Courting disaster.

California Chief Justice Ronald M. George condemned the condition of California courts in his State of the Judiciary address last month.

"Current conditions in more than 90 percent of our court facilities jeopardize public and staff safety every day," he said. "Two-thirds of present courthouse space is seismically deficient, and other facilities are believed to contain toxic mold. Sixty-eight percent of courthouses do not meet basic fire- and life-safety standards, and in 75 percent of court facilities, adequate access for persons with disabilities cannot be provided."

The courthouse condition has become a particularly sticky subject over the past few years as their ownership is being shifted from counties to the state. Disputes have arisen throughout this process as to who has responsibility for certain upgrades whether they should even be made if the courthouse will simply be torn down and rebuilt when the state takes over.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger may have further muddied the water when he proposed $1.2 billion as part of his $220 billion bond referendum for courthouse upgrades, because the money set aside does not include seismic retrofitting. Further, state officials believe that the money is not enough and many of the courthouses will never see a dime, according to Michelle Vercoutere, assistant division chief for L.A. County's Chief Administrative Office.