SACRAMENTO — A sober gathering of judges on Thursday promised darkened courtrooms, mass layoffs and the elimination of basic public services if Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed $544 million in reductions to the judiciary stand.

“We cannot afford these cuts,” Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Laurie Earl told the Judicial Council. “Furthermore, we cannot absorb these reductions in 45 days,” she said, noting the quickly approaching start of the new fiscal year.