SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Superior Court will close all courtrooms and business offices Wednesday as well as the third Wednesday of each subsequent month through next June due to the statewide financial crisis.

The unprecedented one-day-a-month closures were approved by the California Judicial Council in June. The state's 58 counties were ordered to participate in the shutdown.

Court employees will be taking the closure days as unpaid furlough days.

Union members voted for a contract change allowing the furloughs, which will help bridge a $5.5 million gap in the court's budget for the fiscal year. The San Diego Superior Court is expected to save $384,000 each time the courts close for a day.

Most judges are also expected to take a voluntary pay cut for the days the courts are closed.

Court officials will reset hearings currently scheduled on the closure dates, and the public is urged to visit the court's Web site at www.sdcourt.ca.gov to handle traffic tickets or obtain court information. A recorded message is available at 619-450-7400.

The closures could produce longer lines and wait times for people when the courts re-open Thursday.