The Alabama Circuit Courts are the state trial courts of general jurisdiction in the State of Alabama. The Circuit Courts have jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases. For civil cases, the courts has authority to try cases with an amount in controversy of more than $3,000 and has exclusive original jurisdiction over claims for more than $10,000.The Guide to Alabama Courts The Circuit Courts are the criminal trial courts for most felony charges,District Courts may hear guilty pleas in felony cases not invoking capital punishment. and for some misdemeanors and lesser included offenses. The Circuit Courts also have appellate jurisdiction over certain cases arising from the Alabama District Courts (the trial courts of limited jurisdiction in Alabama).
The state has 148 Circuit Court judges divided among 41 judicial circuitsAlabama Unified Judicial System Structure . with the number of judges to each circuit set by acts of the Alabama Legislature. The legislature distribution is roughly based upon caseloads of the various circuits. The largest circuit in the state is the 10th Judicial Circuit which encompasses Jefferson County (approximately 20% of the state's population) and is the seat of 27 of the judges. The smallest circuits are the 2nd, 3rd, 24th, 34th, 35th, 36th, 40th, and 41st which each contain just a single judge and represent many of the least populous counties in the state.
Circuit Judges are elected to six-year terms in partisan elections with no limit on the number of terms. Judges may not seek re-election upon turning seventy years of age. The partisan alignment of the Circuit Judges following the 2018 general election is 92 Republicans, 55 Democrats, and 1 Independent.Williams & Garrett, The Alabama Guide (2009) However, a large majority (35) of the Democrats 55 judgeships are in just two counties (Jefferson and Montgomery) while the Republican judgeships are spread among 45 different counties. In the event of a vacancy during a term of office, the Governor of Alabama usually has the authority to fill the unexpired terms. However, the 10th, 18th, 28th Circuits have judicial commissions which submit nominees from which the Governor is obligated to choose. Upon retirement judges may choose to become active retired where they serve as special judges when called upon and are still held to the cannon of ethics. Judges may also serve as special judges outside of their respective circuit while holding office when called upon.
In 2017, the Alabama Legislature established the Judicial Resources Allocation Commission for the purpose of moving vacant circuit court seats between districts to meet demand. It reallocated a circuit court seat for the first time in 2023, moving Jefferson County's 14th seat to Madison County. In May 2023, Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill that increased the total number of circuit and district judges throughout the state, and forbade the Allocation Commission from reallocating vacant seats until January 1, 2027, after the 2026 general election.
List of elected judges The following judges were elected in the 2020, 2022, and 2024 general elections:
Circuit Place Judge Party Lastelected Countiesserved Notes 1st No. 1 J. Perry Newton Republican 2022 Choctaw, Clarke, Washington No. 2 Charles R. Montgomery Republican 2022 2nd Cleve Poole Republican 2024 Butler, Crenshaw, Lowndes 3rd Burt Smithart Democratic 2022 Barbour, Bullock 4th No. 1 Collins Pettaway Jr. Democratic 2024 Bibb, Dallas, Hale, Perry, Wilcox No. 2 Don McMillan Democratic 2022 No. 3 Marvin Wayne Wiggins Democratic 2022 5th No. 1 Kevin M. Hall Republican 2022 Chambers, Macon, Randolph, Tallapoosa No. 2 Isaac Whorton Republican 2024 No. 3 Steve Perryman Republican 2024 6th No. 1 Brad Almond Republican 2022 Tuscaloosa No. 2 Jim Roberts Jr. Republican 2024 No. 3 Elizabeth Colwick Hamner Republican 2024 No. 4 Daniel F. Pruet Republican 2024 No. 5 Al May Republican 2024 No. 6 Dennis Steverson Republican 