HB576 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Court of the Judiciary, appeals to Supreme Court, legislative approval of Supreme Court decisions, continued service of judge upon filing of complaint with the Judicial Inquiry Comm., auth. const. amend.

Summary

HB576 would rewrite Alabama's judicial discipline system by restructuring the Judicial Inquiry Commission and Court of the Judiciary, adding Senate confirmation and legislative oversight, and removing automatic disqualification for complaints against judges.

What This Bill Does

The bill would amend the Constitution to redesign the membership of the Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) and the Court of the Judiciary (COTJ), require Senate confirmation for all appointees, set staggered four-year terms with a three-term limit, and create a permanently operating JIC with authority to investigate and file complaints. It would also shift final removal decisions for Supreme Court justices and appellate judges to the Legislature (two-thirds in both houses) while keeping the COTJ to handle investigations and sanctions; and it would delete the provision that automatically disqualifies a judge from acting when a complaint is filed.

Who It Affects

• Judges and justices in Alabama would face new appointment and removal rules, including Senate confirmation for JIC/COTJ appointees, potential legislative approval of certain removals, and the removal process not automatically disqualifying them from acting during proceedings.
• State officials and institutions involved in appointments and oversight (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Senate, Supreme Court, Circuit Judges' Association, Alabama State Bar, and other appointing bodies) would gain new roles and responsibilities in appointing, confirming, and overseeing judgments and disciplinary actions.

Key Provisions

• Redesign of JIC and Court of the Judiciary: nine-member JIC with appointments from multiple bodies; all appointees subject to Senate confirmation; staggered four-year terms with a three-term limit; JIC can investigate and file complaints and prosecutes them; COTJ composition and authority to hear complaints and sanction judges.
• Removal oversight and disqualification change: removals of Justices of the Supreme Court and appellate judges would require legislative approval (two-thirds in both houses); the provision disqualifying a judge from acting upon a pending complaint would be deleted.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments