SB358 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Courts, circuit and district, senior status judges, position on, duties, compensation

Summary

SB358 creates a new senior status judge position for retired circuit or district judges, allowing limited-duty service with partial pay and retained retirement benefits.

What This Bill Does

The bill lets retired circuit or district judges request to serve as senior status judges who preside over a reduced docket. If approved, they work at 25%, 33%, or 50% of a normal docket and receive corresponding pay in addition to their full retirement benefits, with no extra retirement benefits for this service. Rules for case assignments and appointment are to be set, the term lasts two years and can be renewed, and senior status judges must follow ethics rules and cannot practice law.

Who It Affects

• Retired circuit or district judges who may elect to become senior status judges and, if approved, work a reduced docket at 25%, 33%, or 50% capacity while collecting partial pay in addition to their full retirement benefits.
• Administrative Office of Courts and presiding circuit judges who approve requests, determine the senior status judge's docket percentage, assign cases, and establish the rules governing the program; terms are two years and renewable.

Key Provisions

• Creates the position of senior status judge for retired circuit or district judges who preside over a reduced docket.
• A retired judge may request to serve as a senior status judge; approval requires the Administrative Office of Courts and the appropriate presiding circuit judge, and the approval specifies the percentage of the normal docket to maintain; approval is valid for two years and renewable.
• Compensation includes full retirement benefits plus a separate amount equal to 25%, 33%, or 50% of the starting salary for a circuit or district judge, based on the selected docket level; no additional retirement benefits are provided for this service.
• Senior status judges must not practice law and must follow Cannons of Judicial Ethics and other standards applicable to regular judges; the Administrative Office of Courts and presiding judges will adopt rules to ensure proper case assignment.
• The act becomes effective immediately upon passage and 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