2022 No. 7 Vacant 2026 Seat established in 2023 7th No. 1 Dustin Merritt Republican 2024 Calhoun, Cleburne No. 2 Timothy C. Burgess Republican 2024 No. 3 Jennifer Weems Republican 2022 No. 4 Peggy P. Miller Lacher Republican 2020 No. 5 Shannon C. Page Republican 2022 8th No. 1 Jennifer Millwee Howell Republican 2024 Morgan No. 2 Charles B. Elliott Republican 2024 No. 3 Stephen Fate Brown Republican 2024 9th No. 1 Shaunathan Bell Republican 2024 Cherokee, DeKalb No. 2 Andrew Hairston Republican 2024 No. 3 Jeremy Taylor Republican 2022 10th No. 1 Anne L. Durward Democratic 2022 Jefferson No. 2 Shanta Owens Democratic 2020 No. 3 Kechia Davis Democratic 2020 No. 4 Javan Joielle Patton Democratic 2022 No. 5 David Carpenter Democratic 2024 No. 6 Chuck Price Democratic 2024 No. 7 Tiara Young Hudson Democratic 2024 No. 8 Marshell Jackson Hatcher Democratic 2024 No. 9 Shera Craig Grant Democratic 2024 No. 10 Patrick James Ballard Democratic 2020 No. 11 Brendette Brown Green Democratic 2022 No. 12 Thomas E. Thrash Democratic 2022 No. 13 Frederic A. Bolling Democratic 2024 No. 14 Vacant 2016 Seat abolished in 2022 No. 15 Patricia Ann Stephens Democratic 2024 No. 16 Kandice Pickett Democratic 2022 No. 17 Elisabeth French Democratic 2022 No. 18 Janine Hunt-Hilliard Democratic 2024 No. 19 David J. Hobdy Democratic 2022 No. 20 Alisha Ruffin May Democratic 2022 No. 21 Monica Agee Democratic 2022 No. 22 Tamara Harris Johnson Democratic 2022 No. 23 Adrienne Moffett Powell Democratic 2022 No. 24 Stephen Wallace Democratic 2022 No. 25 Reginald L. Jeter Democratic 2022 No. 26 Michael Streety Democratic 2022 No. 27 Alaric May Democratic 2024 11th No. 1 Benjamin Graves Republican 2022 Lauderdale No. 2 Will Powell Republican 2022 No. 3 Gil Self Republican 2022 No. 4 Carole Coil Medley Republican 2024 Seat established in 2023 12th No. 1 Sonny Reagan Republican 2024 Coffee, Pike No. 2 Shannon R. Clark Republican 2022 No. 3 Jeff W. Kelley Republican 2022 13th No. 1 Wes Pipes Republican 2024 Mobile No. 2 Ben Brooks Republican 2024 No. 3 Michael Windom Republican 2024 No. 4 Jay York Republican 2024 No. 5 Walter Honeycutt Republican 2024 No. 6 Brandy B. Hambright Republican 2024 No. 7 Jill P. Phillips Republican 2022 No. 8 Edmond G. Naman Republican 2024 No. 9 Michael Sherman Republican 2024 No. 10 Michael A. Youngpeter Republican 2024 No. 11 Vicki Davis Republican 2024 14th No. 1 Joeletta Martin Barrentine Republican 2020 Walker No. 2 Doug Farris Republican 2024 No. 3 Gregory M. Williams Republican 2024 15th No. 1 Greg Griffin Democratic 2022 Montgomery No. 2 Brooke E. Reid Democratic 2020 No. 3 Monica L. Arrington Democratic 2022 No. 4 J. R. Gaines Democratic 2020 No. 5 James H. Anderson Democratic 2022 No. 6 Monet Mccorvey Gaines Democratic 2024 No. 7 Lloria Munnerlyn James Democratic 2020 No. 8 Calvin L. Williams Democratic 2022 No. 9 Johnny Hardwick Democratic 2020 16th No. 1 George C. Day Republican 2024 Etowah No. 2 Brynn Crain Republican 2024 No. 3 Sonny J. Steen Republican 2024 No. 4 Cody D. Robinson Republican 2024 17th Gregory S. Griggers Democratic 2024 Greene, Marengo, Sumter 18th No. 1 Jonathan A. Spann Republican 2022 Shelby No. 2 Patrick E. Kennedy Republican 2024 No. 3 Bill Bostick Republican 2022 No. 4 Lara McCauley Alvis Republican 2022 19th No. 1 Patrick D. Pinkston Republican 2024 Autauga, Chilton, Elmore No. 2 Joy Pace Booth Republican 2022 No. 3 Amanda Baxley Republican 2022 No. 4 Dee Dee Calhoon Republican 2024 Seat established in 2023 No. 5 Vacant 2026 Seat established in 2023 20th No. 1 John John Steensland Republican 2024 Henry, Houston No. 2 J. Kevin Moulton Republican 2024 No. 3 Butch Binford Republican 2022 No. 4 Chris Richardson Republican 2022 No. 5 Todd Derrick Republican 2020 21st No. 1 Jeff White Republican 2024 Escambia No. 2 Jeffrey Todd Stearns Republican 2022 22nd No. 1 Lex Short Republican 2024 Covington No. 2 Benjamin M. Bowden Republican 2022 23rd No. 1 Karen K. Hall Republican 2024 Madison No. 2 Alison Austin