NEWSLET'TER OF THE ALABAMA JUDICIAL SYSTEM

Volume 6/ Number 5 May, 1982

JUDICIAL BUDGET OK'D LEGISLATURE ADOPTS ONE-FOR-ONE JURY STRIKE The foZZowing ZegisZative report

was cornpized and written by Robert Martin, director o f aa7ministratiue services and Pat Harris, administm- t i v e assistant t o the Chief Justice.

The Alabama Leg is la tu re ended I t s 1982 regu la r sesslon on A p r i l 26, af- t e r approving a general fund budget which provides an appropr ia t ion o f $51.5 m i l l i o n f o r t he j u d i c i a l branch o f s t a t e government.

The j u d i c i a l budget i s broken down as f o l lows:

Supreme Court $ 2,972,000 Court o f C i v i l Appeals 751,613 Court o f Cr iminal Appeals

1,109,765 Jud ic i a1 I n q u i r y Commission

73,511 T r i a1 Courts/AOC 46,547,867

"The budgets, as passed, were es- s e n t i a l l y what was requested by the j u d i c i a r y and we are apprec ia t ive of the l e g i s l a t u r e f o r t h e i r support o f our budget request ,I' Chief Jus t i ce C. C. Torber t said.

Torber t s a i d t h a t a f t e r a l l t h e i n - creases mandated by o the r l e g i s l a t i o n , such as s a l a r y adjustments, a re s t r i p -

e ped away, the increase fo r the opera- t i o n of the j u d i c i a r y amounts t o l ess than two percent.

"We are proud o f the f a c t t h a t we were ab le t o present t o t h e Leg is la - t u r e a budget request t h a t was f i s -

c a l l y responsib le. The c r e d i t f o r t h i s accompl i shment must go t o judges, c le rks and r e g i s t e r s , c o u r t administ ra- t o r s , c o u r t employees , and the Adninis- t r r t t v e O f f i c e o f Courts ," Torber t sa id.

L e g i s l a t i o n au tho r i z ing an 11% pay increase f o r a1 1 s t a t e employees be- g inn ing on Oct. 1, was passed and signed by the governor. Th is b i l l a l - so inc ludes c l e r k s and r e g i s t e r s .

I n o the r mat ters i n v o l v i n g sa la r ies , the fo l lowing a c t i o n took p lace:

- L e g i s l a t i o n was approved and signed by the governor g i v i q g c o u r t repo r te rs whose s a l a r i e s are f i x e d un- der the p rov i s ions o f Sect ion 7-110(c) Subsection (3) o f Act No. 1205 o f t he 1975 regu la r session, a $3,000 annual pay ra i se . The r a i s e became e f f e c t i v e immediately on the b i 11 being signed i n t o law. The b i l l , however, p roh i - b i t s those repor te rs g e t t i n g the r a i s e from rece iv ing the cost-of -1 i v i n g r a i s e on Oct. 1.

- The Leg is la tu re adopted a reso lu- t i o n adopting a new pay and c l a s s i f i - ca t i on p lan fo r s t a t e employees. Ac- cord ing t o the Sta te Personnel Board, t h i s new p lan i s scheduled t o go i n t o e f f e c t on May 26. The new p lan pro- vides a wider range o f pay steps fo r most c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s and provides a 2% r a t e o f increase between steps. This was n o t t r u e i n the o l d plan. The new p lan w i l l u l t i m a t e l y g ive ad- m i n i s t r a t o r s 1 i m i t ed a u t h o r i t y t o pro-

(Continued on Page 2)

Court News &., Pae- 2, . --..

v ide annual meri t raises Nsed on the 4 + lewf o f perfimiwtw

dn,t.sl.rato~s w f l l be m r e a b u t this ptm tn tk neard-Sututii5 tk Admtni s t r a t i ve Wf i ce's Person Division. vest the-ir r e t i m a e a t baaefttz frm 15 t o - The repor t o f the Jud ic ia l Cmpensa- tan years. This mcrasure, i ? acted upc~n ti on Comni ssion became 1 aw upon adjourn- by the ret irement board, mlrb pwt s ta te ment o f the Legis lature on Ap r i l 26. The retiremt safn& as repor t provides the foll0winSt. s ta te rala- . m e p l f t t c l ~ ( l t e i n the T w h c r s r i e l f o r fwes: Chief j u s t l t e - $58,500: ktf-4 system, Associate jus t i ces - $5&,OM); presidtng appeals judges - $57,500; appeals judges - $57,000; c i r c u i t J@es - $48,000; t r i c t judges - $38,400.

I n addi t ion t o #e budget and sa la ryba : measures, the Legi s l ature approved an@ governor has sf gned the f o f 1 w i v g t i o n affects the hrbtcial SY i t s judges, c lerks o f court, other bffj- c ia l s and- employees : - Legis la t ion providing f o r one-for-one s t p i kes i n j u r y select ion statewide. a c8p an I s m 1 supplaaants of judges md - teg fs la t ton g i v i n g the t r i a l judge cf'istrkt attorneys was vetoed tzy the sole alurt)rarity i n the matter o f j u q se- go- QB Apr41 22. oukstratfon.

- Legis la t ion author iz ing the governor t o appoint 13 addi t ional c i r c u i t judge- ships during FY 1982-83 provided he re- leases the c m d i t i o n a l appropriatf ons authwized i t ? the l eg i s l a t i on . Some $1.3 m i 7 1 fon i nL condi t ional agproprt crtions t s provided for the funding o f these judge- ships arrd the governor may f i l l any me or a l l of the posit ions, bu t on1 during FY 1982-83. The l e g i s l a t i o n -4 au ortzes the appointment of one c i r c u i t judgeship each i n the llth, 12th, 13th, 15th, $?the Zf t t i , 28th. and 32nd Ci rcu i ts ; two pos i t ions fo r tho 4th C i r c u i t and three f o r the 10th Ci rcu i t . Although the l e g i s l a t i o n created 13 posit ions, f i v e d i d not have the reconr- mendation o f the Supreme (hurt Which i s cons t i t u t i ona l l y required befare the creat ion o r de le t ion of a jlodgeshfp. T ~ Q S ~ f i v e include hM i n the fourth, one each i n the 17th. 27th and 32nd CirCUtt~~ The Court had voted a favorable rean- mendation for d i s t r i c t judgeship b f l l r i n tk 27th and 32nd but the f'fnal v t t 5 t ~ o f the legislation created d r c u i t- $ p i t t o n s . , not d i s t d c t

- W s l a t i c m provldtng for s i x a661- t i ona l s t a f f attorneys for the S m Cwrt. - Legis la t ion prav ld lng f o r two sWf attorneys f o r thC Court o f CrTmlnaY Ap-

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CHANGES MADE I N CASE H I S T O R Y Questions concerning the new procedure a should be addressed t o Cami l le Ashley o r a REPORTING FROM D I S T R I C T COURT Mike C a r r o l l a t the Admin is t ra t ive Office.

