Ventura County Court Holiday Closures – Starting November 21, 2012

Superior Court of California – County of Ventura announced the court holiday closure schedule starting: November 21, 2012, December 24, 26, 27, 28 and 31, 2012 – Closures 

Pursuant to Government Code §68106, the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, is providing sixty (60) days notice of limited operation days.

The majority of the courtrooms and all of the clerk’s offices will be closed on November 21, 2012, December 24, 26, 27, 28 and 31, 2012 to mitigate the impact of employee furlough days on court operations.

These days are not court holidays, so statutory deadlines will not be extended.  However, drop boxes are currently provided outside each clerical office for filing papers or submitting payments. Documents placed in the boxes by 5:00 p.m. are deemed deposited for filing that same business day. Most cases already calendared for hearing will be rescheduled and the affected parties notified by the court.  An exterior walk-up window on the north side of the Hall of Justice at the Government Center near parking lots A, B and C will be open until 6:45 p.m. and the East County Courthouse walk-up window will be open until 4:45 p.m. for handling criminal/traffic and collections payments only. Limited courtrooms will be open to hear urgent criminal, juvenile, unlawful detainer, and temporary restraining order issues.

These dates were selected to minimize the impact on the public and court staff as court business is generally the slowest during the holiday season.

While the court regrets having to take the above actions, it is required to address the continued reduction in funding to the California court system.  For the 2012-13 fiscal year, the Governor and Legislature have approved a reduction of $540 million, which is in addition to the $652 million, in ongoing budget cuts to the judicial branch that have been in place since 2008.  For fiscal year 2012-13, the Ventura Superior Court budget has a structural deficit of $7.2 million remaining after cutting $6 million from its budget through layoffs of 20 court staff, the early separation of 16 court staff, the elimination of 44 vacant positions, reduction of services at the East County Courthouse, and reduction of expenditures for services and supplies.