Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore says the state's court system has $38 million less now than when he took office for the first time in 2001.
Moore told members of the Montgomery Rotary Club Monday that the financial situation has become dire. He says there are 498 less court employees now than in 2001, and another 300 may lose their jobs under budget proposals being considered by the Legislature.
Moore says he believes extra money could be found by prioritizing spending. The chief justice says he's opposed to raising taxes or expanding gambling to find more money for courts. Moore urged the Legislature to work to keep drug courts open. He says those courts keep some drug offenders out of prison and have done an excellent job.