Time to get that beach rental deposit back....

Yesterday, WTOP news reported that Maryland judges will lose a week of vacation next year to save money in the budget.  State budgets are tight everywhere.  Recently, the state of New Hampshire suspended jury trials for a month to save money, and in Maryland money for outside attorney referrals for the Public Defender's office was cut for some time.  Litigants often find that the court system is clogged, and in family law cases it is not unusual to wait several months for a custody trial.  Judges face a delicate balance in making sure that a litigant has fair opportunity to present his or her case, while trying to encourage that the process moves along efficiently.  There are also more pro se litigants than ever, who are often not well equipped to present their cases.  These are all things to think about as your cases moves through "the system," and being cognizant of the court's concerns can help in presenting your case in the best possible light.