SB68 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Cam Ward
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Courts, private judges requirements to serve, former appellate judges eligible to serve, Attorney General, defense of cases brought against private judge, Secs. 12-11A-2, 12-11A-4, 12-11A-7, 12-11A-8 am'd.; Act 2012-266, 2012 Reg. Sess., am'd.
Summary: SB68 expands who can serve as a private judge in Alabama and updates rules for how private judging works and defends those judges.
What This Bill Does
It adds appellate judges to the list of people who may act as private judges and removes the rule that their former court must have had subject matter jurisdiction over the case. It also allows a private judge to be called to active duty or to accept appointments as a special or senior judge while serving as a private judge, and it requires the Attorney General to defend private judges in cases related to their private-judge service. Additionally, it specifies that a case heard by a private judge may be heard in the county courthouse where the case was filed and clarifies duties and conduct for private judges.

Who It Affects
Appellate judges and other former judges who may now be eligible to serve as private judges, including the possibility of continuing other judicial duties concurrently.
Litigants and cases eligible for private-judge proceedings (domestic relations, contract, tort) who may file to have a private judge hear their case, and the Office of the Attorney General which must defend the private judge in related cases.

Key Provisions
Authorizes a person who has previously served as an appellate court judge to act as a private judge.
Removes the requirement that the former court of the private judge must have had subject matter jurisdiction over the case.
Allows a private judge to be called to active duty status or to accept appointment as a special or senior judge while also serving as a private judge.
Requires the Office of the Attorney General to provide a defense in any case brought against a private judge relating to their service as a private judge.
Specifies that a case heard by a private judge may be heard in the county courthouse of the county where the case was filed.
Affirms and clarifies duties, conduct, and procedural framework for private judges as amended by the act.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Courts