By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Makowski delayed his ruling this morning on the District Attorney's lawsuit to stop budget cuts in his department. But Makowski did issue a new deadline for the County Legislature to give final approval to planned layoffs.
To help deal with the tangle of cases before him, Justice Makowski is giving the County Legislature until March 3rd to approve layoff notices.
A packed courtroom had been waiting for the judge to decide on the DA's request for an injunction. A decision had been expected Thursday morning. But Makowski said he will hear all arguments in the cases now before him.
Eight separate parties are seeking relief from the latest round of the Legislature's budget cuts. All are looking for the Judge's first ruling on the DA's case as possibly setting the tone for the rest to follow.
At stake are 2,500 county jobs. But as Makowski noted Thursday morning, so too is the county's fragile bond rating.