Monday, May 21, 2012

Four remaining court closures have been canceled after lawmakers approved enough funding to keep doors open.

Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss said Monday that the four remaining days of statewide court closures and court employees' unpaid furloughs have been cancelled, including two days that were scheduled this Thursday and Friday. Two additional statewide court shutdowns were scheduled for June 7-8.

Legislators approved $1.1 million in additional funding for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Courts previously were closed statewide and court employees sent home without pay on April 13.

About 1,590 people are employed in state courts across 105 Kansas counties.

Nuss said that the last few months have been extremely challenging for the entire Judicial Branch of Government, as well as for Kansans accessing their justice system.