@ MP108 - You sound like you work for the lady or something. I'm sorry but the excuse that she has children and is transporting them during the summer is ridiculous. I mean, really? Who doesn't have children? I have children but I still have to go to work in the afternoon as does pretty much everybody else that works in that courthouse. And I'm thinking that based upon her looks (no offense) her children are not babies. I'm thinking either grown or in college. Nevertheless, I believe the Judges are well worth their salaries but the summer schedule needs to be eradicated. There is air conditioning in the courthouse now and one hour shouldn't make or break a Judge.

I would truly like to say “thank you” to our supposed leaders of our city for letting this happen. Here we are, close to financial crisis, yet you suck back your large, tax-payer funded salary while barely doing anything for 3 months out of the year. How about giving summer schedule to people who actually need it, like the guy getting paid 7 bucks a hour to pick up trash or clean up the city? Or how about you don’t get paid for those hours you skip out of work? I worked for a firm who hit financial trouble. The head boss, who obviously was paid more than the rest of us, didn’t take a single paycheck for 14 months so he could keep paying us. Now, that firm is doing better than ever. Why? Because we didn’t have a boss. We had a LEADER, who was financially responsible with not only the company’s money, but his own as well. He was willing to sacrifice to save our jobs and the company. So I ask you, WHERE IS THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR CITY!? You wanted the job you have, now its time to step up and BE THE LEADER YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD BE!! Kick these whiny old farts out and appoint someone who will do the job, and do it full time without falling back on B.S. excuses. Our city, our nation, our society is in trouble, and its time for sacrifice on ALL LEVELS. I’m willing to sacrifice in the form of paying more taxes, but not so some fat judge can sit by his pool for an extra couple hours. LEADERS OF OUR CITY, STEP UP AND PUT AN END TO THIS!

So Big Deal. The parasites that masquerade as public education teachers DON'T WORK AT ALL DURING THE SUMMER and get paid for it. Come to think of it, the leeches don't even work during the Spring Fall or Winter for that matter.

@SoHaven I did not say that the Judges only work four hours a day that is when they are on the bench. Many Judges including Probate Judges having rulings & opinions to write, they rereading & keeping updated with the laws & statutes that are ever changing so they are rendering the best decisions & rulings to better serve Justice. And at times all Judges stay past the alloted Court time to hear matters that may last into the evening, but no one thinks about that.

@MP108 - You are only making the court appear worse. So the reporter painted an inaccurate picture of the schedule and the judge actually works 4 hours per day? You defend it by saying the other judges don't start till 10am so they're even worse than the Probate judges? It sounds like the whole court is a high paid retirement village for judges who want to work part time but get paid six figures by the taxpayers.

Track their hours on the time clock like everybody else. Then you will know for sure!

Why be surprised? Just another example of corruption in our government.

**Other courts don't start until 10 am sorry my mind was going faster than my hands...I am very upset by this story.

Well I think that maybe they shouldn't chop up people's interviews so much and actually list others reasons why Probate Court goes down for one hour for three months, yes one hour.Yes maybe back when the Courthouse was established and there was no air that was probable, but it has been a tradition for the last 25 years, Judge Webster did not make the rule as she has only been on the bench since 2006. Why did Ms. DiPrizo not interview the senior Judge in Probate which is Judge Benham? Probate is also a Court where the Judges sit on the bench starting at 9 am everyday where the other Courts usually don't start until nine. Probate hears walk in matters daily...yes daily how many other Courts do you know that you can file a petition and be heard the same day?!?! Yes somethings must be specially set but if the abc24news reporter actually did her job and didn't cut & chop people's interviews so much to manipulate them to make her story turn out they way she wants it and paint another government office as bad...this seems like Ms. DiPrizo going on a witch hunt & trying to make news & a big stink about something that if you were to logically think about it would be like hmmmm one hour for three months really isn't too bad since they will be on the bench from 9 am to Noon- considering a Judge in General Civil Court may start Court at 10 am & be done in 15 mins and then are done till 1:30 except on Friday when there is only a morning docket. But Probate Judges sit & hear matters from 9 am to Noon Monday - Friday and then an afternoon session Monday - Thursday from 1 to 2 (for Division II) or 2 to 3 (for Divsion I). Also she did not mention that while the Probate Judges do not hear walk-in matters in the afternoon starting in June for "summer session" they are still matters that are specially set in the afternoon throughout the summer, but Ms. DiPrizo didn't mention that. But hey it's her story,& she can shape & mold it to her liking leaving out bits & pieces of the truth.

I'm sorry, this needs to stop. Their hours worked need to track our other harder-working judges.