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SB283 • 2026

Elections, provide for election of associate justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the appellate courts, constitutional amendment

Elections, provide for election of associate justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the appellate courts, constitutional amendment

Elections
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Singleton
Last action
2026-02-10
Official status
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the districts or what happens if the amendment is not ratified by voters.

Elections for Supreme Court and Appellate Judges

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to change how associate justices of the Alabama Supreme Court and judges of the appellate courts are elected, starting from the 1928 General Election.

What This Bill Does

  • Proposes an amendment to Section 152 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.
  • Changes the way associate justices of the Alabama Supreme Court and judges of the appellate courts will be elected by district, beginning with the 2028 General Election.
  • Gives instructions for how to include this proposed amendment in future elections.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Voters who will elect associate justices and appellate court judges starting from the 2028 election.

Terms To Know

Constitutional Amendment
A change to a country's or state’s main set of laws, often requiring special procedures for approval.
Qualified Electors
Voters who are eligible and registered to vote in an election.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the districts will be determined.
  • It is unclear what happens if the amendment is not ratified by voters.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  2. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary

Official Summary Text

Elections, provide for election of associate justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the appellate courts, constitutional amendment

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB283 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB283
I3SE76W-1
By Senator Singleton
RFD: Judiciary
First Read: 10-Feb-26
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I3SE76W-1 02/09/2026 PMG (L)cr 2026-736
Page 1
First Read: 10-Feb-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing constitutional provisions, all
judges must be elected by vote of the electors within
the territorial jurisdiction of their respective
courts.
This bill would propose an amendment to the
Constitution of Alabama of 2022, relating to the
election of associate justices of the Alabama Supreme
Court and judges of the appellate courts by districts.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Proposing an amendment to Section 152 of the
Constitution of Alabama of 2022, relating to the election of
associate justices of the Alabama Supreme Court and judges of
the courts of appeals by district.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution
of Alabama of 2022, is proposed:
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
"Section 152
(a)All Except as provided in subsection (b), judges
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SB283 INTRODUCED
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(a)All Except as provided in subsection (b), judges
shall be elected by vote of the electors within the
territorial jurisdiction of their respective courts.
(b) Commencing with the 2028 General Election,
associate justices of the Alabama Supreme Court and judges of
the courts of appeals shall be elected by district as
determined by the Legislature.
Upon ratification of this constitutional amendment, the
Code Commissioner shall number and place this amendment as
appropriate in the constitution omitting this instructional
paragraph and may make the following nonsubstantive revisions:
change capitalization, hierarchy, spelling, and punctuation
for purposes of style and uniformity; correct manifest
grammatical, clerical, and typographical errors; revise
internal or external citations and cross-references; harmonize
language; and translate effective dates.
END OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT
Section 2. An election upon the proposed amendment
shall be held in accordance with Sections 284 and 285 of the
Constitution of Alabama of 2022, and the election laws of this
state. The appropriate election official shall assign a ballot
number for the proposed constitutional amendment on the
election ballot and shall set forth the following description
of the substance or subject matter of the proposed
constitutional amendment:
"Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama
of 2022, to amend Section 152, to provide for the election of
associate justices of the Alabama Supreme Court and judges of
the courts of appeals by district.
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SB283 INTRODUCED
Page 3
the courts of appeals by district.
Proposed by Act ____. "
This description shall be followed by the following
language:
"Yes( ) No( ). "
Section 3. The proposed amendment shall become valid as
a part of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, when approved
by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon.
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