HB60 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

James O. Gordon

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Mobile Co. (Thirteenth Judicial Circuit), two additional district court judges, election, terms of office, duties, powers, and necessary funding for compensation and benefits, percentage from each municipality and balance from county commission, exemptions, incumbent district judges, const. amend.

Summary

This constitutional amendment would add two new district judges in Mobile County and set how they are funded and elected.

What This Bill Does

It creates two additional district judge positions (numbers 6 and 7) in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (Mobile County) and requires funding for their compensation and benefits for the first two years to come from certain Mobile County municipalities and the Mobile County Commission. The City of Mobile would contribute 10% per new judgeship, other municipalities would contribute 5% each, and the County Commission would pay the remaining amount, with possible deferral if a municipality demonstrates financial hardship. It also changes who can run for the new and existing seats, designates how elections are held (some at large, some by school district), sets residency rules tied to school districts, and specifies six-year terms for the initial appointees after preclearance under the Voting Rights Act.

Who It Affects

• Municipalities in Mobile County (and the City of Mobile) because they must fund a portion of the new judges' compensation and benefits for the first two years, with potential deferral for hardship.
• Mobile County Commission, which would pay the remaining funding after municipal contributions for the first two years.
• Candidates and voters in Mobile County, as elections for the new judgeships (6 and 7) are district-based by school districts 3 and 4, and incumbents for districts 1, 2, and 5 may run at large, while non-incumbents must run from specified school districts.
• Judges and potential judges, since terms, residency requirements, and election rules (at-large vs. district-based) apply to both existing and new district judge seats.

Key Provisions

• Adds two new district judgeships (numbers 6 and 7) to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Mobile County, to be elected after preclearance under the Voting Rights Act.
• Custodial funding arrangement for the first two years: City of Mobile contributes 10% per new judgeship, each other municipality contributes 5%, and Mobile County Commission provides the balance, with possible deferral for hardship.
• Incumbent judges for districts 1, 2, and 5 may run at large; non-incumbents for districts 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 must run from specific school districts; districts 3 and 4 are elected at large, with residency rules tied to school districts.
• Initial elections for judgeships 6 (from school district 3) and 7 (from school district 4) would be held in 2012, and those elected would serve six-year terms; compensation follows existing state law (no salary supplements for new judges first elected after October 1, 2001).
• School districts are mapped so that district 1 = school district 1, district 2 = school district 2, district 5 = school district 5, district 6 = school district 3, and district 7 = school district 4.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Judicial Circuits