SB33 Alabama 2015 1st Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

First Special Session 2015

Title

Courts, judges, Judicial Resources Allocation Commission, established, membership, duties, authority to increase or decrease judgeships under certain criteria

Summary

SB33 creates a permanent Judicial Resources Allocation Commission to study and adjust the number and location of judgeships in Alabama’s district and circuit courts using specific criteria.

What This Bill Does

The bill establishes the Commission, sets criteria (caseload, population, judicial duties, and other relevant information) to decide how many judgeships are needed in each district and circuit court, and requires annual rankings and reports. It authorizes reallocating judgeships based on those rankings, particularly when vacancies occur or a judge is ineligible for reelection due to age, with rules to protect existing county coverage. If a judgeship is reallocated, vacancies are filled in the new district and applicable funding follows the reallocation; if not, vacancies are filled in the original district. The bill also changes how caseload is measured and requires data to be updated before reallocations can occur, and repeals any conflicting laws.

Who It Affects

• District and circuit court judges (current and future) — their number and district assignments can change, and they may be relocated to different districts or circuits based on the Commission's decisions.
• Alabama residents and the statewide judiciary system — access to court services and where cases are heard may change due to redistribution, with a guarantee that every county continues to have at least one district judge and that funding follows relocated judgeships.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Judicial Resources Allocation Commission and specifies its composition: Chief Justice as chair; Governor's legal advisor; three circuit judges; three district judges; and three licensed attorneys; with a diversity requirement.
• Requires annual review and ranking of need for more or fewer judgeships using criteria: Judicial Weighted Caseload Study, district/circuit population, judicial duties, and other relevant information.
• Requires the Commission to publish and deliver its rankings to the Governor and the Legislature within 30 days of completion.
• Allows the Commission to reallocate a vacant judgeship within 30 days of vacancy, and to reallocate when a judge is ineligible for reelection due to age, with conditions to protect districts and counties and ensure at least one district judge per county.
• Outlines how vacancies are filled depending on whether a judgeship was reallocated; the appointee must serve the term before running for election in the new district, and the vacancy is filled according to law in the appropriate district.
• After reallocating a judgeship, remaining judgeships are renumbered and funding continues for the relocated position.
• Section 3 clarifies that a reallocated judge retains full powers and qualifications for the new district or circuit.
• Section 4 sets compensation for reallocated or newly appointed judges according to existing law (Chapter 10A, Title 12).
• Section 5 requires the Alabama Supreme Court to revise the caseload factors to count criminal cases by counts by January 1, 2016, and mandates a minimum of three years of data before any reallocation.
• Section 6 repeals laws that conflict with SB33.
• Section 7 states the act becomes effective immediately upon 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

Courts