The economic downturn has had an impact on many courts, but due to a combination of factors above and beyond a weak economy, the California courts have been particularly hard hit.

A significant number of employees have been laid off, courthouses have been closed, salaries have been frozen for years, and the remaining workforce has had “furlough days” (translated:  that means your salary was reduced).

So, when in trouble, create a non-profit?

Several prominent lawyers and civic leaders have banded together to form a new group to advocate on behalf of California’s courts.

The private nonprofit Foundation for Democracy and Justice “seeks to increase awareness about the relationship between adequate state funding for the administration of justice – at the state and local level – and the ability to deliver equal access to justice for all.”

The organization plans to educate the public about the branches of government, with a focus on the role of the judiciary.

The founders of the group include:

• Carlos Moreno, retired state Supreme Court Associate Justice
• Lee Baca, Los Angeles County Sheriff
• Frank C. Damrell, retired U.S. District Court Judge in Sacramento
• Joseph Dunn, chief executive officer of the State Bar of California and retired state senator
• Arturo González, partner in the Morrison Foerster law firm
• Larry Kramer, president of The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
• Edith R. Matthai, partner in the Robie & Matthai law firm
• Mark P. Robinson, Jr., partner in the Robinson Calcagnie Robinson Shapiro Davis, Inc. law firm
• Mark Yudof, professor at UC Berkeley Law School and former president of the University of California
• Allan Zaremberg, president and chief executive officer of the California Chamber of Commerce

Read more here:   Capitol Alert, Sacramento Bee