In response to deep budget cuts to the state’s court system, several hearings are being held around the state to explore the impacts of those cuts and offer citizens a chance to weigh in.

The group OneJustice has organized the hearings, which are co-sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce, the State Bar of California and the Access to Justice Commission.

In July, the Judicial Council of California allocated a $350 million reduction for fiscal year 2011-12, the largest budget cut in state court history, as Lake County News has reported.

The Administrative Office of the Courts said that reduction translates into a 6.8 percent cut in funding for the 58 California trial courts, a 9.7 percent cut in funding for the California Supreme Court and the six Courts of Appeal, and a 12 percent funding reduction for the Judicial Council and its staff organization.

The Lake County Superior Court, which for 2011-12 has a $3.6 million budget, received a $300,000 cut, according to court officials.

The first of the planned hearings around the state took place Nov. 15 in Sacramento at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law.

Additional hearings are planned for 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Administrative Office of the Courts, 455 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 2, Southwestern Law School, 3050 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7, University of California, Irvine School of Law, 401 East Peltason Drive, Irvine.

For more information visit www.CaliforniaHearings.org.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .