Court Sets Furlough Days Through 2012

"The Vermont Supreme Court has announced court furlough days stretching into 2012, which it hopes will save the state $1 million and the counties $1.2 million.

"Patricia Gabel, director of Court Improvement and Innovation, said the furlough days will affect all courts except for two that will remain on hand to conduct emergency proceedings related to public safety. She said furlough days have been used since the beginning of the state’s budget crisis, and have included one half-day closing a week.

"With the restructuring of the judiciary, the half-day closings were eliminated last year.

"Not a surprise

"She said the furloughs are not a surprise to court personnel, as the fiscal situation hasn’t changed and the appropriations to the courts didn’t go up. She said the Supreme Court is committed to giving people access to justice, but cases are taking longer to resolve.

"The courts have 'clearance rate' goals for cases, she said. When the budget cuts were put into place no change was seen immediately, and once the courts are funded in full again it will be some time before the rate of clearance comes back into line..."

Read the rest of the story in the Bennington Banner.  For more information about the furlough schedule visit the Vermont Judiciary website.