Title 12 — Title 12

Courts; Abolition of Courts Not Authorized by Constitution. (a) The district court of Alabama, a trial court of limited jurisdiction, is created and established, effective January 16, 1977, and shall be subdivided according to districts and styled the district court of the county…

The presiding judge of each circuit shall have general supervision of the administrative operation of the district courts within the circuit, subject to rules of the Supreme Court and the administrative authority of the Chief Justice. History: (Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384, §4-11…

The Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure shall be applicable to all civil actions brought in the district court, except as they are inconsistent with this chapter and except as the Supreme Court may otherwise provide by rule. History: (Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384, §4-108.)

Records of Proceedings Generally; Employment of Reporters or Provision for Transcripts of Proceedings by Parties. (a) The district court shall be a court of record. (b) Records of proceedings shall be made, maintained and preserved according to rules promulgated by the supreme co…

All cases in the district court shall be tried by the judge, who shall determine all issues of law and fact without a jury. History: (Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384, §4-109.)

The original civil jurisdiction of the district court of Alabama shall be uniform throughout the state, concurrent with the circuit court, except as otherwise provided, and shall include all civil actions in which the matter in controversy does not exceed twenty thousand dollars …

Prosecution of Assigned Claims; License Required. (a) The district court shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction over all civil actions in which the matter in controversy, exclusive of interest and costs, does not exceed six thousand dollars ($6,000). These actions shall be placed …

(a) Misdemeanors. The district court shall have exclusive original trial jurisdiction over prosecutions of all offenses defined by law or ordinance as misdemeanors, except: (1) Prosecutions by municipalities having municipal courts; (2) Any such prosecution which also involves a …

The district court may exercise jurisdiction over proceedings relating to demands for extradition made by another jurisdiction pursuant to the laws of Alabama governing extradition. History: (Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384, §4-106.)

Juvenile jurisdiction shall be exercised concurrently by the district court and the circuit court as provided by law. History: (Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384, §4-104.)

Maintenance of Records of Adoption Proceedings. THIS SECTION REPEALED BY ACT 2023-92, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2024. (a) Adoption proceedings, primarily cognizable before the probate court, may be transferred to the district court on motion of a party to the proceeding in probate cou…

of Additional Locations for Court Sites. (a) Venue in the district court lies in the county where venue would lie for civil or criminal actions brought in the circuit court, except that: (1) In counties where venue has lain within an area of lesser geographic extent than the coun…

Jurisdiction. Any civil action brought in district court of which the circuit court has concurrent jurisdiction may be removed by a defendant or defendants to the circuit court of the county in which the action is pending. A defendant or defendants desiring to remove a case under…

In disposing of cases within its criminal jurisdiction, the district court may impose and suspend sentences, place criminal defendants on probation, remit fines and court costs and release defendants on personal recognizance in accordance with standards prescribed by law or rule;…

The district court may, on conviction of a defendant, upon a showing of inability to make immediate payment of fine and costs, continue the case from time to time to permit the fine and costs to be paid. History: (Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384, §4-106.)

As used in this article, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) BOATING VIOLATION. As defined in Section 33-5-3. (2) TRAFFIC INFRACTION. Any violation of a statute, ordinance, or rule relating to the operation or use of motor or other vehicles or the use of streets …

Infractions and Boating Infractions.. The district court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of misdemeanor prosecutions for traffic infractions and all boating violations, except ordinance infractions prosecuted in municipal courts. History: (Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384,…

Infractions or Boating Violations. Pursuant to Section 12-17-251, magistrates may receive pleas of guilty in traffic infraction and boating violation prosecutions, but may not receive pleas in matters involving any of the following: (1) Violations resulting in personal injury. (2…

(a) Every law enforcement agency in the state shall use traffic citations of the form known as the uniform traffic ticket and complaint, which shall be substantially uniform throughout the state and which shall be issued, except for an electronic traffic ticket or e-ticket, as de…

Forms; Records and Reports. The judge or judges and the clerk of the district court shall designate personnel to be responsible for accounting for all uniform traffic tickets and complaints issued to law enforcement officers or others in their jurisdiction and for the proper disp…

Payment of Fines and Costs. (a) Schedules of fines to be imposed for traffic infractions and boating violations shall be established by law or rule. (b) The manner in which fines and costs shall be paid to and accounted for by personnel assigned to accept payment shall be provide…

Tickets or Complaints, Etc., in Unauthorized Manner; Persons Soliciting, Etc., Unauthorized Disposition, Etc., of Uniform Traffic Ticket and Complaint Subject to Punishment for Criminal Contempt. (a) No law enforcement officer or other officer or public employee shall dispose of …

In all matters before the district court, the district court shall have and possess power to punish for contempts as heretofore or hereafter granted to the circuit court by law, in Section 12-11-30 or otherwise, and by the common law of this state. History: (Acts 1975, No. 1205, …

(a)(1) Whenever any person is arrested for a violation of any non-traffic offense enumerated in Rule 20, Appendix B of the Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration, as adopted by the Supreme Court of Alabama, the arresting officer, unless otherwise provided in this section, shall…

The district court may issue all writs necessary to preserve and enforce its jurisdiction and authority. History: (Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384, §4-112.)

Failure to Appear. (a) Civil cases. Any party may appeal from a final judgment of the district court in a civil case by filing notice of appeal in the district court, within 14 days from the date of the judgment or the denial of a posttrial motion, whichever is later, or, if the …

to Jury Trial Upon Appeals to Circuit Courts. Except as provided in Section 12-12-72 and in subsection (e) of Section 12-15-120, all appeals from final judgments of the district court shall be to the circuit court for trial de novo. An appellant shall not be entitled to a jury tr…

Appeals shall be directly to the appropriate appellate court if: (1) An adequate record or stipulation of facts is available and the right to a jury trial is waived by all parties entitled thereto; or (2) The parties stipulate that only questions of law are involved and the distr…

A supersedeas bond in twice the amount of the judgment shall be required of the appellant in any civil appeal to the circuit court. Upon the filing of such supersedeas bond and the timely filing of a notice of appeal, execution of the judgment shall be stayed pending final judgme…

Prosecutions. The district attorney of the circuit in which a district court is located shall have responsibility for prosecutions in the district court. History: (Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384, §4-131.)

Thereof by Assistant District Attorneys; Election by County Solicitors Serving Terms to Which Elected Prior to January 16, 1977, to Become Assistant District Attorneys for Duration of Terms. On January 16, 1977, the functions of the position of county solicitor shall be performed…