Alabama Court of the Judiciary
From Judgepedia
The Alabama Court of the Judiciary is a court vested with the power to try judicial officers in other state courts and punish them for violation of judicial ethics, misconduct, dereliction of duty, or incapacitation.
Contents |
Overview
Composition
The Court of the Judiciary is created consisting of one judge of an appellate court, other than the Supreme Court, who shall be selected by the Supreme Court and shall serve as Chief Judge of the Court of the Judiciary; two judges of the circuit court, who shall be selected by the Circuit Judges' Association; and one district judge who shall be selected by the District Judges' Association.
Other members of the Court of the Judiciary shall consist of two members of the state bar, who shall be selected by the governing body of the Alabama State Bar; two persons who are not lawyers who shall be appointed by the Governor; and one person appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.
Confirmation
Members appointed by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be subject to Senate confirmation before serving. On January 1, 2005, the appointment authority granted to the Lieutenant Governor reverted to the Governor, who was thereafter entitled to appoint three persons who are not lawyers, subject to Senate confirmation.
Function
The court shall be convened to hear complaints filed by the Judicial Inquiry Commission. The court shall have authority, after notice and public hearing (1) to remove from office, suspend without pay, or censure a judge, or apply such other sanction as may be prescribed by law, for violation of a Canon of Judicial Ethics, misconduct in office, failure to perform his duties, or (2) to suspend with or without pay, or to retire a judge who is physically or mentally unable to perform his duties.[1]
Current Members of the Court
- Chief Judge: Greg Shaw, Court of Criminal Appeals
- David A. Rains, Circuit Judge, Ninth Judicial Circuit County Courthouse
- J. Scott Vowell, Circuit Judge
- John J. Dobson, District Judge
- Sue H. McInnish
- Sam Jones, Mayor, City of Mobile
- John V. Denson, Circuit Judge
- James L. North, Attorney at Law
- William D. Melton, Attorney at Law
