Matthew J. Ruff Criminal Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Last month we were informed that due to budget problems most California Courts would be facing mandatory closures twice a month.  Despite a number of protests and concerns about potential problems surrounding criminal speedy trial rights and the requirement that in custody defendants be brought before a judge within 48 hours of their arrest, the closures seem imminent.  The latest in the controversy increased with the release that all employees facing this closure would be without pay for those days, all except the judges who have specific protections that would exempt them from being docked.  This week, the judges announced that they would voluntarily include themselves in the pay deduction along with everyone else.  I would like to say, good job Judges!  This only seems fair in a world already filled with too many injustices for the working class.