Alabama Court of Civil Appeals
Encyclopedia
The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals is one of two appellate courts in the Alabama
judicial system. The court was established in 1969 when what had been one unitary state Court of Appeals was broken into a criminal appeals court and a civil appeals court. The unified Court of Appeals had been operative since 1911.
The Court of Civil Appeals hears civil
matters, including those related to domestic situations such as divorce
, adoptions, child custody
, etc. They will rule on cases appealed from certain state administrative agencies, such as worker's compensation. The Court of Civil Appeals also has jurisdiction
in civil appeals where the amount in controversy does not exceed $50,000.
The Court of Civil Appeals has jurisdiction of all appeals from administrative agencies in which a judgment was rendered in the circuit court. The court also exercises jurisdiction over appeals in workmen's compensation cases and domestic relations cases, including annulment, divorce, alimony
, child support, adoption, and child custody cases.
The Clerk of the Court is John H. Wilkerson, Jr.
Judges are elected to the court in statewide partisan elections for six-year terms on the court. However, the Governor may fill vacancies should they occur during a term of office. All of the current judges came to their positions through election. By statute, the senior judge of the Civil Appeals Court serves as its Presiding Judge. William Thompson, is the Presiding Judge. He was first elected in 1996, when he was only 34 years old. Judge Thompson is today the longest serving of any statewide judge in Alabama.
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
judicial system. The court was established in 1969 when what had been one unitary state Court of Appeals was broken into a criminal appeals court and a civil appeals court. The unified Court of Appeals had been operative since 1911.
The Court of Civil Appeals hears civil
Civil law (common law)
Civil law, as opposed to criminal law, is the branch of law dealing with disputes between individuals or organizations, in which compensation may be awarded to the victim...
matters, including those related to domestic situations such as divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
, adoptions, child custody
Child custody
Child custody and guardianship are legal terms which are used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and his or her child, such as the right of the parent to make decisions for the child, and the parent's duty to care for the child.Following ratification of the United...
, etc. They will rule on cases appealed from certain state administrative agencies, such as worker's compensation. The Court of Civil Appeals also has jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
in civil appeals where the amount in controversy does not exceed $50,000.
The Court of Civil Appeals has jurisdiction of all appeals from administrative agencies in which a judgment was rendered in the circuit court. The court also exercises jurisdiction over appeals in workmen's compensation cases and domestic relations cases, including annulment, divorce, alimony
Alimony
Alimony is a U.S. term denoting a legal obligation to provide financial support to one's spouse from the other spouse after marital separation or from the ex-spouse upon divorce...
, child support, adoption, and child custody cases.
The Clerk of the Court is John H. Wilkerson, Jr.
Election of judges
- Main article: Judicial selection in Alabama
Judges are elected to the court in statewide partisan elections for six-year terms on the court. However, the Governor may fill vacancies should they occur during a term of office. All of the current judges came to their positions through election. By statute, the senior judge of the Civil Appeals Court serves as its Presiding Judge. William Thompson, is the Presiding Judge. He was first elected in 1996, when he was only 34 years old. Judge Thompson is today the longest serving of any statewide judge in Alabama.
Current judges
| Judge | Party | First elected | Term ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Thompson, Presiding Judge | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
1996 | 2014 |
| Craig Sorrell Pittman | Republican | 2000 | 2012 |
| Tommy Bryan | Republican | 2006 | 2016 |
| Terri Willingham Thomas | Republican | 2006 | 2012 |
| Terry Moore | Republican | 2006 | 2012 |
Qualifications
To serve on the court, a person must:- Be licensed to practice law in the state of Alabama
- Have resided in the state for a minimum of one year
- Be no more than 70 years of age at time of appointment or election.
Former Judges of Court of Civil Appeals
- Glenn Murdock
- Sharon G. Yates
- John Crawley
- William E. Robertson
- Roger M. Monroe
- Charles A. Thigpen
- L. Charles Wright
- Kenneth F. Ingram