Alabama
Alabama’s highest court is the Supreme Court of Alabama. The court has eight associate justices and one chief justice. Justices serve six-year terms and are selected by popular vote. (Source: Alabama Supreme Court; Alabama Constitution)
Judicial Selection
Justices on the Supreme Court of Alabama are elected to six-year terms through partisan elections, and they may seek additional terms through partisan elections. There is no limit on the number of terms a justice may serve. The governor fills interim vacancies when a seat opens before the end of a term. The appointed justice holds office until Alabama’s next general election more than two years after they were appointed. Justices may not be appointed or elected after age 70.
State Constitution
Alabama has had seven constitutions adopted between 1819 and 2022. As of January 1, 2024, had 0 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
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The Active Environmental Agendas of State Attorneys General
The U.S. Supreme Court this week paved the way for Democratic attorneys general to proceed with suits against fossil fuel companies under state law.
Executive Orders and Threatened Cuts Challenge Public Education and the Courts
Education rights expert Joshua Weishart discusses the effects of Trump’s education policy changes and how states are pushing back.
State Constitutional Resources We Love
For those who want to know more about state constitutions, a compilation of tools including case databases, interactive maps, and more.
Are State Constitutional Clauses that Strengthen Gun Rights Relevant After Bruen?
States have continued to pursue amendments requiring strict scrutiny for gun restrictions even after the Supreme Court turbocharged the Second Amendment with an originalist approach.
What the SCOTUS Term Means for State Courts
Some of the Court’s most important holdings — including on abortion, gun restrictions, and presidential immunity — have implications for state courts and constitutions.
Iowa High Court Adds to Confusion Over New Right-to-Bear-Arms Amendment
The court issued a divided decision upholding the state’s gun rights restoration process.
We Need to Know More About State Supreme Court Cases
State high courts interpret laws that impact some of the most intimate parts of our lives. Communities have a right to know what’s on the docket.
A Rallying Cry Against Lockstepping
When state supreme courts peg their constitutions to federal interpretations, they erode the rule of law, undermine federalism, and limit rights protection.