary after losing almost 16 percent of their funding in the last three years, including a $24.2 million cut that Patrick signed into law Monday....
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Also see: Gloucester court’s move could hurt those it serves
