The National Arbitration Forum Blog

A Los Angeles Times article (Even Jury Hiring is Frozen, Bob Drogin, 12/22/2008) details effects of the grave state of the economy on America's courts:

Financially strapped New Hampshire has become a poster child for the problem. Among other cost-cutting measures, state courts will halt for a month all civil and criminal jury trials early next year to save $73,000 in jurors' per diems. Officials warn they may add another four-week suspension.

County prosecutor James M. Reams reports that his aides are "scrambling to reschedule 77 criminal trials" from the February docket. "All the effort to subpoena witnesses and prepare for those trials is right out the window. Internally, it's a monumental waste of time. We'll have to redo everything."

New Hampshire isn't the only state struggling. According to the article at least 19 other states, including California, have slashed court budgets and other government services as their economies have tanked.

It is no surprise that there are growing signs of concern about the future of justice in America. One blogger, Gordon Ownby of California Civil Justice Blog, asked Congress to take a look at maintaining arbitration in order to help consumers and the judicial system.