Alabama's Unified Judicial System

Core principle

"The success of any legal system is measured by its fidelity to the universal ideal of justice." - Former United States Chief Justice Earl Warren

Our mission is to be the most successful judicial system in the nation

Chief of Justice

appoints

Administrative Director of Courts

Administrative Office of Courts

oversees

Trial courts of all levels

Provides essential services

1. COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION

• Municipal courts
  • violations of municipal ordinances
  • criminal misdemeanor offenses
• Probate courts
  • wills
  • estates
  • real property
  • mental illness
  • adoption.

• Small Claims
  • Civil matters where the amount in controversy does not exceed $3,000.
• District courts
  • Criminal misdemeanor offenses and preliminary hearings held in felony prosecutions​
  • Civil matters where the amount in controversy exceeds $3,000, but does not exceed $10,000.

1. COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION

• Juvenile courts
  • Civil and criminal matters involving those under the age of 18
    • These legal proceedings are considered confidential

• Alabama’s municipal courts are located within a city’s police jurisdiction.
  • Not all cities have such courts.
• Alabama’s probate, small claims, district and juvenile courts are located in each county.

2. COURTS OF GENERAL JURISDICTION

Circuit Courts

• Majority of legal matters.
• All criminal matters involving felony prosecutions.
• Legal matters filed in Alabama’s district and juvenile courts
• Controversies over 3000 $
• Exclusive jurisdiction over matters where the amount in controversy exceeds $10,000.
• Appellate jurisdiction 

• Each of Alabama’s 67 counties has a circuit court. 

3. COURTS OF APPELLATE JURISDICTION

• Civil appeals where the amount in controversy may not exceed $50,000.
• Matters appealed from certain state administrative agencies including decisions relating to workers’ compensation.
• In appeals from court decisions regarding domestic relations, this court considers matters including annulment, divorce, alimony, child support, adoption, and child custody.

The Court of Civil Appeals

5 Judges

3. COURTS OF APPELLATE JURISDICTION

• Appeals from misdemeanor and felony trials or convictions.
• May even include appeals from decisions reached by Alabama’s municipal courts.

The Court of Criminal Appeals

5 Judges

3. COURTS OF APPELLATE JURISDICTION

• All decisions reached by Alabama’s lower courts.
• Legal matters where the amount in controversy exceeds $50,000 and where no other court in Alabama has jurisdiction
• Makes rules governing the administration, practice and procedures for Alabama’s courts

The Supreme Court

 Chief justice and eight associate justices (9)

Judges

• Alabama’s small claims, district, juvenile and circuit court judges, and Alabama’s appellate court judges and justices must be attorneys licensed to practice law in Alabama.
  • does not apply to Alabama’s probate judges.
• All of Alabama’s judges and justices currently are elected and hold office for a period of six years. While judicial vacancies are normally filled by the appointment of the Governor, the appointed judge or justice must thereafter be elected to hold office
• Supreme Court specific requirements​
  • licensed to practice law for at least 10 years;
  • a state resident for at least one year;
  • under the age of 70 at the time of election (judges who turn 70 in office may serve until their terms expire)

Clerks

• An elected official
• In each county
• The custodian of the many documents filed in court each day.
  • Lawsuits and other court documents are filed in the office of the court clerk.
• Each clerk has many other duties, responsibilities and authorities necessary for the day-to-day operation of Alabama’s court system.
• Alabama’s municipal and appellate courts also have their own clerks

Wacky laws

You may not have an ice cream cone in your back pocket at any time.

Thank you!