LOL!!! I wish this would happen nationwide. Kentucky court shuts down due to budget problems

[Zalatix]

If all the courts shut down nationwide, what would be the point of arresting Occupy protesters? Maybe next they can also find ways to cut the police gang budgets, too.

The effing cops and courts only serve the Plutocracy anymore anyway. Or throw women in jail for standing their ground against violent abusers.

http://news.yahoo.com/kentuckys-cash-strapped-courts-shut-temporarily-214945720.html

Kentucky's cash-strapped courts to shut temporarily

(Reuters) - Kentucky's top judge announced plans on Wednesday to temporarily shut down the state's court system to cope with what he characterized as "deep cuts" in the judiciary's budget.

John Minton Jr., the chief justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, said 3,700 workers, including more than 400 judges and circuit court clerks, would be furloughed without pay for three days between August and October, forcing courthouses statewide to close.

Minton, who serves as the administrative head of the state's court system, said it would be the first time since Kentucky overhauled its court system in 1976 that courts would close to save money.

Kentucky joins a long list of states that have imposed cuts on court services in recent years in a bid to balance budgets hurt by the economic downturn, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

[jberryhill]

1. So, for example, you disagree with the OK Supreme Court reversing the abortion ban

Yeah, right, the only thing courts do is bad stuff.

[Zalatix]

2. If there's no court, there's no prosecution

who's going to put a woman in jail for an abortion then?

[jberryhill]

3. The cops

Considering that any person arrested can be held pending arraignment, then if the court is not open, there is no way to get anyone arrested OUT of custody.

[Zalatix]

6. Then the jails will fill up very, very fast.

And as the old 1970s era saying goes, there won't be enough room. That's a QUICK way to collapse the law enforcement system, considering they'll also be trying to arrest pot users, and a whole host of other people who go in and out of the justice system.

By the time funding returns the judges won't even want to bother. I see a lot of them quitting in the face of such backlog.

[jberryhill]

12. And at that point, whomever has the most guns and ammo wins

So, move to Kentucky while it becomes what is apparently your kind of place.

And the easiest way to keep the jails from filling up are simply summary executions.

[Zalatix]

17. "Whomever has the most guns and ammo wins"? Uhhhh that's how it is now.

That's why the cops are sometimes called the world's largest gang.

You might want to ask yourself why Mayor Bloomberg referred to the NYPD as the world's 7th largest army.

[jberryhill]

21. Non-sequitur

Yes, and you'd like them to operate with no judicial restraint whatsoever.

[dixiegrrrrl]

25. Three days...only closed for three days.....not that big of a deal.

Three days from Aug to Oct. says the article.

[obxhead]

34. For the judges it's probably not a very big deal.

For the families of the 3,700 workers that are being furloughed it's probably a very big deal.

I don't see any judges throwing their hands up and saying "no more" after their 3 day golf trip, but in this economy those 3 days may be very painful for the clerks (etc) that keep the machine running.

[Bandit]

30. Isn't it law in most state a person has to be arraigned within a short period of time?

I think three days (72 hours) is the norm...Otherwise they have to let the person go..

[jberryhill]

40. If there's no court, they don't have to let anyone go

Who is going to order a detainee released? Magic fairies?

[BumRushDaShow]

4. And the Kentucky Derby is this Saturday. LOL. n/t

[get the red out]

5. Kentucky spent it's money unwisely

Kentucky still had $46M to give to Ken Ham to help open his Creationist Theme Park to go with the Creation Museum.

I live in fucking OZ.

[Bake]

8. You and me, both, GTRO!

You and me both!



Bake (Louisville)

[get the red out]

10. Lexington resident back at you!

Ever read the "Barefoot and Progressive" blog? Love those guys!

[Bake]

13. I haven't (yet) but I'm going to start!

Thanks for the heads up!



Bake

[CherokeeDem]

19. Another Lexington Resident...

Thanks for the Barefoot and Progressive blog mention...going to check that out!

[dixiegrrrrl]

27. There's a theme park now?????

[get the red out]

39. Yes, unfortunately it's in the works

They did subsidize it. Of course there are cuts to education but this gets money.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/02/gov-beshear-creation-ark-theme-park/

[ChairmanAgnostic]

7. what a silly position to take. Seriously.

