The Kansas Supreme Court created a plan ordering Kansas courts to be closed four Fridays in April and May.
This includes the Butler County District Court, which will be closed April 9, 16 and 23 and May 7.
On those days, nonjudicial staff will be on involuntary unpaid leave. This includes all offices of the Clerks of the District Court, court services officers, the Office of the Clerk of the Appellate Courts, the Reporter of Decisions, the Supreme Court Law Library, the Office of Judicial Administration, the Office of Disciplinary Administrator, the Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program, The Kansas Continuing Legal Education Commission and any other offices staffed by Kansas Judicial Branch personnel.
In addition, employees who are less than full time will be placed on involuntary unpaid leave for 20 percent of the hours in their normal work week for each day of unpaid leave imposed on full-time employees.
The chief judge of any district court may realign the remaining work days of such employees to accommodate court closures, according to the bill.
During the closures, there are a few select cases which may be heard.
In addition, the clerks of the district court may be closed to the public for additional time periods to allow staff uninterrupted time in which to process the backlogs resulting from the closures.
These cuts are part of the state's efforts to meet the challenges caused by the economic problems.
On March 5, courts were notified Gov. Mark Parkinson signed a House Bill that included a $5 million supplemental appropriation to the Kansas Judicial Branch budget for this fiscal year. This helped to offset the up to 30 furlough days originally proposed.
These furloughs also have been offset by other cost-savings efforts, including a hiring freeze since December 2008. Other efforts included the elimination of temporary hours, restrictions on travel and application for, and receipt of, approximately $800,000 in federal stimulus funds through a grant program.
