California's Judicial Council held an emergency meeting in Sacramento to discuss the Governor's plan to cut $544 million to the court system. The money would come from trial court reserve funds, delaying court construction, and increasing the share employees pay for retirement. MaryAnn O'Malley is a Superior Court Judge in Contra Costa County. She says tapping into reserves is a bad idea.
O'Malley: "Courts who have been very responsible and who have made their cutbacks and really tried to operationalize these cuts, plus have a savings to get ready for these cuts basically they will feel they're being punished."
The Governor's Finance Director Ana Matosantos says the cuts are necessary.
Matosantos:"Maintaining local reserves is a lower priority in light of the state's fiscal challenges."
