I hope Alabamians remember those who are suffering because of the lack of state funds this holiday season.

Amanda Rickman will put in her last day today as a state-salaried law clerk to Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Caryl Privett. Then she’ll be working without pay.

She’s one of about 400 employees of Alabama trial courts who were notified a few days ago that they’ll have to be laid off as of Nov. 28 because the state can’t pay them.

“What I’m going to do is, I’ll probably keep volunteering here at least through the holidays with no pay, just so I don’t leave my judge and her judicial assistant with no one in the office to help them,” said Rickman.

“It’s going to be hard. I’m fortunate to have caring parents that are going to help me out as much as they can in terms of getting my bills paid,” she said.

Rickman got her law degree in May at Cumberland Law School, passed her bar exam in August and has worked for Privett since then. Now she’s job-hunting, and the prospects don’t look particularly bright.

Happy Holidays!

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