SB162 Summary

• Beginning in 2022 and every 20 years thereafter, the Judicial Resources Allocation Commission shall reallocate circuit and district court judgeships based on population as reported in the federal decennial census.

• By January 1, 2022, the Commission must provide the Legislature with a recommended reallocation plan for judges among circuits and districts.

• The Commission shall create a scale assigning one circuit judge and one district judge per a specified number of residents in each circuit and district, with assistance from the Administrative Office of Courts.

• The Legislature must approve the number of judges assigned to each circuit and district by general bill during the 2022 Regular Session and every twentieth regular session thereafter.

• The Alabama Supreme Court shall review any proposed changes in the number of circuit or district judges in accordance with Amendment 328 to the Alabama Constitution; vacancies due to death, retirement, resignation, or removal shall be allocated separately per Section 12-9A-2.