Framingham Juvenile Court on Closure List

The state's top justices warned Tuesday that budget cuts approved by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Deval Patrick will force them to move ahead with plans to consolidate a dozen courthouses across Massachusetts, including the possible closure of the Framingham Juvenile Court, according to a report on Boston.com

Roderick Ireland, chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, and Robert Mulligan, chief justice for administration and management, said in a statement, the state's trial courts have seen their funding cut by almost 16 percent since the 2009 fiscal year.

The reduction has translated into a loss of more than 1,100 employees, leaving more than 60 percent of courts severely understaffed and threatening to undermine the quality of justice in Massachusetts, the justices said.

They said they've already notified Patrick, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray that the $520 million court budget approved for the fiscal year that began July 1 will force courthouse consolidations, including the possible closure of the  

Other possible closures include Berkshire Juvenile Court, the Charlestown Division of the Boston Municipal Court, New Bedford Housing Court, Norfolk Juvenile Court and district courts in Gloucester, Hingham, Leominster, Brookline, Westborough, Wareham and Westfield.

For additional information, read the full report on Boston.com.