By Ala. chief justice warns more court layoffs coming
Montgomery, AL – Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb
warned the state's judges and circuit clerks to expect
"substantial" layoffs because of the budget crisis in the state
judicial system.
Cobb met with judges and clerks mostly by conference call
Monday. She said 270 court employees have already lost jobs in the
past two years because of budget cuts. She expects another 265
court workers to be laid off during the coming fiscal year that
begins Oct. 1.
Cobb told The Associated Press she had hoped to receive a $10
million supplemental appropriation to help the courts get through
the remainder of the current year. She said that is unlikely now
because the money is needed to help with recovery from last month's
violent tornadoes that killed more than 200 in Alabama.