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California legislature may restore $100 million to court system from surplus funds (Chart)
The Los Angeles Superior Court building in donwtown L.A.
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Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images
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Lawmakers in Sacramento are considering adding $100 million from surplus funds to bolster local courts, which have seen their budgets slashed in recent years.
But the money may come too late for the latest round of court closures across L.A. County. See below for a list of closures set for June 3.
Starting on Monday, eight courthouses – including Pomona's and Whitter's – will close their doors under the Los Angeles County Superior Court consolidation plan. The plan was put into effect about six months ago, when the court system needed to cut $85 million from its budget.
The bill that would distribute $100 million to bolster the courts will need to make its way through the legislative budget process and be approved by the Governor before the money is delivered to local courts.
The funding would come with some requirements for the state's court administrative body, which is responsible for distributing the money.
Court administrators must report to lawmakers every August on how the money will be spent and provide proof of how it was disbursed afterward. In the last few years, there have been accusations that the state's court administrative office has been lax in its record-keeping, and charges that the department has misused funds.
The legislature has a June 15 deadline to submit a budget to Governor Brown. L.A. Superior Court's consolidation plan begins Monday and should be finalized by the end of June.
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Court closures in LA County
Beginning Monday, eight courthouses will close completely: Huntington Park, Kenyon Juvenile, Malibu, Pomona North, San Pedro Courthouse and its annex, West L.A. and Whittier.
Court work at the Beverley Hills and Catalina Island courthouses will significantly reduced.
If you have a criminal, traffic or citation case in any of the courthouses mentioned above, see the chart below to find out where your case will be held. Court case dates will remain the same but the location where the cases are heard will change.
| Whittier Courthouse |
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| Alhambra Courthouse |
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| Beverly Hills Courthouse |
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| Central Arraignment Courthouse |
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| Pomona North Courthouse |
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| East Los Angeles Courthouse |
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| Huntington Park Courthouse |
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| Malibu Courthouse |
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| San Pedro Courthouse |
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| West Los Angeles Courthouse |
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