MONTGOMERY (AP) — Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore has ordered that circuit and district clerk offices in Alabama be closed to the public on Wednesdays because of a financial crisis facing the court system.

The order was released Thursday. Moore ordered the clerks' offices be closed every Wednesday beginning March 20. Moore ordered clerks to place notice of the closings in public places inside and outside their offices. The chief justice said the employees of the clerks' offices would continue to work their regular office hours on Wednesdays.

Moore says in his order was necessary because of a financial crisis, which he says was caused by underfunding of the courts.

He said the Wednesday closings are partly in response to clerks saying they need more time for administrative duties.