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
Carl Michael Seibert v. Lorri Stricklen and Zoe Aldige (Appeal from Madison Circuit Court: CV-18-901928).
Date: April 26, 2024
 Docket Numbers: SC-2023-0741, SC-2024-0141
Ex parte Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: CIVIL (In re: The DCH Healthcare Authority et al. v. Purdue Pharma L.P. et al.) (Conecuh Circuit Court: CV-19-7).
Date: April 19, 2024
 Docket Number: SC-2023-0392
J.W. Henderson, Jr. v. City of Enterprise (Appeal from Coffee Circuit Court: CV-22-900012).
Date: April 19, 2024
 Docket Numbers: SC-2023-0052, SC-2023-0735
State of Alabama v. Jay's Charity Bingo  
Date: April 19, 2024
 Docket Numbers: SC-2023-0313, SC-2023-0314, SC-2023-0315, SC-2023-0316, SC-2023-0317, SC-2023-0318, SC-2023-0319, SC-2023-0320, SC-2023-0827

Justia Opinion Summary: The State of Alabama initiated 14 separate actions against various businesses, nonprofit organizations, property owners, and municipalities, alleging that they were responsible for the operation of illegal gambling…

Washington v. Johnson  
Date: April 19, 2024
 Docket Numbers: SC-2023-0464, SC-2023-0869

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves siblings Kim J. Washington and Katrina J. Williams who filed a lawsuit against their brother Elrick Earl Johnson seeking to partition a jointly owned real property. The property in question is "heirs…

Felecia Sykes, as administrator of the Estate of Betty Russell, deceased v. Majestic Mississippi, LLC, and Linda Parks (Appeal from Madison Circuit Court: CV-21-126).
Date: April 12, 2024
 Docket Numbers: SC-2023-0520, SC-2023-0572
Kristie Meshal Bearden v. Jerry Brakefield (Appeal from Marshall Circuit Court: CV-22-10).
Date: April 12, 2024
 Docket Number: SC-2023-0586
Ex parte Christopher Daryl Upshaw PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS (In re: Christopher Daryl Upshaw v. State of Alabama) (Montgomery Circuit Court: CC-18-1421.60; Criminal Appeals: CR-20-1001).
Date: April 12, 2024
 Docket Number: SC-2024-0039
Brooks M. Bashinsky v. Carol Rosentiel (Appeal from Jefferson Probate Court: 22BHM01422).
Date: April 12, 2024
 Docket Numbers: SC-2023-0384, SC-2023-0801, SC-2024-0024, SC-2024-0042
Jennie Jo Cox Parrish, Debra Cox McCurdy, and Shirley Cox Wise, as co-executors of the Estate of Perry Eugene Cox, Sr., deceased v. Perry Eugene Cox, Jr. (Appeal from Shelby Circuit Court: CV-16-900052).
Date: April 12, 2024
 Docket Numbers: SC-2023-0221, SC-2023-0381, SC-2023-0414, SC-2024-0040, SC-2024-0090
Ex parte Demericon Alex Williams PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS (In re: Demericon Alex Williams v. State of Alabama) (Montgomery Circuit Court: CC-97-1873.64; Criminal Appeals: CR-2022-1352.
Date: April 12, 2024
 Docket Numbers: SC-2024-0070, SC-2024-0127, SC-2024-0139
Ex parte The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, Inc.  
Date: April 12, 2024
 Docket Numbers: SC-2023-0385, SC-2023-0761, SC-2023-0768, SC-2023-0946, SC-2024-0132, SC-2024-0140

Justia Opinion Summary: This case involves a dispute over church property between Harvest Church-Dothan ("Harvest") and the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, Inc. ("the AWFC") and the General Council on Finance and…

City of Gulf Shores v. Coyote Beach Sports, LLC  
Date: April 12, 2024
 Docket Numbers: SC-2023-0637, SC-2023-0839, SC-2024-0164, SC-2024-0167

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around a dispute between the City of Gulf Shores and Coyote Beach Sports, LLC. The city passed a municipal ordinance regulating the motor-scooter-rental business, which required renters to possess a…

S&M Associates, Inc. v. Players Recreation Group, LLC  
Date: April 12, 2024
 Docket Numbers: SC-2023-0394, SC-2024-0004, SC-2024-0087, SC-2024-0104, SC-2024-0137, SC-2024-0161, SC-2024-0176

Justia Opinion Summary: This case involves a dispute among Players Recreation Group, LLC, an Alabama limited-liability company, three of its members, Jason L. McCarty, Felix McCarty, and Doyle Sadler, and S&M Associates, Inc., a company owned…

Rex Sails, Sharonda Sails, Dazella Peoples, Chaz Davis, individually and on behalf of Union Baptist Church No. 2 v. Orlando Weeks, The Word Christian Center International, and State of Alabama (Appeal from Chilton Circuit Court: CV-22-900104).
Date: April 5, 2024
 Docket Number: SC-2023-0158
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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