FRANKFORT, Ky.-- Kentucky courts won't have to close their doors for now, but additional furlough days are still a possibility. Kentucky Chief Justice John Minton says there won't be any additional furlough days for the rest of the fiscal year, which runs through the end of June. Additional furlough days could still be necessary later this year. The Judicial Branch will have to close a $28 million budget gap for the 2014 fiscal year.

All Kentucky courts were forced to close for three furlough days the first half of this fiscal year because of a budget shortfall. They were closed for a day in August, September, and October. Minton says it's one of the most disheartening actions he's had to take as Chief Justice. It's the first time in modern history that a budget shortfall has closed the court system.

The furlough days were taken to prevent layoffs.