AMENDMENT 615 RATIFIED

Procedure for Filling Vacancies in Office of Judge of Circuit Court, Judge of District Court, and District Attorney in Talladega County.

In Talladega County, all vacancies in the offices of judge of the circuit court, judge of the district court, and district attorney shall be filled in the manner and for the time as provided in this amendment.

The Talladega County Judicial Commission is created for the purpose of nominating to the Governor persons for appointment to any vacancy in the offices of judge of the circuit court, judge of the district court, and district attorney. The five members of the commission shall consist of the following: The presiding judge of the Circuit Court of Talladega County, as a nonvoting ex officio member who may only vote in the event of a tie vote among the other four members of the commission, and who shall preside over all meetings of the commission; the commissioner of the Alabama State Board of Bar Commissioners representing Talladega County, as an ex officio voting member; and three residents of Talladega County who are not members of the Alabama State Bar. Appointed members shall serve for terms of four years. A vacancy in the office of a member of the commission shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the member was originally chosen. The term of office for the initial appointed members of the commission shall begin immediately upon appointment.

The nonlawyer members of the commission shall be appointed by mutual consent of the members of the state Legislature who represent Talladega County. The nonlawyer members of the commission shall not be eligible to serve two successive terms.

The presiding judge of the Circuit Court of Talladega County shall certify in writing to the Judge of Probate of Talladega County his or her own name and the name of the Alabama State Bar Commissioner representing Talladega County, as ex officio members. The appropriate members of the state Legislature representing Talladega County shall certify in writing to the Judge of Probate of Talladega County the names of the three resident members appointed to the commission.

The Judge of Probate of Talladega County shall record all certificates of election and shall safely and permanently keep the original and all subsequent certificates of election. Immediately upon receipt and recordation of a certificate of election, the judge of probate shall send a certified copy to the Governor.

No member of the commission shall seek appointment as a judge of the circuit court, judge of the district court, or district attorney during the term of office for which the member has been selected.

The members of the commission shall not receive any salary or other compensation for their service as members. No appointed member of the commission shall hold any public office. No member of the commission shall hold any official position in any political party.

If, after the ratification of this amendment, a vacancy occurs in Talladega County in the offices of judge of the circuit court, judge of the district court, or district attorney, the presiding judge of the Circuit Court of Talladega County shall call a meeting of the commission to fill the vacancy. The commission shall nominate three persons having the qualifications for the vacant office. The nominations shall be made only by the concurrence of a majority of the members of the commission. The presiding judge of the circuit court shall certify the three nominees to the Governor, who shall appoint one to the office in which the vacancy exists. If the Governor fails to make an appointment from the submitted list within 30 days from the date of submission, the appointment shall be made from the list by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama. If the appointment is for a judicial vacancy, the appointee shall hold office for an initial term lasting until the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January following the next general election held after completing one year in office. At the election, the judicial office shall be filled for a full term of office beginning at the end of the appointed term. If the appointment is for the office of district attorney, the appointee shall hold office for the term or the remainder of the unexpired term as provided by law.