The Los Angeles Superior Court has announced that due to deep funding cuts by the state, significant layoffs will be implemented on June 30, 2012, impacting more than 350 court staff and more than 50 courtrooms. 

It is anticipated that more than 50 judicial assistants and 20 courtroom assistants will be laid off by the end of June 2012.  Additionally, more than 60 court reporter positions will be eliminated, with a similar number of full-time positions converted to part time.  As a result, court-employed court reporters will no longer be available for civil trials and will only be available for civil law-and-motion calendars on a part-time basis.  These cuts are in addition to those already implemented by the court in recent years in the form of layoffs and hiring freezes, under staffing the court by more than 1,000 previously existing staff positions. 

As a result of reduced staffing, civil litigants should be prepared to bear additional costs traditionally covered by the court.  For one, litigants should expect to pay for court reporters in civil trials proceeding in Los Angeles Superior Court, as they will no longer be provided at the court’s expense.  

Governor Jerry Brown has proposed additional tax increases, but if the initiative fails to pass in November, an additional $125 million in cuts will be required across California’s trial courts, further impacting the Los Angeles Superior Court. 

© 2012 Perkins Coie LLP