SB103 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Sam GivhanSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Will BarfootTom ButlerChris ElliottSteve LivingstonClay Scofield

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Courts, Twenty-third Judicial Circuit, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Twenty-eighth Judicial Circuit, additional circuit judge, compensation and benefits

Summary

SB103 would create three new circuit judgeships in Alabama, set their compensation and benefits, and authorize reallocating vacant seats by the Judicial Resources Allocation Commission, with an effective date in January 2023.

What This Bill Does

Creates three new circuit judgeships: Circuit Judgeship Number 8 in the Twenty-third Judicial Circuit (Madison County), Circuit Judgeship Number 4 in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit (Autauga, Chilton, and Elmore Counties), and Circuit Judgeship Number 6 in the Twenty-eighth Judicial Circuit (Baldwin County). The initial judges must serve under the existing constitutional and compensation rules, including the rule that new judges appointed after October 1, 2001 do not receive a salary supplement or expense allowance. The judge for the Nineteenth Circuit may reside anywhere within that circuit. The Judicial Resources Allocation Commission would reallocate the first vacant circuit judgeship to the Twenty-third Circuit after the act, and may reallocate subsequent vacancies under existing law. The act becomes effective January 1, 2023, pending governor's approval.

Who It Affects

• Residents and courts in Madison County (Twenty-third Circuit), Autauga/Chilton/Elmore Counties (Nineteenth Circuit), and Baldwin County (Twenty-eighth Circuit), who may experience more circuit judges and potentially faster case handling.
• Judicial Resources Allocation Commission and current/future circuit judges, who are affected by the new roles, residency rules, and vacancy reallocation authorities.

Key Provisions

• Creates three additional circuit judgeships: CJ 8 in the Twenty-third Judicial Circuit (Madison County), CJ 4 in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit (Autauga, Chilton, Elmore), and CJ 6 in the Twenty-eighth Judicial Circuit (Baldwin).
• The chief residence rule for the new 19th Circuit judge allows residence anywhere within the 19th Circuit.
• Initial compensation for the new judges follows Chapter 10A of Title 12, with the standard no salary supplement or expense allowance for judges first appointed after October 1, 2001.
• The Judicial Resources Allocation Commission must reallocate the first vacancy to the Twenty-third Circuit after the act, and may reallocate subsequent vacancies under existing law.
• The act becomes effective January 1, 2023, after passage and governor 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

Madison County