Notice: Clerk's Office Public Hours Reduction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOTICE OF CLERK’S OFFICE PUBLIC HOURS REDUCTION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 68106 this is to inform of a potential early closure of clerk’s offices

Oakland, Calif. – September 12, 2024 – The Superior Court of Alameda County is proposing a plan to close all clerk’s offices to the public at 2 p.m. every Friday to help compensate for a reduced workforce caused by mandatory furloughs.

Proposal

• Clerk’s offices in every Superior Court of Alameda County Courthouse will close to the public at 2 p.m. every Friday.
• Courthouses include:
  • Rene C. Davidson Courthouse
  • Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse
  • Berkeley Courthouse
  • George E. McDonald Courthouse
  • Juvenile Justice Center
  • Fremont Hall of Justice
  • East County Hall of Justice
  • Hayward Hall of Justice

• Drop boxes will continue to be made available for filings from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• E-filing will continue as normal. Customers can e-file at anytime.
  • Please visit our website for more information about e-filing.
• Clerk’s offices are scheduled to begin these reduced hours on Fridays in 60 days from this notice.

Why

• Most Court employees will be furloughed at least one Friday each month to reduce expenses.
• The Superior Court of Alameda County is facing a $4.3 million budget cut due to a reduction of state funds. The state reduced funding for all trial courts by $97 million this fiscal year (2024-25).
• Continued state budget reductions and ongoing expenses could result in further reductions to the Superior Court of Alameda County’s budget.
• Other cost cutting methods, including hiring freezes, elimination of some vacant positions, soft freezes on rehiring positions left vacant by a current employees’ departures and voluntary non-paid time off offers have not generated the cost savings necessary to close the current budget gap and secure Court operations for the future.
• There will be reduced court employees working in clerk’s offices on Fridays.

Public Comment

The public may comment on this plan to reduce public hours of clerks’ offices either by mail or email.

• Mail: Please direct all mail regarding this proposal to:
  • Executive Office
    ATTN: Clerk’s Office Reduced Hours
    Rene C. Davidson Courthouse, Rm 209
    1225 Fallon Street
    Oakland, CA, 94612
     
• Email: Please email public comments to: pcomments@alameda.courts.ca.gov

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