Furloughs for Unemployment Judges Draw Fire

California administrative law judges who rule on denial of unemployment benefits are having their own employment woes these days. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently ordered them, and other state workers under his control, to take a third unpaid furlough day every month as a cost-saving measure. The unpaid days will cost judges about 15 percent of their paychecks -- and employment lawyers say the reduced workdays will only add to the case backlog.