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Voter
Guide 2006
Nonpartisan information about
the
Alabama Supreme Court and the candidates running for election in 2006 
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About the Alabama Supreme Court The Alabama Supreme Court is the state's highest court and is referred to as the "court of last resort." It has both judicial and administrative responsibilities. The authority of the state Supreme Court and the Chief Justice is described in this way: "The
Supreme Court has authority to review decisions rendered by the other
courts of the state. It also has authority to determine certain legal
matters over which no other court has jurisdiction and to issue such
orders necessary to carry out its general superintendence over the
courts in Alabama. The Alabama Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction
over all appeals where the amount in controversy exceeds $50,000 and
appeals from the Alabama Public Service Commission.
"The chief justice is the administrative head of the state's judicial system. The Supreme Court may make rules governing administration, practice, and procedure in all courts. Under this authority, rules of practice and procedure and judicial administration have been adopted to eliminate many of the technicalities which cause delay in the trial courts and needless reversals in the appellate courts." The Alabama Supreme Court is composed of nine justices (judges) that are selected in partisan (by political party), statewide elections. Each justice serves a term of six years. If a vacancy occurs before the normal end of a justice's term, the governor appoints a justice to fill the seat. To qualify for selection as a Supreme Court justice, a person must be licensed to practice law in the state of Alabama, have resided in the state for a minimum of one year, and be no more than 70 years of age. The Chief Justice and four of the eight Associate Justices will be elected in the November 7, 2006 Alabama General Election. For more information about the Alabama Supreme Court and the Unified Judicial System of Alabama, see:
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