Kansas Chief Justice Lawton Nuss said Wednesday statewide court shutdowns will occur after July 1 unless the Legislature and Gov. Sam Brownback appropriate more money for the judiciary budget.

Nuss, speaking in the Supreme Court chambers, addressed a room full of court employees, legislators and other interested parties in his annual State of the Judiciary speech. Kansas’ judicial branch is facing a projected $8.25 million shortfall in its 2015 budget. Nuss said it has enough to get through the current fiscal year, but "things get somewhat darker on July 1."

"If some additional money is not provided, then Kansas court employees will be sent home without pay and Kansas courts statewide will be closed," Nuss said. "The only question is for how long."

Employee costs account for 96 percent of the judicial budget, including judges and clerical staff members. Nuss closed the court system in 2012 when legislators were slow to act on the budget.

Nuss said Kansans are constitutionally entitled to "remedy by due course of law and justice without delay" but without additional funding the courts won’t be able to provide that.

"None of us can make good on our solemn oath of office or guarantee these rights if Kansas courts close," Nuss said.

Nuss also said pro-business legislators would be wise to provide a stable court system, noting that the judiciary enforces business rights, including contract law and trade secrets law.

Nuss thanked the House for approving a pay raise for current judiciary employees Wednesday, but said more needs to be done to replace the five percent of positions that have been vacant in the judicial branch since 2010.

Nuss said those who remain have done their best to keep the courts running smoothly, "but even dedicated employees reach their limit when there is no relief in sight."

"As their chief justice I ask on their behalf, isn't four years of understaffing enough?" Nuss said.

Some legislators present for the speech expressed a desire to resolve the judiciary budget issues in time to stave off the possibility of court closures.

"We certainly hope it won't come to that having gone through that already unnecessarily," said Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City. "We should respect as co-equals the three branches (of government) and the need for each of the three branches to function unfettered by a desire to cut costs, especially where we have a need for equal access to the courts."

Rep. Don Hineman, R-Dighton, agreed.

"Supreme Court Justice Nuss pointed out that basically swift access to justice is a simple part of our system of government in the U.S. and in Kansas, and that's really what's at risk if the courts are forced to furlough," Hineman said. "That's a very big concern to me. I hope we can avoid that outcome."