SB221 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom Whatley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Judicial circuits and districts, reallocate the number of circuit judges and district judges every 20 years based on population, Secs. 12-11-2, 12-12-1 am'd.

Summary

Requires population-based reallocation of circuit and district judgeships in Alabama every 20 years with legislative approval.

What This Bill Does

Starting in 2021 and then every 20 years, the bill would reallocate the number of circuit judgeships across circuits and district judgeships across districts based on population. The Judicial Resources Allocation Commission would propose a population-based scale for assigning judges, with the Administrative Office of Courts assisting, and the Legislature would must pass a general bill to adopt the changes in the specified session. The Legislature’s changes would be reviewed by the Supreme Court, and vacancies would be handled under existing procedures (Section 12-9A-2).

Who It Affects

• Circuit judges and the circuits they serve, who could gain or lose judgeships based on population changes.
• District judges and the districts they serve, who could gain or lose judgeships based on population changes.

Key Provisions

• Beginning in 2021 and every 20 years thereafter, the number of circuit judgeships within each circuit shall be reallocated based on population by the Judicial Resources Allocation Commission, subject to Legislature approval.
• The Commission shall create a population-based scale for assigning circuit judges to circuits, with assistance from the Administrative Office of Courts.
• The number of circuit judgeships assigned to each circuit must be approved by a general bill during the 2021 Regular Session and every 20th regular session thereafter.
• Beginning in 2021 and every 20 years thereafter, the number of district judgeships within each district shall be reallocated based on population, using a similar process as for circuits.
• The Supreme Court shall review any proposed changes in the number of circuit or district judges under this act.
• Vacancies shall be allocated pursuant to Section 12-9A-2.

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

Subjects

Judges