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California Personal Injury Attorney Takes on Court Underfunding

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Published in The Recorder
“There are more than $4.6 million good reasons to keep our civil courts open,” says San Francisco attorney Christopher Dolan in a recent letter to The Recorder. The letter refers to debate over whether to tap the San Francisco Superior Court’s reserves to keep civil courts open and functioning as they reel from budget cuts.The issue of court underfunding has become prominent in California, with San Francisco’s struggling courts serving as the problem’s poster child. This fall, San Francisco will close 25 courtrooms and lay off more than 175 employees, which may contribute to longer lines, drawn-out cases and a crippling of the city’s justice system.

These courts are the foundation of justice in San Francisco, says Dolan, and justice needs to be preserved by any means necessary. He disagrees with San Francisco Presiding Judge Katherine Feinstein, who has advocated closing the court’s doors until a long-term solution is reached. Dolan wants the court to tap into its $4.6 million reserve to keep the courts open to Californians.”If reserves are not to be used in a time of crisis such as this, what are they for?” he asks. As long as money exists that can be used to administer justice, the San Francisco personal injury attorney sees no reason to close the door on the court system for those seeking a legal resolution. In fact, he argues, limiting access to the courts may deny many people due process of law.He also points to the political benefits of using these reserves. If lawmakers see that Superior Court reserves are being used in these desperate times, they may be more likely to find room in next year’s budget for court funding. The same idea applies to money for special projects: If the courts do not use it they are more likely to lose it, according to Dolan, who has spent years studying and observing court finance and legislation.

Christopher Dolan owns The Dolan Law Firm with offices in San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento, practicing personal injury, employment and tort litigation. He has been selected as one of California’s Top 100 attorneys by Super Lawyers and The Daily Journal, as well as Consumer Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Consumer Attorneys of California.

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