Court Hours Changed for Fallen Officers' Memorial

Court in Santa Cruz and Watsonville will start and end early on Thursday, the day two Santa Cruz police officers killed in the line of duty are honored at a memorial service in San Jose, officials announced Tuesday.

The Superior Court of Santa Cruz County will operate with limited hours Thursday because the deputy sheriffs who serve as court security officers will be reassigned to patrol Santa Cruz streets during the funerals.

Courtrooms will open at 8 a.m.—that's 30 minutes earlier than normal—in Santa Cruz. Business in Watsonville's courtrooms will start at 8:30 a.m., the usual time, according to Tim Newman, the court's Administrative Services Manager.

Watsonville's courtrooms will adjourn by 9:30 a.m. and Santa Cruz's will finish up no later than 10 a.m. Public windows will also close at that time in both courthouses.

Drop boxes will be available in both locations for documents that need to be filed after those times. Documents placed in drop boxes by 5 p.m. will be filed stamped that day, Newman said. The Clerks’ Offices will also continue to operate its normal phone hours to assist court users by phone until 3 p.m.

The memorial service for Santa Cruz Police Sgt. Loran "Butch" Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler begins at noon Thursday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. Baker and Butler were fatally shot while investigating misdemeanor sexual assault case on Feb. 26. The motorcade of the officers' families, law enforcement and public officials leaves the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk around 8:45 a.m. Thursday

Court will resume its normal business hours in both locations Friday, March 8.