A recent review o f s t a t i s t i c a l data needs has e f f e c t e d changes i n c r im ina l case h i s t o r y r e p o r t i n g procedures from d i s t r i c t cour t .

E f f e c t i v e imnedi a t e l y , case i nforma- t i o n should be reported- on ly when a f i n a l d i s p o s i t i o n o f a fe lony case i s entered i n d i s t r i c t cour t . F ina l d i s p o s i t i o n s o f f e lony charges i n d i s t r i c t c o u r t are considered t o be gu i 1 ty pleas, d i sniissal s and cases no1 prossed by the d i s t r i c t a t - torney. Felony cases which are bound over t o the grand j u r y should n o t be re - por ted s ince t h i s a c t i o n i s considered t o be an intermediate, n o t a f i n a l , step.

Form INS-2 w i l l remain as t h e r e p o r t i n g form f o r d i s t r i c t c o u r t f i n a l d i s p o s i t i o n s and w i 11 be completed as before w i t h t h e f o l lowing exception: a d i s t r i c t cou r t r e p o r t i n g form should n o t be f i l l e d o u t u n t i l a f t e r t he f i n a l d i s p o s i t i o n o f the case. Therefore, t he wh i te f i l i n g s l i p ( p a r t one) p rev ious l y submitted t o the Admin is t ra t ive O f f i c e o f Courts a t t he i n i t i a t i o n o f the case w i l l no l o n e r be used and the p ink copy ( p a r t t h ree 3 w i l l no longer be forwarded t o the c i r c u i t cour t . These two po r t i ons may be d iscard- ed a f t e r the f i n a l d i s p o s i t i o n form i s compl eted .

No changes have been made concerning c r im ina l case h i s t o r y r e p o r t i n g i n c i r - c u i t cour t ; however, s ince the p ink copy o f t he d i s t r i c t c o u r t c r im ina l case r e p o r t w i 11 no longer be forwarded t o the c i r - c u i t cour t , c i r c u i t c l e r k s must ensure t h a t uni form a r r e s t repo r t s and o the r i n - format ion are t r a n s f e r r e d t o c i r c u i t cour t .

"This change w i 11 s i g n i f i c a n t l y reduce the present c r i m i n a l case h i s t o r y work- load i n d i s t r i c t court," s a i d A l l e n L. Tapley, admin i s t ra t i ve d i r e c t o r o f cour ts . "However, t h e data s t i l l c o l l e c t e d w i l l prov ide the Admin is t ra t i ve O f f i c e w i t h in format ion needed t o prepare budgets, determine personnel requirements and an- t i c i p a t e t rends i n case f i l i n g s . The change w i l l a l so cont inue t o f u l f i l l r e - quirements o f the cour ts t o prov ide the Cr iminal Jus t i ce In format ion Center wi t h f i n a l d i s p o s i t i o n data on defendants charged w i t h f e l o n i e s ," he continued.

IMPROVEMENTS MADE I N PEBSCO

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PROGRAM

The Pub1 i c Empl oyees B e n e f i t Services Corporat ion, admin i s t ra to r o f t he A1 abama Deferred Compensation Program, has an- nounced improvements i n i t s investment funds. The f i x e d account i s now paying 14.15 percent and inc luded i n the i nves t - ment funds are: a money market fund, f i v e stock accounts and a bond fund.

The b e n e f i t of a defer red compensation p lan i s t h a t the employee pays no federa l income t a x on the amounts deferred, nor i s any t a x pa id on the amounts o f income o r accumulations o f the funds ( i n t e r e s t , dividends and c a p i t a l gains) u n t i 1 ac tua l d i s t r i b u t i o n i s made.

Only a t the t ime o f d i s t r i b u t i o n , pre- sumably a f t e r re t i remen t when the tax bracket i s lower, a re the defer red amounts taxable and then on ly i n the amounts pa id t o the members i n each calendar year.

For more in format ion , contac t t he Ala- bama Deferred Compensati on O f f i ce , 503 Col i seum Boulevard , Sui t e D, Montgomery , AL 36109 (1-205-277-7820 c o l l e c t ) o r the Admin is t ra t i ve O f f i c e o f Courts ' Person- ne l D i v i s ion .

COURT PROCEDURE C I T E D FOR

"NO SHOW" D U I DEFENDANTS

Several cour ts have requested informa- t i o n about the c o r r e c t procedure t o u t i - l i z e i n f i r s t of fense DUI cases i n which the defendant f a i l s t o a t tend the requ i red D U I School. The c o r r e c t procedure i s t o forward the wh i te copy o f t he UTC t o the Department o f Pub l i c Safe ty imnediate ly upon conv ic t i on . Then when a defendant f a i l s t o complete the terms o f the sen- tence, such as f a i l u r e t o a t tend the DUI School , and the Court wishes the defen- dant 's l i cense suspended, a recomrnenda- t i o n from the Court t o the Department of Pub l i c Safety i s s u f f i c i e n t t o impose such a suspension. I n each case, the Court should s t a t e the recommended pe r iod o f each suspension.

Court News

RECENT STUDY SHOWS

LAW RELATED EDUCATION CAN REDUCE J U V E N I L E DELINQUENCY

A recent study repor ted i n the Ameri- can Bar Assoc ia t ion 's LRE Report suggests '

t h a t 1 aw-related education (LRE) can s i g n i f i c a n t l y reduce delinquency when i t i s taught according t o prescr ibed p r i n c i - ples. The study, conducted w i t h the sup- p o r t of the O f f i c e o f Juven i le Jus t i ce and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) dur ing the spr ing of 1981, invo lved 323 sen io r h igh students located i n s i x communities across the country, i n c l u d i n g both metro- pol i tan and nonmetropol i tan areas.

The study revealed t h a t students i n classes where LRE was p roper l y implemen- ted :

- were l ess l i k e l y t o use v io lence t o so l ve problems ;

- were l e s s dependent on o thers who engage i n de l inquent behavior;

- sa id t h a t t h e i r parents viewed them less negat ive ly .

