Though they don’t expect to make their target of July 1 to start the four-day work week, Effingham County commissioners will forge ahead with plans for a four-day work week.

County staff and commissioners met with superior, state, magistrate and probate court judges to discuss the plan, which would result in closing the Judicial Complex one day a week.

“We don’t see really see any issue, as long as we address the filing issue with the clerk of courts office,” County Administrator David Crawley said. “That’s the only obstacle we see. Most of the judges are willing to work with us. They see we’re trying to save some money and we’re still funding their department like we need to.”

Crawley said Ogeechee Judicial Circuit Judges Gates Peed and John Turner have been very cooperative in the process. Judge William Woodrum, the chief judge, sent a letter to the county last month outlining the concerns about a four-day week. Though he took no stance, he quoted a state statute that requires the clerk of superior court be open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. He also said state law calls for the county governing authority to keep the courthouse open during normal working hours in order for the public to conduct its business.

In a letter to the commissioners, Chief Magistrate Scott Hinson said he understood the desire to reduce costs but also had worries about problems the plan could create with filing deadlines.

Crawley said the local bar association also was split on the idea.

County attorney Eric Gotwalt said there are a couple of hurdles for the county to overcome in implementing a four-day work week for the courts, the biggest of which is providing lawyers and others a way to file documents on Fridays. A county-instituted four-day work week won’t excuse them from meeting filing deadlines.

“Legal holidays set by state and Saturdays and Sundays are the only days they get an excuse,” he said.

Gotwalt also noted that trials may extend to Fridays and judges also can set their own schedules.

“There may be occasional times when a trial runs into a Friday or even into a weekend,” he said. “But those are expected to be irregular and not very often.”

Superior Court judges usually don’t hold court on Fridays, Crawley said, and Fridays also happen to be their slowest days. Mondays are their busiest. If a trial goes extend into a Friday or longer, Crawley said Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie related to him that they could handle courthouse security. The sheriff’s office is going to a four-day work week for its administrative personnel.

Some counties have gone to furloughs instead of four-day work weeks, Crawley said. The county hopes to save about $160,000 in going to a four-day schedule.

“Our position is we are going to move forward with this, one way or another,” Crawley said.