SB407 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Sam GivhanSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Judges, vacancies, initial term of judges appt. to fill, further provided for, Amendment 328, Constitution of Alabama of 1901, am'd, const. amend.

Summary

SB 407 would require judges (excluding probate) appointed to fill vacancies to serve an initial term of at least two years, or the remainder of the original term if longer, before facing a full-term election.

What This Bill Does

If approved, the bill changes how long a vacancy-appointed judge must serve initially. The initial term would last until the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January following the general election, after the judge has completed two years in office or the remainder of the original term, whichever is longer. Probate judges are excluded from this rule. Local county provisions may still apply in certain counties, but the general rule would govern other judicial vacancies and lead to a full-term election at the end of the appointed term.

Who It Affects

• Non-probate judges appointed to fill vacancies statewide, by increasing their required initial term to at least two years (or longer if the original term remains longer).
• Voters/Electors in Alabama, who would decide this constitutional change in a statewide ballot.
• Counties with special local rules (e.g., Jefferson, Shelby, Madison, and others) where vacancy processes are already governed by county-specific provisions; these counties may continue to follow their local rules alongside the new general rule.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 6.14 of Amendment 328 to change the initial term for non-probate judges appointed to fill vacancies to last until the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January following the next general election after the judge has completed two years in office or the remainder of the original term, whichever is longer.
• Excludes probate judges from this change; the rule applies to other judicial offices as provided.
• At the end of the appointed term, the office is filled for a full term beginning after the appointed term ends.
• Requires statewide voter approval of the constitutional amendment and preserves existing county-specific provisions for certain counties as currently established.

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