The study a l so revealed gains i n o the r areas associated wi t h del inquency. These inc luded :

- decreased fee l i ngs o f i s o l a t i o n from teachers ;

- decreased perceptions t h a t teachers viewed them negat ive ly ;

- decreased perceptions t h a t o the r students viewed them nega t i ve l y ;

- decreased f r u s t r a t i o n between the goals they wished t o achieve and t h e i r perceptions of t h e i r ab i 1 i t i e s t o achieve those goals.

A p a r t i c u l a r l y hopeful f i n d i n g was t h a t the favorab le impact of LRE extends t o students a t a l l a b i l i t y l e v e l s , as w e l l as t o young persons whose pre-exi s t i ng 1 eve1 s o f del inquent behavior ranged from s l i g h t t o subs tan t ia l . Even those d i sp lay ing evidence o f becoming v i o l e n t "career de- 1 i nquents" showed improvements from t h e i r exposure t o 1 aw-related education,

Many features appeared t o account f o r LRE ' s capaci t y t o reduce de l i nquency . These i n c l uded :

- a h igh degree o f s tudent p a r t i c i p a - t i o n i n such a c t i v i t i e s as case s tu- dies, mock t r i a l s , moot courts , and o ther means of c o n f l i c t management , and deci s i on-maki ng .

Paqe 4

- the support of f a c u l t y and administ ra 1) t o r s f o r innovat ive LRE teaching prac- t i ces.

- the h igh i n t e r e s t o f students i n l ea rn ing about the p r a c t i ca l appl i ca- t i o n o f t he law, the Cons t i t u t i on , and the j u s t i c e system.

- he lp from law enforcement o f f i c e r s and o the r members o f t he j u s t i c e sys- tem, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n communicating t h e i r e f fo r t s t o apply the law and i n con f ron t ing the d i f f i c u l t i e s they face.

- the a b i l i t y o f l a r g e numbers of s tu - dents t o excel i n LRE programs s t res - s ing p r a c t i c a l understanding .

The c l asses evaluated used c u r r i cu l um mate r ia l s developed by the Cons t i t u t i ona l Rights Foundation, Law i n a Free Society, and the Nat ional S t r e e t Law I n s t i t u t e .

To ob ta in more in fo rmat ion on the evalu- a t i on , con tac t t he d i r e c t o r s o f t he study: Robert Hunter, Center f o r Ac t ion Research, P.O. Box 3578, Boulder, CO 80303, 303/443- 7977 and Mary Jane Turner, Soc ia l Science Education Consort i um, 855 Broadway, ~ o u l d* er , CO 80302, 303/492-8154.

NEW O F F I C E R S ELECTED I N

M U N I C I P A L JUDGES A S S O C I A T I O N

New o f f i c e r s were e lec ted by the Ala- bama Municipal Judges Associat ion t o serve f o r t he 1982-83 term i n a recent Associa- t i o n meeting he ld i n con junc t ion w i t h the annual conference o f t he Alabama League o f M u n i c i p a l i t i e s on Apr i 1 24 i n Mobi le. I n the judges' business meeting, which f o l - lowed a municipal judges' education con- ference, Judge La r ry Ward, Secretary/ Treasurer, reported t o the membership t h a t the Associat ion i s f i n a n c i a l l y sound.

Sumi ton Municipal Judge Daniel Burgess was e lec ted pres ident of t he Associat ion, succeeding Athens Municipal Judge J e r r y Batts. Other o f f i c e r s e lec ted dur ing the meeting f n c l ude Leeds Municipal Court Judge Charles "Rick" Johanson, 1 s t Vice President; Rogersvi 1 1 e Municipal Judge Roy Hassel t i n e , 2nd Vice President; and P r i chard Pres id ing Municipal Judge Frankie F i e l ds Smi t h , SecretaryITreasurer .

Cour t News Psgc 5

a TAX SHELTER ADOPTED FOR

EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS

On March 31, t h e S t a t e Personnel Board adopted a r e s o l u t i o n a d j u s t i n g s t a t e em- p l o y e e s ' s a l a r i e s t o t a x she1 t e r t h e em- p l o y e e s ' c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o t h e Re t i rement Systems. T h i s ad jus tment shou ld r e s u l t i n an immediate increas'e i n employees ' "take-home" pay.

P r e v i o u s l y , 5 p e r c e n t o f each employee's s a l a r y was deducted and p a i d t o t h e R e t i r e - ment Systems as an employee c o n t r i b u t i o n ( S t a t e p o l icemen p a i d 10 p e r c e n t ) . Even though t h e employee never r e c e i v e d t h i s money, t h e employee had t o pay federa l i n - come t a x on i t s i n c e i t was i n c l u d e d i n h i s s a l a r y . However, t h e IRS has r u l e d t h a t an employee w i l l n o t have t o pay i n - come t a x on such a r e t i r e m e n t c o n t r i b u t i o n if i t i s p a i d by t h e S t a t e d i r e c t l y t o t h e Re t i rement Systems r a t h e r than b e i n g p a i d t o t h e employee and then deducted f rom h i s s a l a r y . F o l l o w i n g t h i s IRS r u l i n g , t h e Personnel Board has a d j u s t e d s t a t e employ-

s a l a r i e s so t h a t t h e 5 p e r c e n t r e t i r e - ment c o n t r i b u t i o n w i l l n o t be i n c l u d e d i n ees ' t h e employee's g ross income f o r f e d e r a l

Chief Justice C. C. 'rBo" Torbert J r . recently appeared i n Washington be- fore the Senate ~ u d i c i a r y Committee, chaired by U. S. Senator Howell Hef l i n . Tor- ber t , who appeared before the Subcommittee l a s t Novem- ber, was the principal w i t - ness on behalf of the Zegis- la t ion t o amend federal ha- beas corpus procedures. The leg i s Zation being considered s ta tes i n part: "An appli- cation for a w r i t of habeas corpus i n behalf of a person i n custody pursuant t o a judgment of a s ta te court shal l not be granted with respect t o any claim tha t has been fu l ly and fa i r l y aGudicated i n s ta te pro- ceedings. "

income t a x purposes. The S t a t e w i l l pay t h e r e t i r e m e n t c o n t r i b u t i o n d i r e c t l y . Thus, t h e employee ' s r e t i rement c o n t r i bu- t i o n w i l l be p a i d by means o f a s a l a r y r e d u c t i o n r a t h e r than a s a l a r y deduc t ion .

