Judge: Budget cuts would hurt courts, too

ALBANY -- New York's chief judge said yesterday that cutting $70 million more from the state's judiciary budget would require additional layoffs and program cuts, though administrators don't immediately know the precise impact. He said they will do their best to keep courthouses open.

The budget deal struck between Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and legislative leaders on Sunday nearly doubled the $100 million that judicial officials already proposed cutting from a $2.7 billion budget. They already planned a hiring freeze with some possible layoffs but would keep the courts open to keep up with rising caseloads.

"At this point it's going to be painful and it's going to require additional layoffs and program cuts," Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman said yesterday.

About 95 percent of court system costs are personnel, and any furlough measures will be subject to collective bargaining, he said.

New York State Bar Association president Steve Younger said he was pleased the budget agreement omitted proposed caps on medical malpractice recoveries, but disappointed by the extra judiciary cuts.

"We're going to try as best we can to keep the courthouses open," Lippman told The Associated Press. -- AP