SB37 Alabama 2018 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Cam Ward
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2018
Title: Municipal courts, pretrial diversion program, voluntary transfer authorized
Summary: SB 37 lets a qualifying defendant be voluntarily moved from a municipal court to county district or circuit court for a pretrial diversion or similar program, if certain conditions are met.
What This Bill Does
A presiding circuit judge, with the district attorney, can transfer a case from municipal court to county court when the defendant qualifies for a diversion program and the county court offers one, and the municipal court does not offer that program. If transferred, the case becomes exclusively under district/circuit jurisdiction and is prosecuted under the state's law as charged by the municipality. Both the defendant and the municipal court can object to the transfer, and the case cannot be transferred if either objects. The law becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is passed and approved.

Who It Affects
Defendants who qualify for a pretrial diversion program, mental health court, drug court, veteran court, or similar program, and who are in a municipal court that does not offer such a program.
Municipal courts without these programs, and the county district or circuit courts that offer them, as they share jurisdictional changes when transfers occur.

Key Provisions
Transfer criteria: defendant qualification, availability of a similar program in county/circuit court, and absence of such program in the municipal court.
Transfer result: exclusive jurisdiction by district/circuit courts; prosecution under state law as charged by the municipality.
Objections: either the defendant or the municipal court can object; no transfer if there is an objection.
Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage/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: Pretrial Diversion Programs