A divided Maryland Court of Appeals on Tuesday lopped a week off judges' vacations next year, reducing their paid vacations in 2010 to 17 days. It is the second consecutive year that the state's judges have had their paid vacation cut by five days because of the state's budget woes. Earlier this year, other court employees were ordered to take between three and 10 days of unpaid leave, depending on their salaries.

- Andrea F. Siegel