Sue Bell Cobb authorizing circuit court cuts

State budget cuts have forced the Chief Justice to order a reduction in the number of courthouse trials.

Justice Sue Bell Cobb is also authorizing the presiding circuit judge at every courthouse to close court offices one day per week if necessary. Cobb said due to layoffs, and smaller staffs, those courts may need those days just to get work done internally.

Cobb has already announced 120 layoffs that will happen by May 1 and warned today 300 more could happen by October. She is calling on lawmakers to not force her into that decision.

"The courts aren't a nicety. The courts are a necessity," Cobb said. "The legislature's responsibility is to fund government and that means fund the courts adequately and reasonably."

Cobb said she doesn't want to increase court costs either, saying that would be unfair to some of the poor in Alabama who need services the court provides. As for an answer to the budget woes, Cobb said the state needs to find more revenue to fill the budget holes.

One idea she floated around is increasing the state's tax on cigarettes, which she said is already too low. She said it could drive more money into several state programs which could give the general fund more flexibility.

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