Judicial Leaders Declare Court 'Emergency'

ATLANTA (AP) -- The leaders of Atlanta's judicial system warned
that cuts of up to $55 million could force them to shut down the
courthouse, review capital cases to see if they are financially
feasible and shed as many as 1,000 jobs.

Chief Fulton County Superior Court Judge Doris Downs called the
cuts proposed by the Fulton County Commission a surprise. She and District Attorney Paul Howard, along with other county leaders, signed a resolution declaring it an "economic state of
emergency."

Downs said the cuts amount to about a fourth of the judiciary's
budget and would lead to drastic changes for the Fulton County Jail as well as prosecutors, judges and defense attorneys.

She said "this is not something you can adjust to. This is
going to dismantle the justice system."