HB746 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mark Tuggle

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

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

Summary

HB746 would add Circuit Judgeship Number 4 in Lee County’s Thirty-seventh Judicial Circuit, but only if the county funds the first year’s pay and benefits for the judge and staff, with the seat filled by election in 2014 or the next general election.

What This Bill Does

It creates one additional circuit judgeship in the Thirty-seventh Judicial Circuit, conditioned on Lee County adopting a resolution to provide funding for the judge, a judicial assistant, and a bailiff or law clerk for the first 12 months. If funded and precleared, the seat would be filled by election in the 2014 general election (or the next general election thereafter), and the judge would serve a six-year term with full circuit judge powers and duties. Compensation would follow existing Alabama law, and no salary supplement or expense allowance would be provided to the first judge elected after October 1, 2001. The act becomes effective immediately after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Lee County taxpayers and county government: must adopt a resolution to fund the first year's compensation and benefits for the new judge and staff (judge, judicial assistant, and bailiff/law clerk).
• Potential candidates and voters in the Thirty-seventh Judicial Circuit (Lee County): the new seat would be elected in 2014 (or the next general election), subject to preclearance under the Voting Rights Act.

Key Provisions

• Creates an additional circuit judgeship designated Circuit Judgeship Number 4 in the Thirty-seventh Judicial Circuit (Lee County).
• The creation is conditional on Lee County Commission adopting a resolution to fund the judge and support staff for the first 12 months (including a judicial assistant and a bailiff or law clerk).
• Circuit Judgeship Number 4 shall be filled at the November 2014 general election or the next general election thereafter, if preclearance under the Voting Rights Act is obtained and the county has adopted the required resolution.
• The first judge elected to Circuit Judgeship Number 4 serves a six-year term and has the same powers, duties, and qualifications as other circuit judges; compensation must comply with Chapter 10A, Title 12 of the Code of Alabama 1975, with no salary supplement or expense allowance for first-elected judges after October 1, 2001.
• The act becomes effective immediately after passage and governor 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

Judicial Circuits