SB366 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

William “Bill” M. BeasleySenator

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Gerald O. DialTom Whatley

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Lee Co., additional circuit judge, conditioned on funding for compensation and benefits by county commission, election

Summary

SB366 would add a fourth circuit judge in Lee County, but only if the county funds the first year's salary and staff costs.

What This Bill Does

Creates an extra circuit judgeship (Circuit Judgeship Number 4) in the Thirty-seventh Judicial Circuit, Lee County. The position depends on the Lee County Commission adopting a funding resolution for the judge and staff for the first 12 months, including a judicial assistant and a bailiff or law clerk. The judge would be elected in the 2012 general election or the next general election after that, subject to Voting Rights Act preclearance, and would serve a six-year term with the same powers as other circuit judges. Compensation would follow existing law (Chapter 10A), and no salary supplement or expense allowance would be provided to any circuit judge first elected or appointed after October 1, 2001.

Who It Affects

• Lee County Commission: must decide and fund the first-year salary and staff costs for the new judge and related personnel.
• Voters in the Thirty-seventh Judicial Circuit (Lee County): will elect the new Circuit Judge Number 4 in the specified election, pending preclearance.

Key Provisions

• Creates Circuit Judgeship Number 4 in the Thirty-seventh Judicial Circuit (Lee County).
• Requires Lee County Commission to adopt a funding resolution to cover compensation and benefits for the judge, a judicial assistant, and a bailiff or law clerk for the first 12 months.
• Elects Circuit Judge Number 4 at the 2012 general election or next general election, contingent on preclearance under the Voting Rights Act.
• The elected judge serves a six-year term and has the same jurisdiction and duties as other circuit judges; compensation follows Chapter 10A, including no salary supplement or expense allowance for judges first elected or appointed after October 1, 2001.
• Effective immediately upon passage and governor's approval.

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