The Georgia Bar is running television advertisements encouraging people to urge lawmakers to devote more funding to the courts.

The 30-second ad claims that sharp budget cuts are "halting trials and other critical court services that people need." It says that's leading to criminals being released without trial, and leaving child support and custody cases undecided and business disputes unresolved.

It implores viewers to urge lawmakers to devote more funding to the judicial branch to "give our courts the funds they need to stay open."

The executive and legislative branch avoided a legal showdown earlier this year over budget cuts. The sharp cuts have forced judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys across the state to take furloughs and have led to growing court backlogs.

Tags: budget cuts, courts, State Bar of Georgia, television ads