HB34 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim HillRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Judicial compensation; uniform pay plan for justices & judges revised

Summary

HB34 changes Alabama judicial pay by basing salaries on years served, updating starting salaries for each court level, and ending county-based supplements.

What This Bill Does

It sets new initial salaries for all judge levels (Chief Justice $176,000; Associate Supreme Court Justice $175,000; Appellate Court Judge $174,000; Presiding Appellate Judge $500/year; Circuit Judge $140,000; District Judge $139,000). It then increases these salaries by 7.5% on October 1 after 6, 12, and 18 full years of service for chief justices, supreme court justices, and appellate judges. It also allows district judges who become circuit judges to carry over bench experience into their new salary, and circuit/district judges who move to the top roles to receive the initial salary appropriate for the new position plus bench experience. Finally, it requires salaries to be paid from the State Treasury (no county supplements) and protects current Oct 1, 2021 compensation from being diminished unless bench-based increases exceed it, with the act taking effect immediately.

Who It Affects

• Judges and justices in Alabama (including the chief justice, supreme court associate justices, appellate court judges, circuit judges, and district judges) whose salaries will be set, adjusted, and increased based on years of service and position changes.
• Counties and the State Treasury, by shifting judge compensation to be paid by the State Treasury only and prohibiting county supplements or expense allowances for judges.

Key Provisions

• Initial salaries are set as follows: Chief Justice $176,000; Associate Supreme Court Justice $175,000; Appellate Court Judge $174,000; Presiding Appellate Judge $500/year; Circuit Judge $140,000; District Judge $139,000.
• Salaries for the Chief Justice, Supreme Court justices, and appellate court judges increase by 7.5% on October 1 after 6, 12, and 18 full years of service in those roles.
• A district judge who is later appointed or elected as a circuit judge receives the circuit base salary plus bench experience as described for the corresponding roles.
• A circuit or district judge who is later appointed or elected as Chief Justice, a Supreme Court justice, or appellate court judge receives the initial salary for that new role as provided above, plus bench experience if applicable.
• Judges in service on October 1, 2021, and new judges appointed after that date may only be paid from the State Treasury and may not receive county salary supplements or expense allowances.
• The compensation for those in service on October 1, 2021 cannot be diminished; any potential decrease is offset so that increases only occur when bench-experience increases exceed current pay.
• The act is effective immediately.

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 & Judges