HB448 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Beckman

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Judicial Commission, creation, membership, appointments to fill vacancies in offices of circuit and district judge, circuit clerk, and district attorney, const. amend.

Summary

HB448 would amend Alabama's constitution to create the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Judicial Commission and three county commissions to nominate candidates for various judicial vacancies in Autauga, Chilton, and Elmore counties.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Judicial Commission with five members (the presiding circuit judge, the district attorney, and the presidents or representatives of the local bar associations) to nominate candidates for circuit judge and district attorney vacancies. It also creates Autauga, Chilton, and Elmore County Judicial Commissions to nominate candidates for district court judge vacancies and to nominate to the presiding judge for circuit clerk vacancies in those counties. Nominations go to the Governor (or presiding judge as specified); the Governor appoints from the list or the Chief Justice can appoint if the Governor does not act; nominees must meet residency requirements, and terms are set for the appointed offices.

Who It Affects

• Residents of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit (Autauga, Chilton, and Elmore counties) who may be nominated for or hold positions as circuit judge, district court judge, district attorney, or circuit clerk.
• Judicial and legal governance actors in the circuit, including the Presiding Circuit Judge, the District Attorney, local bar associations, county commissions, the county legislative delegation, the Governor, and the Chief Justice, who participate in the nomination and appointment process.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Judicial Commission with five members (Presiding Circuit Judge, District Attorney or representative, and the president of each local bar association or their representative) who reside in the circuit and oversee nominations for circuit judge and district attorney vacancies.
• Creates Autauga County, Chilton County, and Elmore County Judicial Commissions with five voting members each (resident circuit judge, District Attorney or representative, one county-selected member, local bar association president or representative, and the county's legislative delegation member) to nominate for district court judge vacancies and to nominate for clerk vacancies to the presiding judge.
• Nominations from the commissions go to the Governor for circuit judge and district attorney vacancies; the Governor appoints from the list or returns it for more nominees, with timelines; if the Governor does not act, the Chief Justice may appoint from the list.
• Nominees for circuit judge must have lived in the county for at least one year; nominees for district attorney must have lived in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit for at least one year prior to nomination.
• For district judge vacancies, the local commissions nominate up to three candidates to the Governor; for circuit clerk vacancies, the local commissions nominate up to three candidates and the presiding judge appoints within 30 days.
• Initial terms for circuit judges run until the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January following the next general election after one year in office, with full terms thereafter; district attorneys serve the remainder of the unexpired term as provided by law.

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