(a) At the request of the affected judge in a particular circuit, the presiding circuit court judge of the circuit may appoint and commission a special circuit court judge, special district court judge, or special judge of probate for temporary service. The person so appointed shall possess the qualifications of the judgeship to which he or she is appointed. The special judge shall qualify by taking the oath of office prescribed in the Constitution of Alabama of 1901. The appointment shall confer on the special judge all powers, authority, and jurisdiction of the judgeship to which he or she is appointed. The special judge shall not receive compensation for his or her services.
Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
Probate: Proving a will
(b) As used in this section, the term “temporary service” means not more than 180 consecutive days. A special judge may be reappointed, as needed, for more than one period of 180 consecutive days.(c) This section is supplemental to Section 12-1-14.(d) Pursuant to this section, the appointments shall be non-discriminatory.
