Letters: When we can’t afford justice

Re “Budget plan assailed by chief jurist,” Jan. 15

Without law, there is no civilized society. Without courts to apply it, there is no law. California government has underfunded our court system so badly that courts have had to close and court staff have been laid off. Cases have been delayed and access to justice has been cut off.

If California can’t do something as basic as providing us with a functioning legal system, why do we even need a state government?

Mark Leinwand
Agoura Hills

Managing the state budget seems at best to be a matter of damage control. California’s needs are many and there is clearly not enough tax revenue to go around. Stripping our legal system to the bone through unrealistic cutbacks will end up costing everyone.

Taking a matter to court has increasingly become a matter of chance, as overburdened judges deal with increased caseloads and have lost the critical aid of law clerks to assist in researching the arguments put before the court.

Good luck, Gov. Jerry Brown, if you need a matter properly adjudicated. Having right on your side and the best attorney in town guarantee nothing if your judge doesn’t have the time to read the facts.

David Bruck
Granada Hills
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