FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020 • BAKERSFIELD.COM Federal judge shortage ‘will seriously hinder the administration of justice’ in Kern County BY STEVEN MAYER of the U.S. Eastern District Court implemented reluctantly.” sumed reduced work status or 2018 explosion at a compressed
[email protected] of California, the federal judicial The emergency is already af- inactive status. natural gas fueling station in Take a stroll through the district that includes Bakersfield fecting hundreds of local cases “We have one judge” in Fresno, Buttonwillow. multi-story federal courthouse and the southern San Joaquin and local families, including Clark says. The accident has made him in Fresno, suggests Bakersfield Valley, has instituted a “judicial cases The Californian has covered “We are the single most im- unemployable, and his wife, Joan, attorney Matthew Clark. emergency” order that he ac- in years past. pacted district in the country.” has had to tap her retirement What you don’t see might sur- knowledges “will seriously hinder The district, which serves 8 What does that mean for indi- fund to keep the family stable prise you. the administration of justice” in million Californians, is supposed viduals and families with cases financially. “Walk through the halls,” he the district. to have six full-time judges — pending? Joan Johnson has penned says. “There’s no one there.” “These are uncharted waters three in Fresno and three in For William “Lee” Johnson and letters to local elected officials, Clark is exaggerating, but just for this court,” Drozd writes in his Sacramento. his family, it’s a matter of finan- including House Minority Leader barely.