The bill amends Sections 12-18-10 and 12-18-61 of the Code of Alabama 1975, revising the process for calling retired justices and judges to active duty. It allows any retired justice of the Supreme Court, judge of a court of appeals, or retired circuit judges to be called to interim active duty upon request from the Chief Justice, presiding judge, or Governor, with the retired individual's consent. The bill introduces a daily compensation of $780 for retired judges while serving, funded through discretionary funds from the presiding circuit judge. It also establishes that these retired justices and judges will receive the same per diem expenses and mileage as state employees and mandates a minimum of six hours of approved continuing legal education annually.

Additionally, the bill streamlines the process by removing previous requirements for calling retired circuit judges to active duty, such as the need for the presiding circuit judge to certify the necessity based on a judicial weighted caseload study and the annual recertification of the judge's service. It clarifies that retired justices and judges are not considered public officials during their service and outlines conditions for removal from active duty if performance is unsatisfactory. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 12-18-10, 12-18-61
Enrolled: 12-18-10, 12-18-61