The numbers of cases have dropped by 2.5 million annually in the last few years. Tani Cantil-Sakauye said: ‘I don't believe we are becoming a more law-abiding, rule-following society. But we have closed more than 50 courthouses and eliminated 3,900 full-time positions. So are people finally getting the message they shouldn't bother to come to court?’

Delayed divorces

In Contra Costa County, there are said to be complaints from people seeking divorces because of the delays in getting a judge’s signature. The cutting out of court reporters has made it more difficult for parties to appeal because of the lack of a transcript of the original proceedings. Fights are said to have broken out regularly in queues outside clerks’ offices. Source: ABA