Proposed Temecula Courthouse Closure Will Significantly Impact Local Residents, Judges Say

UPDATE: On May 23, the court announced its intention to extend the date of the possible courthouse closure and the public comment period. The possible closure date is still unknown, but it won't happen sooner than July 22, 2013. The public comment period is now updated in the story below.

Nearly 75,000 small claims, traffic, and limited civil cases are filed annually at the Temecula courthouse on County Center Drive.

If the facility closes – which is may very well do this summer – those cases will likely be moved to the already busy Southwest Justice Center in French Valley.

Trouble is, Southwest currently hears a very full calendar of criminal cases.

“The calendars will be even heavier than they already are,” said Riverside County Presiding Judge Mark Cope, who explained that a closure means more criminal trials being sent to Superior Court in downtown Riverside to make way for the civil, traffic and small claims cases.

As for prospective jurors living in Southwest Riverside County, they will have no choice than to make the trek to downtown if they are called to duty.

“It’s not a desirable situation,” Cope said, but explained the issue is a matter of budget – or lack thereof.

“Over the last four to five years, our courts have lost somewhere between $20 million to $40 million in funding, depending on which numbers you look at,” Cope said of the state budget.

He explained the closure is dependent on Governor Jerry Brown’s budget due out next month. In addition to the Temecula facility, Riverside County’s Blythe courthouse is also on the chopping block.

“We’ve had considerably more public feedback on the Blythe closure,” Cope said.

Pursuant to California Rule of Court, anyone interested in commenting on the proposed closures must send remarks to the court in writing or electronically by 5 p.m. on July 19. (Written comments should be directed to the court at P.O Box 1547, Riverside, CA 92502. Electronic correspondence should be sent to webassistance@riverside.courts.ca.gov)

If Riverside County shutters the two facilities, the closures will add to a growing statewide list. In April, the state’s Judicial Council announced the Superior Courts of Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Tehama Counties have issued new notices of closures or reductions.

When Brown released his proposed budget revise earlier this month, Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye issued the following statement:

“I’m disappointed that the Governor’s revised budget proposals provide no more fiscal relief to the courts. Given the state’s current fiscal condition, I had hoped for more effort to help stop the downward spiral of the judicial branch budget. Courts across the state are already closing courthouses, courtrooms, and reducing the hours they serve the public. Without reinvestment in the courts, these terrible impacts will only expand, and the poor and middle class residents who rely on the courts to resolve issues that affect their lives and livelihoods will be adversely affected, as well those businesses still digging out from the effects of the great recession. We need adequate, ongoing funding for the courts that will permit us to reverse the damage caused by five years of budget cuts. …”