SB313 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom Whatley

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Randy Price

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Courts, Twenty-third Judicial Circuit, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Twenty-eight Judicial Circuit, Thirty-seventh Judicial Circuit, additional circuit judge, compensation and benefits, election, Sec. 12-9A-5 repealed

Summary

SB313 would add four new circuit judgeships across four Alabama circuits, adjust how vacancies are reallocated, change pay rules, repeal the Judicial Weighted Caseload Study, and terminate two existing 10th Circuit seats.

What This Bill Does

It creates four new circuit judgeships: Twenty-third Circuit (Madison County) as Judge No. 8, Nineteenth Circuit (Autauga/Chilton/Elmore) as Judge No. 4, Twenty-eighth Circuit (Baldwin) as Judge No. 6, and Thirty-seventh Circuit (Lee) as Judge No. 4. It sets their appointment timing, confirms they have full jurisdiction and duties, and places their pay under current compensation rules. It gives the Judicial Resources Allocation Commission new rules for reallocating vacant circuit seats, and it repeals the Judicial Weighted Caseload Study; it also terminates two existing 10th Circuit seats (Place 16 and Place 21) by January 16, 2023 or sooner if those seats become vacant.

Who It Affects

• Residents, businesses, and court users in Madison County; Autauga, Chilton, and Elmore Counties; Baldwin County; and Lee County would be served by additional circuit judges to handle caseloads.
• Judicial Resources Allocation Commission, current circuit judges, and court staff, who would operate under new allocation rules, compensation guidelines, and changes to existing seat structures (including termination of two 10th Circuit seats) and the repeal of the weighted caseload study.

Key Provisions

• Creates four additional circuit judgeships: Twenty-third Circuit Judge No. 8 (Madison), Nineteenth Circuit Judge No. 4 (Autauga/Chilton/Elmore), Twenty-eighth Circuit Judge No. 6 (Baldwin), and Thirty-seventh Circuit Judge No. 4 (Lee).
• Section 2 sets the appointment timing (effective Oct. 1, 2021), confirms initial appointees serve under Amendment 950, and grants the new judges full jurisdiction and duties like other circuit judges.
• Section 3 establishes annual compensation per Chapter 10A and prohibits salary supplements or expense allowances for judges first elected or appointed after October 1, 2001.
• Section 4 terminates the Circuit Judgeships in Place 16 and Place 21 of the 10th Judicial Circuit effective January 16, 2023, or earlier if those positions become vacant.
• Section 5 gives the Judicial Resources Allocation Commission authority to reallocate the first vacant circuit judgeship after the act’s effective date, prohibits reallocating the second vacancy (which terminates that judgeship), and allows reallocations of subsequent vacancies under existing law.
• Section 6 repeals Section 12-9A-5 (Judicial Weighted Caseload Study).
• Section 7 states the act takes effect immediately upon governor approval.

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