T h i s " t a x - s h e l t e r " o n l y defers payment o f f e d e r a l income t a x on r e t i r e m e n t c o n t r i - b u t i o n s and does n o t p r e c l u d e payment a l - t o g e t h e r . Federa l income t a x w i l l have t o be p a i d on these c o n t r i b u t i o n s when t h e q e t i r e m e n t System pays these c o n t r i - b u t i o n s t o t h e employee upon w i t h d r a w a l o r upon payment o f b e n e f i t s upon r e t i r e - ment, u s u a l l y when t h e ernployee i s i n a lower t a x b r a c k e t .

For purposes o t h e r than f e d e r a l income t a x a t i o n , t h e employee's s a l a r y w i l l be cons ide red t o be t h e same as before t h e a d o p t i o n of t h e Board 's r e s o l u t i o n . S t a t e income t a x w i 11 be r e q u i r e d on t h e em- p l oyee 's f u l l compensation, i n c l u d i n g t h e r e t i r e m e n t c o n t r i b u t i o n . Soci a1 s e c u r i t y taxes w i l l be p a i d on t h e f u l l compensa- t i o n . Re t i rement c o n t r i b u t i o n s and bene- f i t s w i l l be based upon t h e f u l l compen- s a t i o n . Upon w i thd rawa l f rom t h e R e t i r e - ment Systems, these c o n t r i b u t i o n s w i l l be p a i d t o t h e employee j u s t as before t h e a d o p t i o n o f t h e Board 's r e s o l u t i o n .

Court News ~fi~a N E W S F R O M T H E J U D I C I A L C O L L E G E

CLERKS AND REGISTERS TO H O U I J U D I C I A L COLLEGE RUNS S E C m PROGRAM 3 9 ~ ~ ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR INSTRUCTOR C E R T I F I C A T I O N

The 39th meeting o f the Clerks and Registers Annual Conference i s scheduled June 10-12 a t Gul f State Park. Sam Grice of Tal ladega County w i l l preside as p res i - dent. The group w i l l hear a Layman's View of the Court from Rev. Robert Baggett, Pastor o f the F i r s t Bap t i s t Church o f Dothan. Ronald L. Jones, who w i l l be- come bureau ch ie f on October 1, w i l l g ive a Report from the Examiners o f Pub- l i c Accounts. A panel w i l l discuss the Legal L i a b i l i t i e s o f Clerks and Regis- ters .

Major Harold Hamnond o f the Department of Pub1 i c Safety w i l l discuss the Rules and Regulations o f t h a t department. A panel cons is t ing o f Presi d i ng Judge Ju l i us Swann , 16th Judi c i a1 C i r c u i t , Etowah County C i r c u i t Clerk Delores Parsons, and other representat ives from the cr iminal j u s t i c e system w i l l t a l k about the im~o r tance o f Coordination o f Local o f f i c i a l s .

A Leg is la t i ve Review and Preview w i 11 be presented by Bob Mart in , Admi n i s t r a - t i v e Of f i ce o f Courts; Pat Harr is , Assistant t o the Chief Just ice; and Jack Dixon, at torney on the s t a f f of the Chief Just ice. Bob Ti l lman w i l l b r i e f - l y overview the new s ta te personnel system.

Since the new j u r y l e g i s l a t i o n passed i n 1981, several counties are conducting pro jec ts i n one-step j u r o r qua1 i f y i n g / summoning. Hunter Slaton and Mike Car ro l l w i l l discuss the Clerk 's r o l e i n t h i s procedure.

Another panel moderated by Chief Just ice C. C. Torbert w i l l discuss Jurors ' Views o f the Court. Ci t izens who have recent ly served on j u r i e s w i l l p a r t i c i - pate as panel members. The Chief Just ice was ca l l ed f o r j u r y serv ice i n Lee County l a s t f a l l so he i s p a r t i c i p a t i n g as a c i t i z e n ju ro r .

The f i n a l session w i l l deal w i t h a potpourr i of questions submitted through a survey conducted by the Jud ic ia l Col- 1 ege .

New o f f i c e r s w i l l be e lec ted and i n - s t a l l ed dur ing the conference.

The Alabama Jud ic ia l College w i l l hold the second C e r t i f i c a t i o n Program f o r I n - s t ruc to rs a t DUI Court Referral Schools on June 21-25 a t Farrah Ha l l on The Univers i ty o f Alabama campus i n Tusca- loosa. The purpose o f the program i s t o provide an understanding o f course content r e l a t i n g t o alcohol ism and i t s treatment and t o present and demonstrate e f fec t ive teaching methods.

For background information, a demon- s t r a t i o n o f the P.E.I. machine w i l l be presented by Sgt. L. H. Winkingstad o f the Department o f Publ ic Safety. D r . P h i l l i p Bromby, President o f L i f e Ski1 . , Inc., o f Pensacola w i l l t a l k about i n - s t r u c t i onal techniques .

Experienced ins t ruc to rs who have taught i n DUI Court Referral Schools w i l l demonstrate how they teach the four ses- sions. These i ns t r uc to r s are Ke l l y Pr i ce o f Anniston f o r Session I; Vann P r u i t t of. Auburn, Session I 1 ; Lanny Capps o f Jasper, Session 111; and John Cumins o f Alex City, Session I V .

Angelo Trimble, D i rec to r o f the Muni - c i pa l Court D iv i s ion o f the Administra- t i v e Of f ice , w i l l make a presentat ion on Ethics and Conf iden t ia l i t y .

Candidates f o r c e r t i f i c a t i o n w i l l p a r t i c i p a t e i n teaching the session i n which they wish t o be c e r t i f i e d . They w i l l a lso have pre and post tes ts . These two fac to rs as we1 1 as attendance w i l l be considered when determining whether o r no t t o grant c e r t i f i c a t i on.

Robert T. Simpson, Coordinator o f Court Referral Program a t the Administrat ive Of f ice , along w i t h Mary Lou S t ree t o f Birmingham, Chairman o f the Education Comni t tee, w i 11 oversee the operation of the program.

S P E C I A L NOTE

The Jud ic ia l Col lege calendars f o r Continuing Education Programs f o r the

a remainder o f 1982 and f o r 1982-83 ap- pear on pages 18 and 19.

Court lVews Page 7

CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT JUDGES ATTEND SPRING JUDICIAL SEMINAR

Scenes from the nar held i n Tus

Sp19ing 3udicia Z Serni- caloosa A p r i l 27-29.

