The Massachusetts Land Court is planning to move to the Suffolk County Courthouse at Pemberton Square in Boston to save money on rent, according to an announcement made today by Chief Justice for Administration and Management Robert A. Mulligan.
The Land Court currently leases space at 226 Causeway St. in Boston. The move is expected to save the court more than $2.7 million, according to a statement.
"The size of the Trial Court’s (fiscal year 2011) budget gap requires aggressive action on the Land Court lease, one of the largest leases in our portfolio," said Mulligan. "The move of an entire court department reflects the unprecedented actions necessary given our appropriation this year. We plan to relocate the court by the end of December to maximize available savings. The Legislature has provided the Trial Court with the authority to manage lease expenses in addressing the significant budget shortfall."
He added, "I want to recognize the extraordinary cooperation of those who work in the Land Court, the Superior Court and the Office of Community Corrections to ensure that this relocation is accomplished smoothly and successfully."
The Trial Court Relocation Committee included termination of the Land Court lease among its recently announced preliminary recommendations, which were based on a review of all 103 courthouse facilities. The court will move into space in the Suffolk County High Rise Courthouse now occupied by several programs operated by the Office of Community Corrections.
The Trial Court’s fiscal year 2011 budget stands at $534.8 million, which compares with an last fiscal year’s budget of $559.5 million and the fiscal year 2009 initial appropriation of $605.1 million. A hiring freeze in the trial court has resulted in the loss of more than 700 employees since 2008.
The Land Court also has been severely affect by the surge in foreclosures generated by the fiscal crisis and by the hiring freeze, which puts the Court below 50 percent of optimal staffing levels. The Court, comprised of seven judges with statewide jurisdiction, received more than 26,000 filings during fiscal year 2009.
