Courts in Alabama

In Alabama, there are three federal district courts, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, and trial courts with both general and limited jurisdiction. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.

Click a link for information about that court type.

• Federal courts
• State supreme court
• State court of appeals
• Trial courts

The image below depicts the flow of cases through Alabama's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.

The structure of Alabama's state court system.

Judicial selection process

See also: Judicial selection in Alabama and Alabama judicial elections

The nine justices of the Alabama Supreme Court, five judges of the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, and five judges of the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals are selected in partisan elections. They appear on partisan election ballots statewide and must face re-election if they wish to serve again. Judges on these courts are elected to six-year terms.

The 146 judges of the circuit courts are selected to six-year terms in partisan elections. Only voters residing in a particular circuit may vote for the circuit judge of that region.^[1]

Alabama's limited jurisdiction courts (the district courts, probate courts and municipal courts) vary in their selection processes. District court and probate court judges are elected to six-year terms in partisan elections. Municipal court judges are appointed to terms of varying lengths by the governing body of their municipality.

To read more about judicial elections in Alabama, click here.

Federal courts

The federal district courts in Alabama are the:

• United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
• United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama

Appeals from these districts go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

Active judges

Middle District

The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.

• Democrat appointed: 0
• Republican appointed: 2

Northern District

The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.

• Democrat appointed: 1
• Republican appointed: 6

Southern District

The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.

• Democrat appointed: 0
• Republican appointed: 3

District map

Judicial selection

Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.

Bankruptcy courts

There are three federal bankruptcy courts in Alabama. These courts have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy courts in Alabama are:

• United States bankruptcy court, Middle District of Alabama
• United States bankruptcy court, Northern District of Alabama
• United States bankruptcy court, Southern District of Alabama

State supreme court

See also: Alabama Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort. Nine justices serve on this court. It was established by Article VI of the Alabama Constitution, Section 139. The court has the authority to review the decisions reached by the lower courts. It is also authorized to review matters of contention where the dollar amount in question exceeds $50,000 (if no other Alabama court has jurisdiction).^[2]

The following judges sit on the court:

State court of appeals

Civil appeals

See also: Alabama Court of Civil Appeals

The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals is one of two intermediate appellate courts in the Alabama judicial system. This court considers civil matters, including those related to domestic situations such as divorce, adoptions, child custody, etc. Judges of these courts rule on cases appealed from certain state administrative agencies, such as workers' compensation. The Court of Civil Appeals also has jurisdiction in civil appeals where the amount in controversy does not exceed $50,000.

The following judges sit on the court:

Criminal appeals

See also: Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals is one of two intermediate appellate courts in the Alabama judicial system. The Court of Criminal Appeals hears appeals on felony and misdemeanor cases that have been decided at the circuit court level. Unlike the civil appellate court, the Court of Criminal Appeals can hear cases in panels. The presiding judge has the ability, if he or she chooses, to designate three judges to sit on a panel and decide cases.

The following judges sit on the court:

Trial courts

Circuit courts

See also: Alabama Circuit Courts

The Alabama Circuit Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction. These courts are where the majority of legal matters in Alabama can be addressed. The Circuit Courts have jurisdiction over all felony prosecutions and in proceedings where the disputed amount is more than $10,000. They may also exercise jurisdiction in juvenile courts, in proceedings where the disputed amount is more than $3,000, and in certain appeals from lower courts.

The map below shows each of those circuits by county.

Alabama Circuit Courts

District courts

See also: Alabama District Courts

The Alabama District Courts are trial courts of limited jurisdiction that handle the cases where the dollar amount in question is more than $3,000 (small claims) but less than $10,000 (circuit court). District courts also have jurisdiction over criminal misdemeanors and may conduct preliminary hearings in felony prosecutions.

Municipal courts

See also: Alabama Municipal Courts

The Alabama Municipal Courts are trial courts of limited jurisdiction that preside over cases involving municipal violations and criminal misdemeanors that fall within a city's police jurisdiction. Most Alabama cities have a municipal court.

Probate courts

See also: Alabama Probate Courts

The Alabama Probate Courts are trial courts of limited jurisdiction that hear cases regarding wills, estates, guardianship of minors, partition of land, and name changes.

Juvenile courts

Juvenile courts are trial courts of limited jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases where the parties involved are under the age of 18. The juvenile court proceedings are considered confidential, a feature which applies only to juvenile courts in Alabama.

Small claims court

The Small Claims Court, a division of the district court, is a trial court of limited jurisdiction that hears cases concerning matters of less than $3,000.^[3]

In other states

See also

• Judicial selection in Alabama
• Alabama judicial elections

External links

Suggest a link

• Search Google News for this topic
• Alabama Judicial System
• Alabama Supreme Court

Footnotes

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