The wheels of justice came to a halt Friday as budget problems at the state level forced the Kansas Supreme Court to order the closure of courtrooms across the state.

Friday was the first of four scheduled mandatory furlough days for court staff.

Douglas County’s judges still reported to work, but without court reporters and support staff, the majority of hearings had to be postponed.

Essential hearings, such as first appearances for defendants in criminal cases and juvenile detention hearings, still went on as scheduled.

It also was an inconvenience for anyone scheduled to appear in traffic court Friday, starting at 8:30 a.m.

Those hearings had to be rescheduled for another day, and traffic court normally scheduled for Fridays will not be held on any of the future furlough dates.

The court trustee’s office and the district attorney’s office were not affected by the furloughs because they are county employees.

The courts, including the court clerk’s office, also will be closed next Friday and on April 23 and May 7.