Cash-strapped LA County courts to begin layoffs

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles County Superior Court is laying off 329 staff members next month and officials say more than 1,000 others may go in the next two years because of budget cuts.

A memo from Court Executive Officer John Clarke to employees says the first layoffs will begin on April 1.

Clarke says an additional 500 layoffs are planned for September followed by 530 in fall 2011. The court currently has 5,400 employees.

Clarke says civil rather than criminal cases will be hardest hit.

Clark says the court system's budget deficit is expected to reach $140 million by the 2011-12 fiscal year that begins in July.

Presiding Judge Charles McCoy has said he's looking at plans to close up to 180 courtrooms and lay off about a third of the staff.