HB503 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Poole

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Tuscaloosa Co., 6th Judicial Circuit, additional district judge, conditioned on funding for compensation and benefits by county commission, election

Summary

HB503 would create a new District Judge seat (Number 3) in the Sixth Judicial Circuit for Tuscaloosa County, but only if the county funds the judge's pay and a judicial assistant for the first 24 months, with an election planned for 2022.

What This Bill Does

It adds a new District Judge position in the Sixth Judicial Circuit for Tuscaloosa County. The position only exists if the Tuscaloosa County Commission passes a resolution to fund the judge and a judicial assistant for the first 24 months. If funded, the judge would be elected in the 2022 general election and would serve a six-year term with full district judge powers; compensation would follow existing state rules, and the act would repeal conflicting laws and take effect once the governor signs.

Who It Affects

• Residents of Tuscaloosa County in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, who would have an additional district judge available once the funding condition is met.
• Tuscaloosa County Commission, which would need to adopt a funding resolution for 24 months of compensation and benefits for the judge and a judicial assistant.
• The candidate elected as District Judge 3 in the 2022 general election.
• The judicial assistant funded for 24 months by the county.

Key Provisions

• Creates District Judgeship Number 3 in the Sixth Judicial Circuit (Tuscaloosa County).
• Makes the new judgeship contingent on the Tuscaloosa County Commission adopting a resolution to fund the first 24 months of compensation and benefits for the judge and a judicial assistant.
• Provides for the judge to be elected at the November 2022 general election if the funding condition is met.
• The first judge elected to this position serves a six-year term beginning the Monday after the second Tuesday in January after the election.
• The new judge has all jurisdiction, powers, rights, and duties of other district judges.
• Compensation follows Chapter 10A of Title 12; no salary supplement or expense allowance for the judge first elected after October 1, 2001.
• Repeals laws that conflict with this act.
• Effective immediately upon passage and governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Tuscaloosa County