Court News

M U N I C I P A L JUDGES CONFERENCE

FOCUS ON RADAR, COURT IMAGE

A t t he Annual Conference o f Municipal Judges he ld i n Mobile on Apr i 1 24, the two key top i cs discussed were radar and the image o f the cour t . The judges conference was he ld i n conjunct ion w i t h the annual meeting o f the Alabama League o f Munici- p a l i t i e s .

L t . Ralph C o t t i ngham, Radar Speci a1 i s t f o r the Department o f Pub1 i c Safety, ex- p la ined how radar works and how i t should be used by o f f i c e r s . He a l so po in ted o u t t o the judges several considerat ions t h a t they should weigh i n ad jud ica t i ng a radar case.

Dean A l l e n Smith o f The U n i v e r s i t y o f Alabama School o f Law discussed the need t o b u i l d a p o s i t i v e c o u r t image f o r t he pub l i c . Smith suggested several areas of concern on which the judge must focus t o make the c o u r t more understandable f o r the p u b l i c : the judge's behavior i n cour t ; the judge's behavior ou ts ide the cour t ; t he media and p u b l i c in format ion and education; courtroom appearance; and t h e judge and the community.

Other presentat ions dur ing the con- ference inc luded: A L e g i s l a t i v e Report by Perry Roquemore , League At torney ; A Review o f Recent At torney General 's Opinions by Ass is tan t At torney General Carol Jean Smith; The Judge's Re la t ionsh ip w i t h the City Governing Body by Jasper Municipal Judge Herman Maddox; and Beyond the D U I School by Sue I rw in , D i r e c t o r o f the South Alabama Chapter, Nat ional Safety Council.

The next Annual Conference o f Munici- pal Judges wi 11 be he ld A p r i l 23, 1983, i n Huntsvi 1 l e .

T R I M B L E SPEAKS TO M U N I C I P A L CLERKS ON COURT MANAGEMENT

Angelo Trimbl e, D i r e c t o r o f Municipal Court Operations f o r t he Admin is t ra t ive Of f ice of Courts, r e c e n t l y spoke t o the Municipal Clerks Associat ion on Munic ipal Court Management a t t he annual meeting o f the A1 abama League of Municipal i ti es . Trimble pra ised t h e municipal c l e r k s f o r p rov id ing assistance t o h i s d i v i s i o n i n

Page 8

devel op i ng a recommended record-keepi ng system f o r municipal cour ts , a system @ t h a t h i s s t a f f spends considerable t ime he1 p ing cou r t o f f t c i a l s t o implement.

Tr imble explained t h a t h i s work w i t h the munic ipal cour ts has been rewarding, n o t because o f any dramatic changes o r reforms t h a t have taken p lace i n the courts, b u t because o f t he establ ishment, on a day-by-day basis, o f sound manage- ment p r i n c i p l e s and prooedures by muni- c i p a l c o u r t o f f i c i a l s . "It has taken a tremendous amount o f ded ica t ion and coop- e r a t i o n on the p a r t o f judges, cou r t c l e r k s , especi a1 l y munic ipal c l e r k s , as w e l l as p o l i c e ch ie fs , mayors aqd coun- c i l s . These are the people who make the U n i f i e d J u d i c i a l System work, 'I Tr imble said.

A v ideo casset te presenta t ion on Uar- r a n t Issuance, developed by the Administra- t i v e O f f i c e , was shown. Afterward, Trim- b l e suggested t h a t t he mat ter o f warrant issuance i s probably the s i n g l e most i m - po r tan t i ssue facing cou r t s i n terms o f municipal 1 i a b i l i t y .

Other i tems discussed inc luded an ove view o f laws and r u l e s r e l a t i n g t o muni- c i p a l courts., judges and magi s t r a t e s and

e abo l i sh ing and rees tab l i shing municipal cour ts .

Tr imble concluded by asking c l e r k s t o urge t h e i r c o u r t c l e r k s and magist rates t o a t tend one o f the seminars planned f o r municipal c o u r t c l e r k s and magist rates du r ing May (see Apr i 1 Court News, page 9).

M U N I C I P A L SEMINARS

CURRENTLY I N PROGRESS

The Annual Seminars f o r Municipal Court Clerks and Magi s t r a t e s are cur rent - l y i n progress. Several c l e r k s have i n - d i ca ted t h a t they had c o n f l i c t s w i t h the seminar he ld i n t h e i r reg ion and have asked t g be rescheduled f o r another seminar.

Clerks o r magist rates may be approved t o a t tend the f n a l seminar t o be h e l d @ i n Btrmingham on May 26-27. To ob ta in approval , c a l l Municipal Court Operations a t t he Admin is t ra t i ve O f f i c e o f Courts (1-880-392-8077).

Court News -- Page 9

The Alabama Youth Supreme Court, a project of the Alabama YMCA Youth Legislature, held i t s annual "session" a t the Supreme Court Building i n Montgomery on A p r i l 2 . The "Justices" (seated from l e f t ) are Charles E. Wilkinson Jr. , Emma Sansom High School, Gadsden; Jessica Harris, Donoho High School, Anniston; "Chief Justice" K i m Hand, Autau- ga Academy, Prat tv i l l e ; Warren Matthews, Carro Z Z High School, Ozark; Wayne Harrison, Autauga Academy, Pra t tv i l l e . From l e f t and standing are "Justices" Clyde R. Beaver, 111, Coffee High Schoo 2 , Florence; Barbara J . McLauchlin, Carro 2 Z High Schoo 2, Ozark ; Ruth ,@ Ann Dooling, Gpelika High School, Gpelika; David Alan Hughes, Carroll High School, Ozark.

J U V E N I L E PROBATION OFFICERS

I N S T I T U T E SCHEDULED FOR JUNE

The Tenth Annual J u v e n i l e Proba t ion Of f i ce rs I n s t i t u t e w i l l be he ld a t t h e Stage Coach I n n ( f o rmer l y t h e Sheraton I nn ) i n Tuscaloosa from June 23-25. The workshop w i l l beg in a t 11:OO Wednesday morning w i t h two moot c o u r t hear ings. A c t i v i t i e s a re planned f o r Wednesday and Thursday n i q h t s . The workshop w i l l con- c l ude ~ k i d a y morning w i t h the ' Department o f Youth Serv ices June Board meet ing.

