Lawyers are campaigning to keep Chichester Combined Court open and have called on Lord Chancellor Michael Gove to reconsider. The court is one of 91 earmarked for closure following a Ministry of Justice assessment of the justice estate. However, the court’s supporters say usage soared by 78% last year, and point out that it is the only Crown Court in west Sussex, which has a population of more than 800,000 people. They say other courts will not be able to cope with the influx of transferred work if it closes.