HB443 Summary

• Repeals and replaces Section 6.14 of the Alabama Constitution to establish a statewide system for filling judicial vacancies in circuit courts, district courts, and appellate courts.

• Creates an Appellate Court Judicial Nominating Commission (9 members) to nominate candidates for vacancies on the Supreme Court, Court of Civil Appeals, and Court of Criminal Appeals, with the Governor making final appointments from three nominees.

• Establishes five-member county judicial nominating commissions for single-county circuits and three-member multicounty circuit commissions to nominate circuit and district court judge candidates, with the Governor appointing from three nominees per vacancy.

• Exempts seven counties with existing local constitutional amendments (Jefferson County-Birmingham Division, Madison, Mobile, Talladega, Baldwin, Tuscaloosa, and Shelby) from the statewide system; if their local amendments are repealed, they become subject to this statewide process.

• Requires all commission appointees and members to strive for diversity consideration regarding geography, gender, race, and ethnicity without regard to political affiliation; sets four-year terms for non-judicial members and establishes a 30-day deadline for the Governor to fill vacancies.