COURT CLERK T E S T I N G DATES S E T

W r i t t e n t e s t s f o r Cour t C le r k I t h r u V I w i l l be admin is te red i n t h e f o l l o w - i n g A1 abama c i t i e s on t h e dates i n d i c a t e d :

May 15, Montgomery, F lorence and Tuscal oosa ; May 22, Gadsden , A1 exander C i t y , H u n t s v i l l e and Dothan; May 29, Birmingham and Mobi 1 e,

Supreme Court Justice Hugh Maddox, organizer o f the Youth Judiciary Pro- gram, pauses a moment wi th "Justice" Barbara McLauchlin, daughter o f C i r - cu i t Judge Ben McLauchlin, 33rd Judi- c ia l Circui t .

June 12, F lorence and Tuscaloosa; June 19, Montgomery and Gadsden; June 26, Mobi l e y Alexander C i t y , Dothan, Huntsv i 1 l e and Birmingham.

Court News Page 10

"DEAR C H I EF JUST1 CE TORBERT" -- HIGHLAND AVENUE F I F T H GRADERS APPRECIATIVE OF V I S I T TO SCHOOL 0

Students from the Highland Avenue Eleni- en ta ry School i n Montgomery were qu ick i n expressing t h e i r app rec ia t i on t o Chief J u s t i c e C.C. Torber t J r . a f t e r he v i s i t e d the school and t a l k e d w i t h f i f t h grade students r e c e n t l y .

" -,a 3 rial

Featured on t h i s page a re excerpts from several o f t h e handmade cards the c h i e f

" r 3 l d 1;\9 8 2 j u s t i c e rece ived f o l l o w i n g h i s v i s i t .

The cards were very c rea t i ve , a r t i s t i c and d isp layed such y o u t h f u l i n t e r p r e t a - t i o n o f t h e c h i e f j u s t i c e ' s remarks, he wanted t o share them w i t h a1 1 o f f i c i a l s . +d d .4 e . h ;,n ti,&

..F:.y. *J& A:- *Id jL.1.-

&& 0 c&- it J

&ALL& -7 CO*1- Ale c o m e d u y t .s 1- ,Lwn*tb~.lsur~.~-,

Students from the Highland Avenue Eleni- en ta ry School i n Montgomery were qu ick i n expressing t h e i r app rec ia t i on t o Chief J u s t i c e C.C. Torber t J r . a f t e r he v i s i t e d the school and t a l k e d w i t h f i f t h grade students r e c e n t l y . *,a 3 r ,a l

Featured on t h i s page a re excerpts from several o f t h e handmade cards the c h i e f

" r 3 l d 1, \9 8 2 j u s t i c e rece ived f o l l o w i n g h i s v i s i t .

The cards were very c rea t i ve , a r t i s t i c and d isp layed such y o u t h f u l i n t e r p r e t a - t i o n o f t h e c h i e f j u s t i c e ' s remarks, he wanted t o share them w i t h a1 1 o f f i c i a l s .

Court News Page 11

JUDGE G. ROSS BELL

e f f e r s o n County Fami ly Cour t Judge G. Ross Be22 r e t i r e d May 1, a f t e r

hav ing served i n t h e p o s i t i o n f o r 17 years.

Be1 1 , a n a t i v e o f Birmingham, began h i s law career as an a t t o r n e y i n 1948. He became a p a r t - t i m e judge f o r t h e Recorders Cour t o f Birmingham i n 1956, and a f u l l - t i m e judge i n 1958. He served as Ch ie f Judge f o r t h e same c o u r t from 1963-1965.

I n 1965, B e l l began se rv i ng as judge o f t h e J u v e n i l e and Domestic Re la t i ons Cour t o f Je f f e r son County, and i n 1968,

J i m y WiZbanks, Ch ie f Proba t ion O f f i c e r , F o r t Payne; Secre ta ry , pat Weeks, Ch ie f Proba t ion O f f i c e r , Vernon ; Treasurer , M a x Todd, Ch ie f Proba t ion O f f i c e r , Russe l l - v i l l e .

JD i s t r i c t Judge HaroZd Odom o f Washing- t on County and h i s w i f e Margaret a re

t h e proud paren ts o f t h e i r second c h i l d - - another boy. W i l l i a m Alexander was born A p r i l 27.

, i Z Z S tone, C i r c u i t C le r k o f P ike County, 3 ')and h i s w i f e Lynne a re new paren ts w i t h t h e i r f i r s t c h i l d , a g i r l . Lauren Shea, weigh ing 5 I b s . 14 oz., was born Feb. 28.

a r r i e t Piper, an employee i n t h e o f f i c e o f Da l l as County C i r c u i t C le rk B i l l

K.ynard , was e l e c t e d correspondi nq secre- t a r y f o r t he Alabama ~ s s o c i a t i o n - o f Legal Sec re ta r i es a t t h e g roup ' s r ecen t annual meet ing i n H u n t s v i l l e . Ms. P i p e r has been employed i n t h e D a l l as County C l e r k ' s O f f i c e s i n c e 1975.

@ eraZdine Roberts, a Cour t C le r k I I, i n A t h e o f f i c e o f Walker County C i r c u i t C le r k S y l v e s t e r Anton, d i e d Sunday, A p r i 1 25.

Ms. Roberts had worked i n t h e C l e r k ' s o f f i c e s i n c e Nov. 14, 1979. She was 47 years o l d , and i s su rv i ved by two sons, Har ry W. Roberts, I I, and B. A1 an Roberts.

as a c i r c u i t judge, he was assigned t o p res ide over t h e Fami ly Cour t .

labama Supreme Cour t J u s t i c e Samuel 33 e t t y Osbume, D i r e c t o r o f T r a i n i n g and A. Beatty at tended t h e i n v e s t i t u r e ')Development a t Fami ly Cour t i n B i rming-

o f A1 abama S ta te U n i v e r s i t y P res iden t ham, and t h e Alabama Chapter o f t he Ameri- Robert Lee Randolph on A p r i l 17, repre - can Soc ie t y f o r T r a i n i n g and Development sen t i ng Columbia U n i v e r s i t y P res iden t have been honored a t a s p e c i a l P r e s i d e n t ' s Michael Sovern. J u s t i c e Bea t t y a t t end - d i nne r d u r i n g t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n ' s annual ed Col umbi a U n i v e r s i t y , where he earned conference. The Na t i ona l Chapter Excel - bo th h i s LLM and JSD degrees. lence Award f o r 1981, a s i n g l e honor from

125 chapters represented, was g i ven t o t h e Jhe new o f f i c e r s f o r t h e Alabama Ch ie f .9 Alabama C h a ~ t e r (now named t h e Grea te r

Proba t ion O f f i c e r s Assoc ia t i on a r e Birmingham C h a ~ t e r ) . The A1 abama Chapter Chairman, Larry M. McKay, D i r e c t o r , Juve- i s i n Region I X , and t h i s i s t he f i r s t t ime n i l e Cour t Serv ices, Dothan; Vice-Chairman, t h a t a chap te r f rom t h i s r e g i o n has won.

