HB550 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joseph C. Mitchell

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Judges, prohibited members of the Legislature from being appointed to judgeship within two years of his or her appointment, Secs. 12-2-1, 12-3-1, 12-11-1, 12-12-1 am'd

Summary

HB550 would prevent anyone appointed to fill a court vacancy in Alabama after January 1, 2013 from having served in the Alabama Legislature in the previous two years.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds a new rule to the qualifications for judges on the Supreme Court, Court of Civil Appeals, Court of Criminal Appeals, circuit court, and district court. If an appointment occurs after January 1, 2013, the appointee may not have been a member of the Alabama Legislature within the two years before the appointment. It modifies sections 12-2-1, 12-3-1, 12-11-1, and 12-12-1 to include this prohibition while leaving existing qualification requirements (like required years of bar licensure) in place.

Who It Affects

• Prospective judicial appointees to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court, Court of Civil Appeals, Court of Criminal Appeals, circuit courts, and district courts, who must not have been Alabama legislators in the prior two years.
• Former Alabama legislators who might be nominated for judicial vacancies, as they would be disqualified if they were in the Legislature within the two years before an appointment.

Key Provisions

• Amends Sections 12-2-1, 12-3-1, 12-11-1, and 12-12-1 to add a two-year non-legislative period for appointees after January 1, 2013.
• Specifies that an appointment to fill a vacant term on the Supreme Court, Court of Civil Appeals, Court of Criminal Appeals, circuit court, or district court cannot be given to someone who was a member of the Alabama Legislature within the two years prior to the appointment.
• Effective date: January 1, 2013, following governor’s approval.
• Notes that other existing eligibility requirements (such as bar licensure years) remain in effect and are not changed by this bill.

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

Subjects

Judges