The Haines District Court has become another casualty of statewide budget cuts.
Beginning July 1, all Alaska courts will close at noon Friday to reduce the department’s operating costs. Until then, courts will remain open until the usual 4:30 p.m. closing time on Fridays.
Court staff will be furloughed during the Friday closures, and the state expects to save about $2 million annually as a result of the reduction in staff hours.
The Haines court has two employees: magistrate John Hutchins and court clerk Bonnie Hedrick. Hedrick works 30 hours per week and won’t be affected by the closure, but Hutchins will take a pay cut.
A tight state budget already impacted courts in the current fiscal year, with mandatory “days without pay” instituted throughout the year, including after Christmas and Thanksgiving.
For emergency proceedings that need to take place on a Friday afternoon, such as filing a domestic violence or stalking protective order, complainants can call the police at 766-2121 or the Juneau court at 463-4715.
The closures aren’t likely to be reversed, Hedrick said, as the state is expecting to make further financial cuts to the courts next year.
“Unless there is some more money, I don’t see them restoring (hours),” she said.