Alabama battles over jury trials

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Gov. Don Siegelman and Chief Justice Roy Moore on Tuesday rejected each other's proposals for resuming jury trials in Alabama, a day after the chief justice imposed a statewide moratorium to save money.

Siegelman proposed a $500,000 emergency loan to the state's courts, but Moore declined. The chief justice said the governor should give the courts $1.2 million from an emergency fund.

"The governor is not going to give it to them because the governor suggests that Roy Moore and the judicial branch be responsible and readjust their budget priorities to make ends meet like so many state agencies have done during these times," Siegelman spokesman Mike Kanarick said.