SB178 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Will BarfootSenator
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Courts, appointment, support, and powers of visiting judges provided for
Summary: The bill creates a Speedy Trial Act that lets the Chief Justice appoint visiting judges to handle certain violent-crime cases quickly, with funding and support provisions.
What This Bill Does
It authorizes the Chief Justice to appoint sitting or retired circuit judges as visiting judges for specific violent-crime cases when requested by the Attorney General or a district attorney, with a defined request process and a 30-day decision window. The visiting judge would have full powers of the appointing judgeship and would be paid for expenses, with compensation rules for retired judges. It requires counties to provide courtroom space and court reporters, and it establishes procedures to expedite trials, including efforts to hold jury trials during host circuits' jury weeks and the option to empanel additional juries if needed. It creates the Speedy Trial Fund in the State Treasury to finance eligible expenses related to these visiting-judge duties, administered under existing budgeting rules.

Who It Affects
Attorney General and district attorneys – can request a visiting judge for specific violent-crime cases and must explain why the case needs a visiting judge.
Defendants in violent-crime cases and host-circuit courts (including juries and court staff) – would be presided over by visiting judges with full authority, with required courtroom space and reporting support, and potential acceleration of trial timelines.

Key Provisions
Authorizes the Chief Justice to appoint a sitting or retired circuit judge as a visiting judge for specific cases arising from violent crimes upon request by the Attorney General or a district attorney, with a defined process and a 30-day determination window.
Creates the Speedy Trial Fund in the State Treasury to pay eligible expenses for visiting judges and provides for their use and budgeting under existing state law.

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