§ 16-13-2503 — Judges and chancellors

(a) The qualified electors of the Seventeenth Judicial District shall elect: (1) One (1) circuit judge; (2) One (1) chancery judge; and (3) (A) One (1) circuit-chancery judge. (B) The circuit-chancery judgeship created by subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this section within the Seventeenth Judicial District, whose primary responsibility shall be to perform the duties of a judge of the juvenile division of chancery court, shall sit as judge of the circuit, chancery, and probate courts as time permits. (b) (1) The qualified electors of the Twenty-third Judicial District shall elect one (1) circuit-chancery judge who shall have jurisdiction in law, equity, and probate. (2) (A) (i) Effective January 1, 1995, there is hereby created in the Twenty-third Judicial District an additional circuit-chancery judgeship, which shall have jurisdiction in law, equity, and probate. (ii) The judge of the additional circuit-chancery judgeship created herein shall sit as judge of the circuit, chancery, or probate court as time permits. (iii) The additional judge shall be elected in the same manner and shall satisfy the same qualifications for holding office and shall receive the same salary, expenses, and other allowances as provided by law for judges of the circuit-chancery courts. (iv) The judge shall serve for elected terms of four (4) years. (B) The county which comprises the Twenty-third Judicial District shall provide courtroom and office facilities and supplies for the judge of the circuit-chancery judgeship created by this subdivision (b)(2) which shall be paid out of the county treasury, in the same manner as other demands against the county, out of funds appropriated by the quorum court of the county for such purposes. (C) There shall be provided for the judge of the circuit-chancery judgeship created by this subdivision (b)(2) a court reporter whose salary shall be fixed and paid in the manner provided by law for court reporters of the circuit-chancery courts of this state. (c) (1) Effective July 1, 2007, there is created in the Twenty-third Judicial District an additional circuit judgeship that shall have jurisdiction in law, equity, probate, and juvenile matters. (2) The Governor shall appoint a qualified person who is a resident of the district to temporarily fill the Twenty-third Judicial District circuit judgeship created by subdivision (c)(1) of this section, and the appointed person shall serve until January 1, 2009, or until a successor has been elected and qualified. (3) (A) The qualified electors of the district shall elect the additional circuit judge created by subdivision (c)(1) of this section at the 2008 preferential primary election to take office on January 1, 2009. (B) The additional circuit judge shall be elected from the district, shall satisfy the same qualifications for holding office, and shall receive the same salary, expenses, and other allowances as provided by law for judges of the circuit courts. (C) The circuit judge shall serve for elected terms of six (6) years. (4) The county that composes the Twenty-third Judicial District shall provide courtroom and office facilities and supplies for the judge of the circuit judgeship created by subdivision (c)(1) of this section, which shall be paid out of the county treasury in the same manner as other demands against the county and out of funds appropriated by the quorum court of the county for these purposes. (5) There shall be provided for the judge of the circuit judgeship created by subdivision (c)(1) of this section a court reporter and a trial court administrative assistant whose salaries shall be fixed and paid in the manner provided by law for court reporters and trial court administrative assistants of the circuit courts of this state.

Legislative History

Acts 1977, No. 432, § 1; 1983, No. 669, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 22-365; Acts 1989 (3rd Ex. Sess.), No. 28, § 1; 1994 (2nd Ex. Sess.), No. 29, §§ 1-3; 1999, No. 456, § 3; 2007, No. 168, § 3.