In a change from a previous directive, court administrators statewide were told by the Chief Justice's office during a conference call Monday they are to keep state courts open Fridays but ask staff to take five unpaid days off between now and June 30.

It was unclear just how the change would affect people having business in the state courts. It's possible not all courtrooms will be in use each day because fewer people will be available to staff them due to furloughs.

Linn and Benton courtrooms were closed Friday and had planned to be closed Fridays until the end of the budget period. Staffers were to be paid for four days of work.

Now representatives for Linn and Benton courtrooms confirm that court will be in session five days a week.

"That's what the chief justice wants," said Don Smith, Linn's trial court administrator.

Smith added all six courtrooms in the Linn County Courthouse may not be open all five days, since each of his 41 employees will need to take five additional furlough days between now and the end of June.

In Benton County, trial court administrator Linda Hukari said court will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but there will no longer be a cashier available from noon to 1 p.m.

"We still need to schedule five additional furlough days for the staff," Hukari said. "We'll try to spread it out so no one is getting hit all at one time."

She said the court is trying to give its staff of 25 as much flexibility in scheduling as it can.

Smith, the Linn administrator, said he had asked his staff to return their furlough request days to him by Friday.

He anticipates they will still choose to take mostly Fridays and maybe some Mondays off.

"If you have to take a day without pay, you want to at least get a three-day weekend out of it," he said.