Kentucky Judicial System to Have Furlough Days

Judicial employees across Kentucky will have to take unpaid furloughs for three days this year to deal with cuts to the court system's budget. That means courthouses will close statewide on August 6th, September 4th and October 15th. Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. says the judicial system's overall funding appropriation "is far short" of what's necessary to operate the state's courts over the next two years. The court system has reduced employment by 282 people since 2008 because of a shrinking budget. To generate cash, Minton says the judicial system will start charging more for criminal background checks.