SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA CHIEF JUSTICE “JUDICIAL BUILDING: ROYS. MOORE 300 DEXTER AVENUE u MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 361043741 Guerin (G34) 228.0700 LynsTuarT MICHAEL F BOLIN ‘TOM PARKER GLENN MURDOCK, December 9, 2015 GREG SHAW AMES ALLEN MAIN A, KELL WISE, TOMMY ELIAS SRYAN The Honorable Robert Bentley Alabama State Capitol Montgomery, AL 36104 Dear Governor Bentley: As you are aware, the Alabama Unified Judicial System (UJS) continues to be in need of additional revenues to sustain the operation of our court system. Since 2008, the employees of the UJS have received only one merit raise and no promotions. Nevertheless, the employees of both the Executive and Legislative Branches of Government continue to receive both raises and promotions. This past year the UJS collected approximately $61 million dollars dedicated to the General Fund for Executive Branch agencies, which received merit raises and promotions costing over $18 million. The Judicial Branch of Government does not mind suffering and doing our fair share during economic downturns; however, there is no reason that our hard-working employees should suffer alone. We should not allow this injustice to continue. In accordance with the Alabama Constitution, Dr. Rich Hobson, Administrative Director of Courts, submits a budget for the UJS to you each year, For the past several years you have indicated that you would recommend our budget request to the Legislature; however, you have reduced our requested amount each year— including monies intended for promotions and merit raises for deserving employees. The cost for the UJ to receive promotions and merit raises this fiscal year is $2.8 million. The UJ$ is obviously not being regarded as a Branch of Government, and, in fact, is being treated worse than an agency. We operate a constitutional function of government and do not have programs to cut. I call upon you to release our First Tier Conditional Appropriation of $12 million, or some part thereof, as soon as such fundsPage Two are available, We have lost over 305 personnel since 2011, including 85 Juvenile Probation Officers, and continue to lose experienced employees to the other branches of, government, We, again, respectfully ask that you support and advocate for our budget in the upcoming legislative session. Roy& Moore Chief Justice, Alabama Supreme Court Sincerely c: Dr, Rich Hobson, Administrative Director of Courts