Florida Rocket Dockets May Screech To A Halt As Statewide Court System Suffers From 'Empty Pockets'; Homeowners Rejoice, Blighted Communities Weep

The Palm Beach Post reports:

• Florida's courts are out $6 million after state lawmakers chose not to extend a one-time stipend aimed at reducing a foreclosure backlog. The reduction means less manpower to process foreclosure cases and is already having repercussions in Palm Beach County where Circuit Judge John Hoy canceled a July foreclosure hearing citing fiscal constraints.
• "Because of the lack of funding by the Florida Legislature, judges are unavailable to preside over foreclosure trials beginning July 1, 2011," Hoy wrote in a May 11 order. Court budgets operate on a fiscal year that runs July 1 through June 30.

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• While homeowners in foreclosure may rejoice at having more time to negotiate a loan modification, attempt a short sale or just go mortgage-free, communities struggling with abandoned and run down homes may have to wait longer for relief.

For the story, see Fewer judges will be hearing Florida foreclosures as state money runs out.