Courts Face Sickout Today

The Los Angeles County Superior Court system’s 380 clerks and judicial assistants have voted to stage a sickout today to protest stalled contract talks with court administrators, union officials said Monday night.

While declining to predict how many clerks will not show up for work, J. Timothy Fives, a spokesman for Local 575 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said a number of courtrooms “will be dark” today because state law requires that a clerk be present when a judge presides.

Fives said that during such job actions, court administrators usually shift available clerks to fill crucial vacancies, especially in criminal courts, where cases must be heard within mandatory time limits.

The sickout could affect criminal, civil, juvenile, family law and probate courts in Downtown Los Angeles and other locations.

Saying they were frustrated with what they saw as deliberate stalling by court administrators, the clerks and judicial assistants voted March 4 to authorize a strike or some other type of work action. The union members have worked without a contract for about two years.

Fives said that pay is not the sole issue, although the clerks would like raises that bring them into line with court reporters and bailiffs.

“What we want is a contract and more respect,” he said.