SB198 Summary

• Creates the Administrative Director of Courts Nominating Commission composed of six members appointed by judicial and legal associations: circuit court judges, district court judges, probate judges, municipal judges, circuit clerks, and state bar commissioners.

• Commission members must be Alabama residents with at least 90 days continuous residency, serve without compensation (except travel reimbursement), cannot hold political office or party positions, and are ineligible for the director position.

• When a vacancy occurs, the Chief Justice notifies the six organizations, which have 30 calendar days to appoint commission members; the commission then nominates three qualified candidates within 90 days for the Supreme Court's selection by majority vote.

• Administrative Director of Courts serves a 10-year term under the Chief Justice's supervision, with salary set by the Chief Justice and approved by a majority of the Supreme Court; the court may remove the director without cause by majority vote.

• Act becomes effective immediately upon ratification of the constitutional amendment proposed in SB216 of the 2019 Regular Session, which authorizes the Supreme Court to appoint the Administrative Director of Courts.