SB173 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom Whatley

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Randy Price

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Courts, additional circuit judgeships in various judicial circuits, district judgeships in various counties throughout the state, compensation and benefits, election

Summary

SB173 would create new circuit and district judgeships in several Alabama circuits and counties and set rules for appointment, authority, and pay for those judges.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds extra circuit judgeships in multiple circuits (with specific designations) and adds several district judgeships in designated counties. It ensures the new judges have the same powers, duties, and qualifications as existing judges and sets their pay under current law, including a rule that some judges cannot receive salary supplements or expense allowances. The act becomes effective January 1, 2023.

Who It Affects

• Judges and prospective nominees/elected officials who would fill the new circuit and district judgeships and must follow existing appointment and compensation rules.
• Residents, businesses, and court users in the affected circuits and counties (Fifth, Sixth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-third, Twenty-eighth, Thirty-seventh circuits and Baldwin, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Madison, Mobile, Shelby, and Tuscaloosa counties) who could experience changes in court access and processing due to more judges.

Key Provisions

• Creates additional circuit judgeships in the Fifth Circuit (Circuit Judgeship 4), Sixth Circuit (Judgeship 7), Eleventh Circuit (Judgeship 4), Thirteenth Circuit (Judgeships 12 and 13), Nineteenth Circuit (Judgeships 4 and 5), Twenty-third Circuit (Judships 8, 9, 10), Twenty-eighth Circuit (Judships 6 and 7), and Thirty-seventh Circuit (Judistrict 4).
• These new circuit judgeships will be filled in accordance with the law in effect on January 1, 2023, and the initial judges will have full circuit judge authority and duties.
• Initial circuit judges appointed or elected to these positions will serve under Section 153 of the Alabama Constitution and will be subject to the same powers, rights, and responsibilities as other circuit judges.
• Annual compensation for the new circuit judges will follow Chapter 10A of Title 12, and, like existing rules, no new judge appointed after October 1, 2001 shall receive a salary supplement or expense allowance.
• Creates additional district judgeships in Baldwin County (District Judgeship 3), Cullman County (Judgeship 3), DeKalb County (Judgeship 2), Etowah County (Judgeship 3), Madison County (Judgeship 5), Mobile County (Judgeship 6), Shelby County (Judgeship 3), and Tuscaloosa County (Judgeship 3).
• These district judgeships will be filled in accordance with the law in effect on January 1, 2023, and initial judges will have the same jurisdiction, powers, duties, and qualifications as other district judges, with pay set under the same framework.

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

Subjects

Courts