LOS ANGELES (AP) — Legal aid groups are suing the Los Angeles County court system over plans to slash the number of courtrooms hearing eviction cases.

The Los Angeles Times says a federal suit was filed Wednesday in Los Angeles against the court system and the state.

It contends that the poor and disabled will be harmed if the number of Superior Courts hearing eviction cases drops from 26 to five.

Court officials say some people fighting evictions will have to travel more than 30 miles to court.

The budget-cutting plan is scheduled to take effect next Monday. The lawsuit seeks to block the plan.

More than 67,000 eviction lawsuits were heard in the county in the last fiscal year.

___

Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.