AUGUSTA -- Maine Supreme Court Chief Justice Leigh Saufley on Thursday presented a plan to allow the judicial branch to function with $4.3 million less in the next 20 months.

Saufley sought the endorsement of a legislative committee for her proposals to address budget shortfalls in the upcoming fiscal years.

She said the judicial branch currently has a proposed $50 million budget for fiscal year 2011.

Saufley's plan reduces the hours courthouses are open to the public, continues to keep vacant some 30 to 40 posts, avoids layoffs and seeks more efficiency through new technology.

While describing the budget picture as grim, Saufley said she wanted to keep all 39 courthouses open to ensure access to justice in rural areas.

"My plan is to maintain the existing leases on all courthouses, with the possible exception of Madawaska," Saufley said.

If the Legislature forces closure, she presented a short list: Calais, Lincoln, Millinocket, Madawaska and Rumford.

Madawaska's court operates one day every three weeks when clerks from Fort Kent staff it; otherwise it is vacant.

Saufley said court administrators are talking to the landlord and the town to try to come up with an alternative to closure.

Saufley's budget proposal got the go-ahead of Evert Fowle, district attorney in Kennebec and Somerset and head of the Maine Prosecutors Association.

"I understand the budget picture is worse than we've ever seen it," he said.

Waldo County Commissioner Amy Fowler said curtailing courthouse hours would affect jails who have to transport inmates to hearings.

"Can you provide justice if we say, for instance, 'Fridays we are closed?'" Fowler asked.

Saufley said closing courts shifts costs to counties who end up keeping prisoners longer, and could affect people needing help for domestic violence problems and other issues.

Rep. Cynthia Dill, D-Cape Elizabeth, who also is a lawyer, suggested saving money by repealing certain criminal statutes.

"Every single statute book should be culled for deadwood," she said.

Saufley said new laws engender new issues of enforcement and increase court filings.

Sen. David R. Hastings III, R-Fryeburg, said closings should be shared equally around the state.

"Don't penalize rural courts to protect bigger courts," he said.

Saufley held the meeting in the conference room at the Maine Judicial Center in Augusta, where double wooden doors carried a sign that read, "Door Broken, Do Not Open."

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com