BANGOR (AP) – Tough economic times have come to Maine’s court system, leaving some who seek legal help at smaller courthouses left to bang on locked doors with only a sign announcing staff shortages to greet them.

“They basically have to come back the next day, or, if it’s an emergency, they have to go to the police station or another courthouse in another town,” said Maine’s Chief Justice Leigh Saufley. “It’s very disheartening.”

Though the judicial branch managed to save about $1 million during for fiscal years 2003-04 and 2004-05, those savings were swept into the General Fund, Saufley said.

“We made those savings by doing our business better,” she said.

“We indicated to the governor that we hoped to be able to use those funds to help us fill some of our vacancies and for security.”

Saufley did not appear optimistic that two requests for the supplemental budget being considered by the Legislature would be honored.

The courts asked for $420,000 to help fill some of the 23 vacancies, as well as $339,500 for staff to operate screening machines.

“Maine is one of only a very few states in the country that allows its citizens to be placed in these types of dangerous situations in their courthouses,” she said.

Court officials are still battling, hoping for the slim chance that either request could be put back in the budget.

Next week, courthouses throughout the state will not open to the public until noon and, once open, there will be no courtroom activity. It is part of an administrative week that occurs twice a year for clerks to catch up on paperwork.

AP-ES-03-26-04 0216EST