Judges lighten foreclosure load with lender-borrower meetings

The state’s judges have become the last line of defense for the many victims of foreclosure, striving to serve as the loan renegotiators of last resort. Treasure Coast Circuit Judge Burton Conner, whose circuit covers Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties, said that the legal system has been overwhelmed by the number of foreclosure cases, and many judges now require lenders to meet with borrowers before they reach court. The settlements ease the strain on the court system and keep costs down, proponents say.