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Despite the somber news Thursday that 105 judicial branch employees will be laid-off and 100 vacant staff positions will be reduced state-wide, Marion County in District 5 received fewer blows than other counties. Marion County Clerk of Court Carol Sage tells KNIA/KRLS News one part-time worker is being laid off, and one other employee has a reduction in hours. She says this will be have a significant negative impact on the clerk of court office, as remaining employees have to juggle their daily demands with new tasks. That means the 21 other lay-offs and 16 vacant positions eliminated in District 5 will be in the district’s 15 other counties. Still, the state says layoffs and unpaid leave or ‘furlough’ days, the first of which is December 4th, will mean service delays and backlogs for the state-wide judicial system.

Because it’s a separate branch of government, the judicial branch didn’t have to cut 10% in spending as Governor Culver ordered last month. Instead the layoff announcements brings a 7.1% cut to the judiciary.

Chief Justice Marsha Ternus said in a statement, “At 10%, the cost in terms of public service would be enormous, decimating our workforce and crippling our ability to resolve critical cases and provide essential services. As it is, a 7.1% cut requires draconian measures that will result in long delays, gaps in service, and reduced public access to the courts.”