HB4 Alabama 2010 1st Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

John F. Knight Jr

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Merika ColemanCraig FordJoe HubbardJohn W. RogersElaine BeechRod ScottLawrence McAdoryDexter GrimsleyMary MooreThomas JacksonLaura HallArtis McCampbellBarbara Bigsby BoydDemetrius C. NewtonPebblin W. WarrenThad McClammyOliver RobinsonAlan HarperJuandalynn Givan

Session

First Special Session 2010

Title

Elections, printed material, publication, distribution, or display of information relating to, disclosure of responsible person or entity, required, disclosure to include information by telephone, television, radio, Internet, or other electronic mass-media advertisement, Sec. 17-5-13 am'd.

Summary

This bill would require district-based elections for most Alabama judges ( Supreme Court associate justices, appellate judges, circuit judges, and district judges) while keeping the Chief Justice elected statewide, and would allow current judges to finish their terms.

What This Bill Does

If approved, the state would be divided into districts for selecting judges across the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, circuit courts, and district courts. Each district would elect one judge (with the Chief Justice still elected statewide). The amendment would not shorten current judges' terms, and removal of a judge to the state capital during a term would not make them ineligible for their district’s successor. Elections would proceed under existing Alabama election laws, and ballot language would describe the change.

Who It Affects

• Judges and judicial candidates: would run for district-based seats for the Supreme Court, appellate courts, circuit courts, and district courts; incumbents may complete their current terms.
• Voters in Alabama: would vote in district-based judicial elections under current election rules; ballot would include information describing the proposed amendment.

Key Provisions

• Supreme Court: associate justices elected from districts; the chief justice elected statewide; districts defined and aligned with the number of associate justices; removal to the state capital does not make a justice ineligible for their district's successor; existing terms unaffected.
• Courts of Appeals (Court of Criminal Appeals and Court of Civil Appeals): one judge elected from each district; districts created and divided by law; removal rules and term protections similar to the Supreme Court provisions; incumbents may complete current terms.
• Circuit Court: state divided into judicial circuits; circuits with multiple judges divided into districts with one judge elected per district; terms and eligibility protections preserved.
• District Court: district courts divided into districts within counties; one judge elected per district; judges hold court in designated county seats; jurisdiction remains limited; terms for current judges preserved.
• Election and ballot: approval by voters is required; elections would follow existing constitutional sections and election laws; ballot description would outline the proposed district-based judge system.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Elections