SB17 Alabama 2015 2nd Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Second Special Session 2015

Title

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

Summary

SB17 creates a permanent Judicial Resources Allocation Commission to study Alabama court workloads and powers, and to move judgeships between district and circuit courts based on defined criteria.

What This Bill Does

It establishes a diverse, standing commission to evaluate the need for more or fewer judges in each district and circuit court using specified criteria and to publish a ranked list for the Governor and Legislature. It authorizes reallocating judgeships according to those rankings and sets vacancy procedures, including when a vacancy can be moved to another district and how vacancies are filled. It also directs a revision of caseload factors by the Supreme Court and states that no reallocation can occur until three years of data after that revision; it clarifies compensation, duties, and the process becomes effective immediately after the governor signs it.

Who It Affects

• District and circuit judges and the districts/circuits they serve, because the number and location of their judgeships can be increased, decreased, or moved to different districts or circuits.
• The Governor and the Alabama Legislature (and the state judiciary) because they will receive the annual court rankings, decide on reallocations, and oversee vacancy rules, funding, and related procedures.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Judicial Resources Allocation Commission with specified members (Chief Justice as chair; Governor's legal advisor; Attorney General; three circuit judges; three district judges; two attorneys) and requires diverse representation.
• Requires annual review of judge-need using criteria: Judicial Weighted Caseload Study, district/circuit population, judicial duties, and other relevant information.
• Requires the Commission to rank courts and provide the ranking to the Governor and Legislature within 30 days of completing the review.
• Allows reallocation of a judgeship within 30 days of vacancy (death, retirement, resignation, removal) and when a judge is ineligible for reelection due to age, with limits to prevent harming districts or counties (each county must still have at least one district judge).
• If not reallocated within 30 days, vacancy is filled under existing law in the original district; if reallocated, vacancy is filled under the law for the new district, with the appointee serving the required time before running for election in the new district.
• After reallocation, remaining judgeships are renumbered, and funding continues for the reallocated judgeship.
• Reallocated judges have full jurisdiction, powers, and duties of other judges in the new district or circuit, with compensation per Title 12, Chapter 10A.
• Requires the Alabama Supreme Court to revise the Judicial Weighted Caseload factors by January 1, 2016 to count criminal cases by counts, and prohibits reallocation until three years of data after the revision.
• Repeals conflicting laws and makes the act effective immediately upon the governor's 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