Court News Page 12

JUDGE KENNETH INGRAM

JUDGE INGRAM SHARES R E C I P E

P res id i ng Judge Kenneth F. Ingram, 18 th Judi c i a 1 C i r c u i t , was r e c e n t l y f ea tu red i n The AsMand Progress because he and h i s w i f e Judy a re bo th gourmet cooks.

Judge Ingram admi t ted t h a t h i s w i f e u s u a l l y does t he cooking i n t h e i r house b u t t h a t he en joys cook ing as a hobby. "I have a few t h i n g s i n my r e c i p e f i l e , " he sa id . "I f i n d t h a t a f t e r a hard week o f c o u r t around t h e c i r c u i t , o r a heavy o f f i c e schedule, p repa r i ng and cook ing a s p e c i a l t y d i s h o r two i s g r e a t r e l axa - ti on.

"We d o n ' t e a t meat t o o o f t e n a t ou r house, b u t when we do we l i k e t o skewer smal l chunks o f beef w i t h vegetables and g r i 11 them over charcoa l . I have expe r i - mented w i t h sh ish kebob marinades f o r more than a dozen years , c o n s t a n t l y chang- i n g i n g r e d i e n t s i n search o f t h a t p e r f e c t recipe. t o s a t i s f y a1 1 t a s t e s . O f course, t h a t i s n o t poss ib l e t o achieve. So what has happened i s t h a t I have t h r e e marinades which we use a t random d u r i n g t h e summer depending upon o u r tas te , " he cont inued.

Below i s Judge Ingram's f a v o r i t e marinade.

MY FAVORITE

114 teaspoon powdered g i n g e r 1 cup d r y r e d wine (burgundy) 1 teaspoon c u r r y powder 112 teaspoon coarse ground b lack pepper 1 c love q a r l i c , crushed 1 tablespoon Worchestersh i re sauce 1 bay l e a f 1 tablespoon l e a f oregano (rubbed) 112 cup 01 i v e o i 1

Mix a l l i n g r e d i e n t s i n o r d e r i n appro- p r i a t e con ta ine r . Add chunks of meat. L e t s tand covered 5 t o 6 hours o r over - n i g h t i n r e f r i g e r a t . Skewer w i t h on- ions , peppers and S? m i c a s o r use you r choice.

N A T I O N A L COLLEGE O F PROBATE JUDGES

SECOND S P R I N G CONFERENCE COMPLETED

The Na t i ona l Co l lege of Probate Judges r e c e n t l y completed i t s second s p r i n g con- ference a t t he headquarters f a c i l i t i e s o f t h e Na t i ona l Center f o r S t a t e Courts i n W i l l i amsburg , Va.

The four-day spec i a1 ty seminar f e a t u r - ed sessions on such t o p i c s as c i v i l com- mitments, cos ts o f probate, conservatory- s h i p and guard ianship, casef low manage- ment, p roba te account ing and probate e v i - dence. I n a d d i t i o n , a mock t r i a l o f a w i l l c o n t e s t was h e l d i n t h e moot cou r t - room o f t he Marshall-Wythe School o f Law a t t h e Co l lege of W i 11 i am and Mary.

I + C o u r t News ----- Page 13

Westside Junior High i n Selma conducted several a c t i v i t i e s t o celebrate Law and Court Observance Week. On Monday, A p r i l 26 , a mock t r i a l was held, and on Wednesday, A p r i l 28 , Justice Janie Shores spoke t o the students about the appeals process. The pictures above were taken a t the " t r i a l . A t l e f t , "jurors are si~orn i n . A t r igh t are rrJudgerr John Jordan, Presiding Circui t Judge Edgar P. Russell J r . , 4th Judicial Circui t , rrProsecuting Attorney" Nina Bostick, "Defense Attorney" Katie Gamble, and J i m Sull ivan, ass i s tan t d i s t r i c t at torney. Not pictured, J . L. Chestnut, attorney.

H I G H L I G H T S BELOW

ALABAMIANS CELEBRATE F I RST LAW C i t i z e n s i n corr~muni t i es across t h e

s t a t e c e l e b r a t e d t h e f i r s t ' Law and Cour t Observance Week t h i s y e a r by add ing t h e i r own s t y 1 e t o a c t i v i t i e s p lanned b y c o u r t o f f i c i a l s , b a r a s s o c i a t i o n members , edu- c a t o r s , c i v i c groups and l a w enforcement o f f i c i a l s .

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e Selma program f e a - t u r e d i n photographs above, t h r e e o t h e r programs a r e h igh1 i g h t e d . The p r o j e c t s t a f f i s i n t e r e s t e d i n h e a r i n g f r o m a l l groups t h a t h e l d a c t i v i t i e s d u r i n g Law and C o u r t Observance Week.

DEKALB COUNTY S tuden ts i n DeKal b Count.yls seven h i q h

schoo ls p a r t i c i p a t e d f o r a i e c o n d y e a r i n a c o u r t awareness program which i n c l u d e ( a mock t r i a l and an i n t e r v i e w s e s s i c r w i t h a s t a t e p r i s o n inmate. Prt C i r c u i t Judge Randal 1 Cole and L ,,A; : Judge Dav id Rains p r e s i d e d o v e r t h e two main even ts . Other p a r t i c i p a n t s i n c l u d - ed C i r c u i t C l e r k Jimmy L indsey ; A t t o r n e y s Char les McGee and Char les Mauney; Deputy D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y Mike O ' D e l l ; c i r c u i t c o u r t R e g i s t e r G l o r i a Fo r t son ; I n v e s t i g a - t o r s Wayne P a r k e r and John Paul Johnson; Cour t A d m i n i s t r a t o r J i m McGee; S e c r e t a r y Joyce Daus; and s t a t e p r i s o n e r , " C h a r l i e . "

AND COURT OBSERVANCE WEEK AIVIU I STON

The Alabama Supreme C o u r t h e l d a ses- s i o n a t Donoho H igh School on F r i d a y o f Law and C o u r t Observance Week, and many p l a n s f o r t h e week cen te red around t h e sess ion . J u s t i c e J a n i e Shores addressed t h e b a r a s s o c i a t i o n ' s annual luncheon w h i l e Judge R ichard Holmes o f t h e Cour t o f C i v i l Appeals spoke t o t h e R o t a r y Club

C i r c u i t c o u r t R e g i s t e r Barbara P i p p i n c h a i r e d a p u b l i c a f f a i r s program which i n c l u d e d judges and a t t o r n e y s f o r t h e news media.

