The Alabama judicial system presides over the various Alabama courts that dispense law and justice in the state. In particular, the Alabama Court machinery consists of the Alabama Supreme Court, the Court of Civil Appeals, the Court of Criminal Appeals, the State Law Library, and the Administrative Office of Courts, which in turn, presides over the trial courts.
The Alabama Supreme Court is the highest legal body in the state and is vested with both judicial and administrative powers. This Alabama Court is presided over by the Chief Justice, who is aided by eight associate justices. The Supreme Court reviews verdicts passed by other Alabama courts. Over and above this paramount power, the Supreme Court is also called on to pass judgment on several Alabama court cases, which no other court in the state can adjudge.
The Alabama Supreme Court presides over all the courts in the state and also their administrative processes and procedures. Over the years, many an Alabama court record will bear witness to the fact that intervention by the Supreme Court has done away with legal delays.
The Alabama courts of appeals are made up of the Court of Civil Appeals and the Court of Criminal Appeals. These Alabama courts do not sit over cases, nor do they have juries and witnesses. These courts instead review the judgments passed by the trials courts of Alabama.
The Court of Civil Appeals adjudges all appeals that arise from the administrative agencies, wherein a verdict has been made by a circuit court. The court is also empowered to exercise its opinion on workers' compensation cases and domestic relation cases like divorce proceedings, alimony settlements, adoptions, child custody, and child support issues.
The Court of Civil Appeals, however, has no jurisdiction over appellate cases where the amount in controversy is more than $50,000. Five judges carry out the proceedings in this appellate court, the most senior judge working as the presiding judge.
The Court of Criminal Appeals in Alabama is empowered to deal with all cases of misdemeanor and felony. This judicial power also extends to city ordinance violations and post-conviction writs in all Alabama court cases of a criminal nature. This appellate court too consists of five judges.
Other Alabama courts of note are the circuit or trial courts. These courts have general jurisdiction over all cases of felonies and all civil cases where the amount of controversy is more than $10, 000. These courts also share judicial powers with the District Court in juvenile cases and civil cases where the amount of controversy is between $3,000 and $10,000.
The Probate Court, the Municipal Court, and the District Court are the other appendages of the legal machinery of the state of Alabama, all working in perfect coordination to ensure that justice reaches all and sundry. These Alabama courts deal with legal issues like administrating estates, violating municipal ordinances, settling guardianship concerns of minors and incompetent people, and partitioning lands.
The Alabama courts are the arms of the government that ensure that dispensing justice is not caught in the whirlwind of complicated legal procedures and loopholes.
