SB176 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

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

SB176 would let the Chief Justice move a circuit judge from one circuit to another when a vacancy occurs, using criteria set by the Judicial System Study Commission.

What This Bill Does

The Judicial System Study Commission would establish criteria for increasing or decreasing the number of circuit judgeships in each circuit and report annually to the Chief Justice, highlighting circuits with greatest need and those with excess. When a vacancy arises, the Chief Justice may reallocate the vacated judgeship to a different circuit based on the Commission's recommendations. The original circuit would have its remaining judgeships renumbered, and funds for the reallocated judgeship would follow to the new circuit. The person filling the reallocated judgeship would serve according to the laws of the destination circuit, participate in its election process, and, once appointed, would have the same powers, duties, and compensation rules as other circuit judges.

Who It Affects

• Circuit judges and the specific circuits involved, whose number of judgeships may be increased or decreased and who could have a vacancy moved to another circuit (with renumbering and election implications).
• The Judicial System Study Commission and the Chief Justice, who would establish criteria, prepare annual reports, and authorize reallocations based on those recommendations.

Key Provisions

• The Judicial System Study Commission must establish criteria to determine the need to increase or decrease judgeships in each circuit and report to the Chief Justice by January 1 each year, listing circuits with greatest need and those with excess and detailing the criteria and facts used.
• If a vacancy occurs due to death, retirement, resignation, or removal, the Chief Justice may reallocate that judgeship to another circuit, considering the Commission's annual recommendations.
• After reallocation, the original circuit's remaining judgeships must be renumbered accordingly.
• Funds allocated to the reallocated judgeship continue to fund the judgeship in the circuit to which it has been moved.
• The vacancy for the reallocated judgeship will be filled under the law of the destination circuit, and the appointee must serve the required time before running for election in the new circuit; the reallocated seat will be subject to election in that circuit.
• The appointed judge will have and exercise all powers, rights, and duties of other circuit judges in the destination circuit.
• Annual compensation for judges appointed under this act shall follow the applicable pay rules in Chapter 10A of Title 12.
• All laws or parts of laws that conflict with this act are repealed.
• The act becomes effective immediately after passage and approval 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