HB597 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Daniel H. Boman

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

State courts, judicial authority, Sharia (form of religious law derived from Islamic law) not to be considered when making judicial decisions, Section 139, as amended by Amendment 328 to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, (Section 139, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.

Summary

Proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure Alabama courts do not consider Sharia law or international law in their decisions.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the amendment would require courts to base rulings on the US Constitution, the Alabama Constitution, the US Code, federal regulations, established common law, the Code of Alabama, and applicable state laws. It would explicitly prohibit courts from considering Sharia or international law and from looking to the legal precepts of other nations or cultures. The courts may use the law of another state only if that state's law does not include Sharia. The rule would apply to all cases, including those that are decisions on new or first-impression issues.

Who It Affects

• State courts and judges, who would be required to exclude Sharia and international law from their decisions.
• Litigants and legal practitioners, whose arguments referencing Sharia or international law could not be used as a basis for court decisions.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits the courts from considering Sharia when exercising their judicial authority.
• Requires adherence to specified sources of law: US Constitution, Alabama Constitution, US Code, federal regulations, established common law, Code of Alabama 1975, and state law; allows applying another state's law only if that law does not include Sharia.
• Explicitly prohibits consideration of international law or Sharia and prohibits looking to legal precepts of other nations or cultures.
• Applies to all cases before the courts, including first-impression cases.

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

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments