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LAND COURT TO RELOCATE TO STATE-OWNED BUILDING
Chief
Justice for Administration & Management Robert A.
Mulligan has announced that efforts are underway to relocate
the Land Court Department of the Massachusetts Trial
Court to the Suffolk County Courthouse at Pemberton Square.
Relocation of the Land Court, which currently occupies
private leased space at 226 Causeway Street in Boston,
will realize annual savings exceeding $2.7 million.
"The
size of the Trial Court's FY11 budget gap requires aggressive
action on the Land Court lease, one of the largest leases
in our portfolio,"said Chief Justice Mulligan. "The
move of an entire court department reflects the unprecedented
actions necessary given our appropriation this year.
We plan to relocate the court by the end of December
to maximize available savings. The Legislature has provided
the Trial Court with the authority to manage lease expenses
in addressing the significant budget shortfall."
Chief
Justice Mulligan also commended those affected by the
move. "I want to recognize the extraordinary cooperation
of those who work in the Land Court, the Superior Court
and the Office of Community Corrections to ensure that
this relocation is accomplished smoothly and successfully," he
said.
"The
entire Trial Court is under pressure to cut costs and
deliver services,"said Land Court Chief Justice
Karyn Scheier. "Wherever the Land Court is located,
we will work hard to honor our long history and serve
the real estate bar and the public at the highest level
possible, given our resources."
The
Trial Court Relocation Committee included termination
of the Land Court lease among its recently announced
preliminary recommendations, which were based on a review
of all 103 courthouse facilities. The Court will move
into space in the Suffolk County High Rise Courthouse
now occupied by several programs operated by the Office
of Community Corrections.
The
Trial Court's FY11 budget stands at $534.8 million, which
compares with an FY10 budget of $559.5 million and FY09
initial appropriation of $605.1 million. An absolute
hiring freeze in the Trial Court has resulted in the
loss of more than 700 employees since 2008.
The
Land Court also has been severely impacted by the surge
in foreclosures generated by the fiscal crisis and by
the hiring freeze, which puts the Court below 50 percent
of optimal staffing levels. The Court, comprised of seven
judges with statewide jurisdiction, received more than
26,000 filings in FY09.
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