Supreme Court of Alabama Decisions

The Alabama Supreme Court was created by Article VI, Section 139 of the Alabama Constitution. In addition to reviewing appeals from lower courts and the Alabama Public Service Commission, the Alabama Supreme Court has the authority to review disputes that involve an amount in controversy greater than $50,000, if no other Alabama court has jurisdiction over the dispute. Article IV, Section 140 of the Alabama Constitution describes the organization of the Court and the scope of its jurisdiction.

The nine justices on the Court, including the Chief Justice, are elected for six-year terms. To be eligible, a candidate must be no older than 70, licensed to practice in Alabama, and a resident of Alabama for at least one year. If a justice retires, resigns, dies, or is removed from office before the end of their term, the Governor of Alabama will appoint a replacement. To retain their seat, that justice must run in the next general election that is at least one year after they are appointed. Removing a justice requires either an impeachment procedure or an investigation by the Judicial Inquiry Commission that results in a complaint filed with the Alabama Court of the Judiciary.

The Alabama Supreme Court has issued many rules that control procedures and practices in courts throughout the state. These include rules of evidence, civil procedure, appellate procedure, judicial administration, and disciplinary procedure, among other rules. The Court also has issued seven canons of judicial ethics to govern the actions of judges in the state.

Browse Opinions From the Supreme Court of Alabama

Recent Decisions From the Supreme Court of Alabama
Marcus D. Freeman, M.D. v. James H. Walburn, M.D. (Appeal from Montgomery Circuit Court: CV-21-901070).
Date: March 15, 2024
Docket Numbers: SC-2023-0440, SC-2023-0778, SC-2023-0794, SC-2023-0644
Asheda Washington and Juana Washington v. Latonya Thomas (Appeal from Mobile Circuit Court: CV-21-901711).
Date: March 15, 2024
Docket Numbers: SC-2023-0285, SC-2023-0886, SC-2023-0930
Rod W. Secor v. Johnny Porter (Appeal from Walker Circuit Court: CV-19-900414).
Date: March 15, 2024
Docket Numbers: SC-2023-0776, SC-2024-0038, SC-2024-0072
DeCharla Blackburn and Alondria Blackburn v. Alavest, LLC (Appeal from Madison Circuit Court: CV-23-900045).
Date: March 15, 2024
Docket Numbers: SC-2023-0544, SC-2023-0890, SC-2024-0074
Regional Prime Television v. South  
Date: March 8, 2024
Docket Number: SC-2023-0132

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of Alabama has reversed a lower court's decision in a case involving claims of defamation, invasion of privacy, and violation of the Alabama Right of Publicity Act. The lawsuit was filed by Jennifer…

State of Alabama ex rel. Burkes v. Franklin  
Date: March 8, 2024
Docket Number: SC-2023-0496

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a dispute regarding the office of constable for the District 59 election precinct in Jefferson County, Alabama. Frederick Burkes, Sr. won the 2020 Democratic party primary for the office and was…

The opinions published on Justia State Caselaw are sourced from individual state court sites. These court opinions may not be the official published versions, and you should check your local court rules before citing to them. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site, or the information linked to on the state site.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

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