By The Associated Press/Updated by Eyewitness News (TOPEKA, Kan.)
Kansas courts will close three extra days in April and one in May because of the state's budget problems.
The Supreme Court announced Friday that all court staff - except judges - must take unpaid leaves on April 9, 16 and 23, and May 7. They are all Fridays.
Court employees will still be available to issue warrants and protection-from-abuse orders on furlough days. A law taking effect this week cut judges' salaries by 5 percent for the rest of this fiscal year, which ends June 30.
Justice Lawton Nuss told court employees in a letter that a funding shortfall for the judicial branch led to the furloughs. But Nuss also noted that the Supreme Court had feared it might need to order up to 30 days of furloughs.
Governor Mark Parkinson released the following statement about the decision.
"This is another unfortunate example of how our state budget crisis is affecting real people, including dedicated public servants. The judicial branch plays a critical role in protecting the public safety of Kansans and ensuring citizens receive their right for speedy justice. That's why I continue to hope that the legislature and I can work together to find the necessary revenue that will properly fund these important services and put Kansas back on track."
