HB672 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Laura HallRepresentative

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Mac McCutcheonMike BallHoward SanderfordPhil WilliamsJim PattersonWayne Johnson

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Madison Co., circuit and district court, court administrator, appointment by presiding circuit judge, confidential employee under Unified Judicial System, Act 1040, 1973 Reg. Sess. am'd

Summary

HB672 creates a new Court Administrator role in the Twenty-third Judicial Circuit of Madison County, appointable by the presiding circuit judge with approval from the circuit and district judges, designated as a confidential employee, with defined duties and staff, and abolishes the old position.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill defines the Office of Court Administrator, appoints a court administrator as a confidential state employee supervised by the presiding judge (subject to approval by judges), and pays the position under the Unified Judicial System. It lists duties such as gathering information on justice administration, pursuing grants, supporting education for court personnel, handling certain financial information, aiding pre-trial release data collection, managing the jury system, and producing an annual court report with innovations. It allows hiring up to three confidential administrative or clerical staff, provides protections under the Madison County Preservation of Justice Act, and aims to improve efficiency and economy. It also abolishes the prior, existing court administrator position once the new appointment is made, with the act taking effect immediately.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: Court administrator and confidential support staff in the Twenty-third Judicial Circuit, who will be appointed, supervised, paid under the Unified Judicial System, and designated as confidential employees.
• Group 2: Judges in the Twenty-third Judicial Circuit (presiding circuit judge and circuit/district judges) and Madison County residents who rely on the court system, who are affected by the appointment process, oversight requirements, staff additions, and the overall goal of a more efficient and better-reported court system.

Key Provisions

• Redefinition of the Office of Court Administrator and appointment process: presiding circuit judge nominates; majority approval by circuit and district judges; position is a confidential employee; compensation under the Unified Judicial System; supervised by the presiding judge.
• Duties of the court administrator: compile/digest information on justice administration; apply for grants; coordinate studies; support continuing education for judges and staff; manage financial information; assist with pre-trial release program data; manage the jury system; prepare and publish an annual activities report with innovations.
• Staffing: upon appointment, the administrator may hire up to three administrative/clerical/support personnel as confidential employees.
• Protections and purpose: all staff protected under the Madison County Preservation of Justice Act; purpose is to increase efficiency and economy in court operations.
• Abolishment of old position: the existing court administrator position is abolished upon the new appointment.
• Effective date: immediate upon passage and approval.

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

Subjects

Madison County