It took us a couple of hundred years to move away from honor killings, from feuds, from bloody, deadly battles about water access, sun access to crops, building standards, personal injury, contract dispute, civil sanctions of misbehavior, CRIMINAL sanctions and in their place, create laws in an equitable, fair and effective manner,

Even if we don't yet have it perfect, it is the best that humanity can do over 250 years of hard work, experimentation, compromise, and research. The legal system, with all its warts and troubles, is a modern society's social lubricant. It is geared to preventing problems, it is intended to solve problems, and it provides an outlet to those who have been wronged, in a predictable, effective, and fair manner. Sure it makes mistakes. Sure, there are outrageous decisions and results, but they are a HELL OF A LOT BETTER THAN BLOODSHED. Your idiotic wish would destroy all that.

AND BLITHELY, YOU WANT TO TOSS IT ALL AWAY?

If I weren't so polite today, I might add an insult that would sting.

[left coaster]

11. Are you kidding? Honor killings still happen, and not just outside the U.S.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57409395-504083/honor-killing-under-growing-scrutiny-in-the-u.s/

[marybourg]

14. +1000!

[redqueen]

29. +1

[treestar]

31. +1 million

People without courts would soon appreciate what they do.

[Leftist Agitator]

36. Rofl

Rofl

[Chorophyll]

15. Budget problems at the state level aren't funny.

Kentucky joins a long list of states that have imposed cuts on court services in recent years in a bid to balance budgets hurt by the economic downturn, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Critics of the cuts, including Chief Judge Eric Washington, the head of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, have blasted the money-saving measures, saying they delay access to justice and put the rule of law at risk.

and

Since 2008, Kentucky has laid off nearly 300 court employees and eliminated other programs to cope with budget cuts imposed by the legislature, Minton said.

Oh wait. You're right. Layoffs and the elimination of "other programs" are hilarious.

[Rex]

16. If that were to happen, America would fall apart.

Can you imagine America trying to operate without any kind of active court system? We would fall into chaos. I know you think this is funny, but seriously it is a bad sign of things to come.

[Uncle Joe]

24. From a previous thread, I believe that's what the OP prefers.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002571824

I have learned the horrors of a unified world first hand.

It's bad enough living in the United States and having to share a single nation with the Tea Party and the various Plutocrat minions who want to turn the whole country into a social Darwinistic jungle. It's politically incorrect to want to see these animals wiped out, but I do have a right to wish that I didn't live in the same country as them. I do have a right to wish America would split up so they can take their poisonous beliefs across the border and fuck up their own nation and leave my side of the border alone.

[Rex]

28. I believe the OP is typical for a huge amount of Americans

it is all fun and games, until you need some kind of social service or government assistance...ooops not there anymore. Not so fun or a game anymore; kinda becomes life and death.

[marybourg]

18. This is the most stupid post I've

ever seen on DU. It's so dumb that I can't believe it's serious and I believe it's meant to be tongue-in-cheek.

[Hugabear]

20. What a stupid, stupid, stupid OP

You really think the primary focus of the court system is to arrest and jail Occupy protesters?

Let's say that a couple of Occupy protesters get thrown in jail. If the courts are closed down, that means they cannot get out of jail. So you're okay with them - and many others - sitting in jail just so you can satisfy your hatred of the court system?

Not only that - the court system has many more functions. What about all the single parents who are dependent upon their child support payments? Who do you think processes those - the child support fairy?

What about a woman who is being abused or stalked by an ex, and wants to get a restraining order - where do you think she goes to get that from? But I suppose it's better that she fend for herself so that your hatred of the courts can be fulfilled.

How about a couple who wants to get married - where do you think those marriage licenses are issued?

The ignorance displayed in this OP absolutely floors me.

[cbayer]

22. As someone who has been waiting for three years for a court to hear my case

against an arrogant, negligent 99%'er who caused severe damage to my home which took 6 months to repair, could have cost me my life and caused me to have to spend large amounts of money on housing while my principal residence was being repaired....

I say bullshit.

[DevonRex]

23. You want to do away with cops and courts in the US?

Seriously? That's fucked up.

[craigmatic]

26. Tell it like it is.

[adigal]

33. This seems related to the other thread of the collapse of societies n/t

[drm604]

35. So what are you advocating?

Lawlessness? Unrestrained police forces? Total chaos? A collapse of civilization?

Oh yes, that would make things so much better!

[pinboy3niner]

37. And you know this because Tyler Durden knows this

[NCTraveler]

38. 3700 workers going three days without pay and you celebrate?

Some great people work in the justice system and you rejoice at this.

[Tunkamerica]

41. wow what an ignorant position