Fort Bragg Mayor Jason Godeke Rallies Residents to Defend Court Services
Says cutting access to court services is like cutting medical services
Fort Bragg Mayor Jason Godeke warned Monday of potential cuts to courthouse services on the Mendocino Coast, following the transfer of civil cases and criminal cases requiring juries to Ukiah. The Mendocino County Court has not put out any official statement about the reduction in services.
Mendocino County Court Administrator Kim Turner was not immediately available for comment.
The reduction in services was first reported by Frank Hartzell of MendocinoCoast.News.
Godeke said the reductions could have a “devastating impact.”
Speaking at the Nov. 10 City Council meeting, Godeke said recent developments suggest the Fort Bragg courthouse may soon be limited to criminal proceedings only. “If we really did lose all other procedures besides criminal hearings, it would be an enormous hit to our courthouse,” Godeke said. “We’re talking about domestic violence, restraining orders, family law — those are all things that people would then have to start traveling to Ukiah for.”
Godeke called on supervisors and constituents alike to speak up. He proposed drafting a letter from the City Council supporting the continuation of full court services on the coast — a move his fellow councilmember appeared to endorse.
Under Government Code section 68106, courts must notify the public and the Judicial Council at least 60 days before closing courtrooms or clerks’ offices or reducing clerks’ office hours, but smaller cuts can have a significant impact.
“Our courthouse serves the entire coast,” Godeke said. “Just imagine all those people having to drive to Ukiah for pretty much anything. It’s the health-care analog of having to drive to Ukiah to have a baby — and it’s going to be a real problem for us.”