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HB529 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026
Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor
David Faulkner
David FaulknerRepresentative
Republican
Session
Regular Session 2019
Title
Courts, circuit and district judges, qualifications, min times of state licensure to practice law, persons with certain professional disciplinary actions, prohibited from qualification, Secs. 12-11-1, 12-12-1 am'd.
Summary

HB 529 changes who can qualify to be circuit or district court judges by setting minimum years of legal practice and barring those with recent disciplinary actions, effective 2020.

What This Bill Does

For circuit court judges appointed or elected after January 1, 2010, a candidate must have at least five to seven years of licensed practice in Alabama or equal years if licensed by another state, and must not have had a suspension or disbarment in the previous 10 years. For district court judges appointed or elected after January 1, 2010, a candidate must have at least three to five years of licensed practice in Alabama or equal years if licensed by another state, and must not have had a suspension or disbarment in the previous 10 years. The act applies to qualifications for new judges and becomes law on January 1, 2020.

Who It Affects
  • People being considered for circuit court judgeships in Alabama who are appointed or elected after January 1, 2010 (must meet the licensure and discipline rules).
  • People being considered for district court judgeships in Alabama who are appointed or elected after January 1, 2010 (must meet the licensure and discipline rules).
Key Provisions
  • Amends §12-11-1 to require circuit court judges after Jan 1, 2010 to have a combined total licensure time of five to seven years (in Alabama or by another state bar) and no suspensions or disbarments in the prior 10 years.
  • Amends §12-12-1 to require district court judges after Jan 1, 2010 to have a combined total licensure time of three to five years (in Alabama or by another state bar) and no suspensions or disbarments in the prior 10 years.
  • Adds the requirement that anyone with a suspension or disbarment from any state bar within the last 10 years cannot qualify as a judge.
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

Bill Actions

H

Delivered to Governor at 6:26 p.m. on May 31, 2019.

H

Assigned Act No. 2019-539.

S

Judiciary first Substitute Offered

H

Clerk of the House Certification

S

Signature Requested

H

Enrolled

S

Concurred in Second House Amendment

H

Faulkner motion to Concur In and Adopt adopted Roll Call 1287

H

Concurrence Requested

S

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 1458

S

Smitherman motion to Adopt adopted Roll Call 1457

S

Smitherman Amendment Offered

S

Givhan motion to Adopt adopted Roll Call 1456

S

Judiciary zeroeth Substitute Offered

S

Third Reading Passed

S

Ward motion to Carry Over to the Call of the Chair adopted Voice Vote

S

Third Reading Carried Over to Call of the Chair

S

Read for the second time and placed on the calendar with 1 substitute and

S

Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary

H

Engrossed

H

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 727

H

Faulkner motion to Table adopted Roll Call 726

H

Givan Amendment Offered

H

Motion to Adopt adopted Roll Call 725

H

Sorrell 2nd Amendment Offered

H

Motion to Adopt adopted Roll Call 724

H

Sorrell Amendment Offered

H

Motion to Adopt adopted Roll Call 723

H

Wadsworth Amendment Offered

H

Third Reading Passed

H

Third Reading Carried Over

H

Read for the second time and placed on the calendar

H

Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Judiciary

Bill Text

Download Enrolled PDF

Votes

Motion to Adopt

May 15, 2019 House Passed
Yes 83
No 8
Abstained 3
Absent 10

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass

May 15, 2019 House Passed
Yes 80
No 13
Abstained 6
Absent 5

Faulkner motion to Table

May 15, 2019 House Passed
Yes 70
No 24
Absent 10

Motion to Adopt

May 15, 2019 House Passed
Yes 76
No 5
Abstained 18
Absent 5

Motion to Adopt

May 15, 2019 House Passed
Yes 81
No 1
Abstained 9
Absent 13

Faulkner motion to Concur In and Adopt

May 31, 2019 House Passed
Yes 102
Absent 2

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass

May 31, 2019 Senate Passed
Yes 27
No 2
Absent 6

Documents

Bill Text (Enrolled) HB529 Alabama 2019 Session - Enrolled
Bill Text (Engrossed) HB529 Alabama 2019 Session - Engrossed
Bill Text (Introduced) HB529 Alabama 2019 Session - Introduced

Source: Alabama Legislature