SB292 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Circuit judgeships, Chief Justice of Alabama Supreme Court auth. to reallocate judgeships to a different circuit after vacancy, study by Judicial System Study Commission to make recommendations

Summary

Allows the Chief Justice to move a vacant circuit judgeship to another circuit using criteria from the Judicial System Study Commission.

What This Bill Does

The Judicial System Study Commission will set criteria to determine when circuits need more or fewer judges and report annually to the Chief Justice. If a circuit has a vacancy, the Chief Justice may reallocate that judgeship to a different circuit based on the commission's recommendation. After reallocating, the original circuit's remaining seats are renumbered and funding follows the moved judgeship to the new circuit; the vacancy is filled under the new circuit's rules and the seated judge will later be up for election in the receiving circuit.

Who It Affects

• Circuit judges and the circuits themselves, because vacancies can be moved to other circuits, changing where judges serve and how many judges each circuit has.
• Residents and taxpayers in affected circuits, because funding for the moved judgeship continues in the new circuit and elections will be held in that circuit for the reallocated seat.

Key Provisions

• The Judicial System Study Commission must establish criteria for increasing or decreasing the number of judgeships in each circuit and report to the Chief Justice by January 1, 2016, and annually thereafter.
• The annual report must list circuits with the greatest need for additional judgeships and circuits with an excess, including the facts and criteria used.
• In the event of a vacancy (death, retirement, resignation, or removal), the Chief Justice may reallocate that judgeship to another circuit, guided by the commission's recommendations.
• After reallocation, the remaining judgeships in the original circuit are renumbered accordingly.
• Funding for the reallocated judgeship continues to be used for the new circuit.
• The vacancy is filled under the law of the receiving circuit, and the appointee serves the required time before running for election in the new circuit.
• The reallocated judgeship is subject to election in the receiving circuit, and the appointee has full jurisdiction, duties, and authority of a circuit judge.
• Compensation for the reallocated judgeship is set under Chapter 10A of Title 12, Code of Alabama 1975.
• All laws that conflict with this act are repealed.
• The act becomes effective immediately after it is passed and approved by the Governor.

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

Subjects

Court, Supreme