Republican 2020 No. 3 Ruth Ann Hall Republican 2024 No. 4 Claude Hundley Republican 2020 No. 5 Donna S. Pate Republican 2024 No. 6 Chris Comer Republican 2022 No. 7 Alan Mann Republican 2022 No. 8 Patrick M. Tuten Republican 2024 No. 9 Don Rizzardi Republican 2024 Seat established in 2023 24th Sam Junkin Republican 2022 Fayette, Lamar, Pickens 25th No. 1 Daryl Burt Republican 2020 Marion, Winston No. 2 Talmage Lee Carter Republican 2024 26th No. 1 Zachary T. Collins Democratic 2022 Russell No. 2 David Johnson Democratic 2020 27th No. 1 Christopher F. Abel Republican 2022 Marshall No. 2 Jay M. Mastin Republican 2024 No. 3 Matt Elliott Republican 2024 28th No. 1 Joseph Norton Republican 2024 Baldwin No. 2 Jody W. Bishop Republican 2024 No. 3 J. Clark Stankoski Republican 2024 No. 4 Scott P. Taylor Republican 2022 No. 5 Carmen Bosch Republican 2020 No. 6 Karol J. Kemp Republican 2024 Seat established in 2023 No. 7 Vacant 2026 Seat established in 2023 29th No. 1 Chad E. Woodruff Republican 2024 Talledega No. 2 Will Hollingsworth Republican 2024 30th No. 1 Bill Weathington Republican 2022 St. Clair No. 2 James E. Hill III Republican 2024 31st No. 1 Mitch Hays Republican 2024 Colbert No. 2 Kyle W. Brown Republican 2024 32nd No. 1 Gregory A. Nicholas Republican 2024 Cullman No. 2 Emily Niezer Johnston Republican 2024 33rd No. 1 Bill Filmore Republican 2024 Dale, Geneva No. 2 Kimberly A. Clark Republican 2022 34th Brian Hamilton Republican 2024 Franklin 35th Jack Booker Weaver Democratic 2024 Conecuh, Monroe 36th Callie Chenault Waldrep Republican 2022 Lawrence 37th No. 1 Jeff Tickal Republican 2022 Lee No. 2 Chris Hughesk Republican 2022 No. 3 Mike Fellows Republican 2022 No. 4 Vacant 2026 Seat established in 2023 38th No. 1 John Graham Democratic 2024 Jackson No. 2 Brent Benson Republican 2020 39th No. 1 Chad Wise Republican 2022 Limestone No. 2 Matthew R. Huggins Republican 2022 40th David F. Law Republican 2024 Clay, Coosa 41st Greg Reid Republican 2024 Blount
1st Circuit
Counties Served: Choctaw, Clarke, Washington
Circuit Seats: Choctaw County Courthouse (Butler), Clarke County Courthouse (Grove Hill), Washington County Courthouse (Chatom)
+ Current Judges"Search: Circuit 1". Alabama State Bar. Accessed 4 Apr. 2017 Title Name Seat Duty Station Term Seat upPresiding Circuit Judge Gaines C. McCorquodale 1 Grove Hill 2009–present 2022Circuit Judge Charles R. Montgomery 2 Chatom 2010–present 2022
2nd Circuit
Counties Served: Butler, Crenshaw, Lowndes
District Seats: Butler County Courthouse (Greenville), Crenshaw County Courthouse (Luverne), Lowndes County Courthouse (Hayneville)
+ Current JudgeParty Title Name Duty Station Term Seat upRepublicanPresiding Circuit Judge Cleve Poole Greenville 2021–present 2030
3rd Circuit
Counties Served: Barbour, Bullock
District Seats: Barbour County Courthouse (Clayton), Bullock County Courthouse (Union Springs)
+ Current Judge"Search: Circuit 3". Alabama State Bar. Accessed 4 Apr. 2017. Title Name Duty Station Term Seat upPresiding Circuit Judge Leon Bernard Smithart Union Springs 1999–present 2022
4th Circuit
Counties Served: Bibb, Dallas, Hale, Perry, Wilcox
District Seats: Bibb County Courthouse (Centreville), Dallas County Courthouse (Selma), Hale County Courthouse (Greensboro) Perry County Courthouse (Marion), Wilcox County Courthouse (Camden)
+ Current Judges"Search: Circuit 4". Alabama State Bar. Accessed 4 Apr. 2017. Title Name Seat Duty Station Term Seat upPresiding Circuit Judge Marvin W. Wiggins 3 Greensboro 1999–present 2022Circuit Judge Collins Pettaway, Jr. 1 Selma 2013–present 2018Circuit Judge Donald McMillan 2
5th Circuit Counties Served: Chambers, Macon, Randolph, Tallapoosa
6th Circuit Counties Served: Tuscaloosa
7th Circuit Counties Served: Calhoun, Cleburne
8th Circuit Counties Served: Morgan
9th Circuit Counties Served: Cherokee, DeKalb
10th Circuit Counties Served: Jefferson
11th Circuit Counties Served: Lauderdale
12th Circuit Counties Served: Coffee, Pike
13th Circuit