Ala. Chief Justice Roy Moore says court system being treated unfairly

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Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore this week urged more funding for the state’s court system, saying court employees have been treated unfairly by those that control the state’s purse strings.

Moore, in a letter sent Thursday, asked Gov. Robert Bentley to release conditional appropriations to the court system if the money is available.

The Alabama Legislature gave the United Judicial System level funding this year but also included a conditional appropriation, money that can be released if the state has it to spend.

Moore said court employees have had one merit raise since 2008, while legislative and executive branch employees have gotten raises.

“The Judicial Branch of Government does not mind suffering and doing our fair share during economic downturns; however, there is no reason our hard-working employees should suffer alone,” Moore wrote.

The chief justice said the court system is not being treated as a branch of government.

“The UJS is obviously not being regarded as a branch of government, and, in fact is being treated worse than an agency,” the chief justice wrote.

Legislative budget chairmen said during special sessions that they were doubtful any conditional funds would come through unless the state received an unexpected windfall.

Republished with permission of the Associated Press.

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