Shutdown won't halt Detroit federal courts

DETROIT (AP) -- Chief judges of the federal Bankruptcy and U.S. District courts in Detroit have signed orders continuing operations even if the partial government shutdown continues into next week. Administrative orders released Thursday say all current services and staffing are essential and that employees must report to work. Chief Bankruptcy Judge Phillip Shefferly wrote that if no resolution to the shutdown comes by Monday the federal judiciary will operate under the terms of the Anti-Deficiency Act, which allows essential work to continue. He also notes that the court is taking on the largest municipal bankruptcy filing in U.S. history. Emergency manager Kevyn Orr filed Detroit's bankruptcy petition in July. Published: Fri, Oct 11, 2013