The state’s Judicial Branch has released its plan to balance its section of the state budget.
Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers said that four courthouses will be closed.
In addition, a juvenile detention center, six law libraries and several offices will be closed.
As unveiled yesterday, the Judicial Branch will lay off 452 employees.
Included in programs that will be eliminated is the drug court program at the state Superior Court in Bridgeport.
The New Haven Juvenile Detention Center will be closed. Its staff will be moved to Bridgeport and Hartford.
Criminal and motor vehicle matters at Norwalk and Derby Superior Courts will be moved and those courts will now open only three days a week under the new plan, for small claims and infraction cases. The Norwalk matters will be sent to Stamford. Derby matters will move to Milford.
Rogers said “as we face unprecedented budget cuts, I fear that our courts will be unable to fulfill the mandate that the Constitution requires and that every resident deserves. Because we have no option but to close and consolidate courts and to lay off 452 employees, these cuts will dramatically change the way the Judicial Branch does business.”
The full proposal can be seen here.