May 25, 2013
Court officials in Alabama are concerned about the negative impacts of layoffs.
Officials say the state plans to lay off 450 to 500 of its 1,600 judicial employees statewide by November 28th. That layoff list includes bailiffs, law clerks and others.
Spokesman David Williams at the Administrative Office of Courts says all bailiffs statewide and entire staffs in court administrator offices would be cut. A court administrator in each office will stay on the job. Such offices help manage jury trials and send out summonses.
There are 25 bailiffs in the Birmingham court division and about three or four in the Bessemer Cutoff.
Presiding Jefferson County Circuit Criminal Judge Mike McCormick said that if bailiffs are sent home the courts will not be able to function. The bailiffs do mostly administrative work and help with juries in the courtroom.
Court officials were told last month that bailiffs could be laid off, but McCormick says no official notice from Montgomery has been received.
