HB70 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rick RehmRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to Houston County; to authorize the appointment of temporary judges of probate to serve contemporaneously with the judge of probate under certain circumstances; and to provide for compensation for temporary judges of probate under certain circumstances.

Summary

HB70 lets the Houston County Judge of Probate appoint temporary probate judges to work alongside the judge during busy times, with defined term and pay rules.

What This Bill Does

The bill authorizes the appointment of temporary probate judges to serve concurrently with the judge of probate under conditions like calendar congestion or complex cases. Each appointment lasts up to 90 days, and the judge can renew for successive 90-day periods but cannot exceed 200 days in a fiscal year. Eligible appointees include any qualified court employee licensed to practice law in the state. Temporary judges have full jurisdiction and duties of the probate judge, and their judgments are part of the probate court records and subject to review. The regular judge and the bond’s surety are not responsible for acts of temporary judges or court employees during tenure. Compensation is $50 per hearing from the judge’s discretionary fund, unless the temporary judge is a court employee, in which case they are not paid under the county pay plan.

Who It Affects

• Houston County Judge of Probate and the Houston County Probate Court, who may appoint and oversee temporary probate judges to manage busy calendars and caseloads
• Licensed attorneys in Houston County who are eligible to serve as temporary probate judges (including court employees), and who may receive or forgo compensation under the act depending on their employment status

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the appointment of temporary judges of probate to serve contemporaneously with the judge of probate under defined circumstances
• Limit of 90 days per temporary appointment; can have successive periods but not exceed 200 days in a fiscal year
• Eligibility: any qualified court employee licensed to practice law in the state
• Temporary judges have full jurisdiction and duties of the probate judge; their orders and judgments are part of probate court records and appealable
• Regular judge and bond surety are not responsible for acts of temporary judges or court employees during tenure
• Compensation: $50 per hearing from the judge's discretionary fund unless the temporary judge is a court employee, who then receives no compensation under the county pay plan
• Effective immediately after 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

Houston County, authorized the judge of probate to appoint temporary judges of probate