SB291 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Madison Co., Twenty-third Judicial Circuit, additional circuit judge, compensation and benefits, election, Sec. 12-9A-5 repealed

Summary

SB291 would add three new circuit judgeships in Alabama and change how judges are allocated and paid, while also repealing the Judicial Weighted Caseload Study.

What This Bill Does

It creates three new circuit judgeships: Twenty-third Circuit Number 8 (Madison County), Nineteenth Circuit Number 4 (Autauga, Chilton, Elmore), and Twenty-eighth Circuit Number 6 (Baldwin). The new judges would have full authority, jurisdiction, and benefits like other circuit judges, and their appointments would follow existing constitutional rules. The bill also revises how vacancies are reallocated by the Judicial Resources Allocation Commission, terminates certain existing judgeships, and updates compensation rules; it repeals the weighted caseload study and sets some immediate effective dates.

Who It Affects

• Residents of Madison County, Autauga/Chilton/Elmore Counties, and Baldwin County, who would be served by additional circuit judges and potentially experience changes in access to timely judicial proceedings.
• Circuit judges, the Judicial Resources Allocation Commission, and other state judiciary stakeholders, who would face new or altered vacancies, reallocation rules, compensation rules, and the removal of the weighted caseload study.

Key Provisions

• Creates three additional circuit judgeships: Twenty-third Circuit (Madison County) as Judge Position No. 8; Nineteenth Circuit (Autauga, Chilton, Elmore) as Judge Position No. 4; Twenty-eighth Circuit (Baldwin) as Judge Position No. 6.
• Vacancies: The first new judgeship appointments shall be filled as vacancies arise, with first appointees serving under Amendment 950 and having full jurisdiction and duties like other circuit judges.
• Compensation: Annual pay for the new and existing judges shall follow Chapter 10A; judges first elected or appointed after October 1, 2001 shall not receive salary supplements or expense allowances.
• Termination and reallocation: The act terminates Circuit Judgeships in Place 16 and Place 21 of the 10th Judicial Circuit (effective January 16, 2023 or sooner if vacated). The Judicial Resources Allocation Commission must reallocate the first vacancy after the act’s effective date, cannot reallocate the second vacancy, and may reallocate subsequent vacancies under existing law.
• Repeal: Section 12-9A-5 (Judicial Weighted Caseload Study) is repealed.
• Effective date: The act is effective immediately after passage and Governor’s approval, with certain sections having their own specified effective dates.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Madison County