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A stand off between the state’s court system and lawmakers in control of funds is raging. Lawmakers say they told the courts to make room for cuts months ago, Judges say, if they don’t get more help, they’ll shut their doors. As Whitney Ray tells, us the threat of closing the court system has causing concern for court employees.

Regina Lewis never knew how much she needed her job as a court administrative assistant until she opened her email, Wednesday. Lewis, like thousands of others employed by Florida’s court system, were told they may have to take 22 days off as an unpaid vacation. County courts could be closed 58 days.

“It’s a little scary, we’ve never been through anything like this,” said Lewis.

Judges are threatening to shut down the state’s judicial system, this spring.
The threat comes as lawmakers are looking for 17 million dollars they asked the courts to not spend back In July.

“The local districts are telling us that they were unaware. That they didn’t realize that they had to do the haul backs. That no one had told them,” said Senator Victor Crist.

Judges say they don’t’ have the money. Making cuts means shutting down the entire judicial branch. While the need is just a small portion of the courts overall budget, Lawmakers are hesitant to look to the rainy day fund to fill the gap. Crist said the economy is too shaky to take the money from the two billion dollar stabilization fund.

“All indicators are showing that there are going to be continued declines in revenue over the next 18 to 24 months. It would be flagrantly and financially irresponsible for us to blow our savings until we find out where the bottom is,” said Crist.

If courts are forced to close their doors its possible federal courts could step in and force them to reopen.