California legislature may restore $100 million to court system from surplus funds (Chart)

By Erika Aguilar

Published May 30, 2013 02:52 PM

Television news broadcasting vans are parked outside of Los Angeles Superior Court where media are reporting from on the first day of trial of Katherine Jackson and Michael’s children against concert promoter AEG Live at Los Angeles Superior Court on April 02, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Jackson heirs reportedly will ask the jury for $40 billion in damages against AEG Live. They blame the company for Dr. Conrad Murray’s ill-fated propofol treatment of the late King of Pop. — The Los Angeles Superior Court building in donwtown L.A.

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.

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	Felony, misdemeanor, traffic and other citations initiated by Whittier Police will be transferred or filed at Bellflower courthouse effective June 3. Other cases and cities filed by any other agency will be transferred or filed at Downey courthouse, effective June 3.

Alhambra Courthouse	Traffic and citation cases will be transferred or filed at the Pasadena courthouse, effective May 13.

Beverly Hills Courthouse	Felony and misdemeanor cases initiated by the L.A. Sheriff’s West Hollywood Division will be transferred and filed at the Van Nuys West courthouse effective June 3. All other felony and misdemeanor cases will be transferred or filed at the Airport courthouse effective June 3.

Central Arraignment Courthouse	Misdemeanor cases will be transferred or filed at the East Los Angeles courthouse, effective June 3. Traffic and citation cases will be transferred or filed at the Metropolitan courthouse, effective June 3.

Pomona North Courthouse	Red light traffic tickets issued in the City of Walnut will be filed at the El Monte courthouse, effective June 3. Traffic tickets and other citations issued by California Highway Patrol will be filed at El Monte courthouse, effective June 3. Felony and misdemeanor cases that are pending will all be transferred to Pomona South courthouse by May 17. No new traffic, felony, misdemeanor or citation cases will be heard or filed at Pomona North, effective June 3. All courtrooms will be closed.

East Los Angeles Courthouse	Traffic and citation cases will be transferred or filed at Metropolitan courthouses, effective May 13. Felony and misdemeanor cases will be transferred or filed at the Metropolitan courthouse, effective June 3.

Huntington Park Courthouse	Traffic and citation cases will be transferred or filed at the Compton courthouse, effective June 3.

Malibu Courthouse	Felony, misdemeanor cases will be transferred or filed to the Van Nuys courthouse, effective June 3. Traffic and citation cases will be transferred or filed at the Santa Monica courthouse, effective June 3.

San Pedro Courthouse	Traffic and citation cases will be transferred or filed at the Long Beach courthouse, effective June 3.

West Los Angeles Courthouse	Traffic and citation cases will be transferred or filed at the Beverly Hills courthouse, effective June 3.