The A n n i s t o n programs were c o o r d i n a t e d by A t t o r n e y Doug Ghee.

LIMESTONE COUNTY S u ~ r e m e Cour t J u s t i c e Samuel A. Beatt -y

h i g h l i g h t e d Law and C o u r t Observance week i n L imestone County w i t h an address t o s t u d e n t s and t h e genera l p u b l i c i n Elkmont and Athens. He a l s o addressed a luncheon a t t e n d e d by a t t o r n e y s , judges and l a w en- fo rcement o f f i c e r s .

The Limestone observance was coord ina - t e d b y A t t o r n e y George C r a i g . I n a d d i t i o n t o J u s t i c e B e a t t y ' s addresses, a p o s t e r c o n t e s t was sponsored countywide, w i t h sav ings bonds f o r t h e f i r s t p l a c e w inners p r o v i d e d by C i t i z e n s and C e n t r a l Banks.

hurt News Page 14

ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS

Local Court Costs For

Court Admin is t ra t ion

And I t s C o l l e c t i o n

I n an op in ion issued March 8, 1982, t o Mobi le C i r c u i t Clerk Maurice Castle, t he a t to rney general he ld t h a t the l o c a l c o u r t cos t o f $2 designated fo r the "cou r t admin is t ra t ion" fund should n o t be c o l l e c t - ed on the f i l i n g o f a w r i t o f garnishiiient o r upon an execution s ince both proceed- ings are a n c i l l a r y , seeking s a t i s f a c t i o n of a p r i o r judgment, and are n o t o r i g i n a l c i v i l act ions. However, t he a t to rney general sa id the $2 l o c a l cos t should be c o l l e c t e d on a case appealed de novo from d i s t r i c t cou r t t o c i r c u i t cou r t when the appeal i s docketed i n t h e c i r c u i t cour t .

S ta te Employees May Be Garnished

For Ch i l d Support And At to rney 's

Fees Under Cer ta i n C i rcums tances

I n an op in ion rendered t o D r . Rex Rainer, d i r e c t o r of finance, the a t to rney general has r u l e d t h a t Sections 6-6-490 through 6-6-493, now permi t a s t a t e em- p loyee's wages t o be garnished f o r c h i l d support (notwi thstanding the p r o h i b i t i o n against t h i s p r a c t i c e found i n Sect ion 6-6-482) and t h a t Sect ion 30-2-54 a l lows

the recovery o f a t to rney ' s fees as p a r t o f such garnishment proceedings as long as the re has been an award of d ivorce, the c o u r t has found the responsfb le

* parent i n contempt o f cour t , and t h e c o u r t has awarded the a t to rney ' s fees, a l l as s e t o u t i n t h a t sect lon.

Homestead O r Personal Property

May Be Claimed A f t e r Levy

I n an op in ion o f March 22, 1982, t o Parker Washington, s h e r i f f , B u t l e r County, County, t he a t to rney general c i t e d Sect ion 6-10-26, Code o f A1 abama 1975, as a u t h o r i t y f o r a defendant t o f i l e an a f f i d a v i t c la iming h i s o r her personal p roper ty exemption o r homestead exemption a t any t ime a f t e r t he l e v y o f an execu- t i o n , b u t p r i o r t o the sa le o f the pro- per ty . Sect ion 6-10-26, supra, o u t l i n e s the methods f o r f i l i n g an a f f i d a v i t i n o rder t o c la im the personal p roper ty o r homestead exemptions a f t e r such have been l e v i e d upon by the s h e r i f f .

Judges Salary Supplements Not

Increased Due To 7% Percent

Cost-Of-Living Raise

I n an op jn ion dated March 23, 1982, the a t to rney general expla ined t h a t t he 735 percent s t a t e sa la ry increase (autho- r i z e d pursuant t o Act 80-616) should n o t be considered i n computing the county supplements p a i d t o the c i r c u i t judges of Calhoun County. Refer r ing t o an e a r l i e r op in ion issued February 2, 1981 t o the Je f fe rson County Comni ss ion , the a t to rney general s ta ted t h a t under l i k e reasoning the c i r c u i t judges o f Cal houn County are no t e n t i t l e d t o an increased county supplement where such increase would be based on the 735 percent cost-of -1 i v i n g ra i se . According t o the a t to rney general , Act 80-616 i t s e l f p r o h i b i t s a county supplement increase by the f o l l o w i n g ex- press prov is ion : 0

"...Any c o s t - o f - l i v i n g increase grant- ed under the prov is ions o f t h i s Act s h a l l

(Continued On Page 1 5 )

'Cwrt News Page 15

E G A L N O T E S

ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS

(Continued From Page 1 4 )

in no way apply to any local supplement provided to any judges or any other employee of this state.. . .'

e Absentee Ballots - Indicating

Races For Which voter Is

Ineligible To Vote

In response t o inquiries concerning absentee ballots posed by Secretary of State Don Siegelman, the attorney gen- eral issued an opinion dated March 3, 1982 stating that i t would be appro- priate for an absentee election manager t o indicate on any absentee ballot races for which the absentee voter i s not eligible to cast his vote. The attorney general a1 so explained that i s absentee ballots are returned with votes cast i n races for which the voter was ineligible to vote, the counting official should disregard the ineligible votes, and such procedure would "not v i t ia te the ballot so fa r as properly marked." (Section 17-13-2 Code of A1 abama 1975).

Attestation Of Probate Judge Or Cl erk

Required For Sati sfaction Of Mortgage

The attorney general issued an opinion dated March 4 , 1982 interpreting Section 35-10-27 of the Code concerning the pro-

cedure to be uti 1 ized when a mortgage has been fully paid or satisfied. Citing an earl ier opinion issued to Judge Hoyt Hamilton, the attorney general stated that attestation by the probate judge i s absolutely necessary in order to have a valid satisfaction of a mortgage, where. such satisfaction i s made by the indivi- dual mortgagee. In such instances, the fee as provided by statute i s 2%. Accordi ng to the attorney general ' s opinion, the statute does not require attestation i f satisfaction of a mortgage i s made by the power of attorney or re1 ease.

Service Credit For Time Served

As Regi s ter May Not Be

Transferred To The Office

Of The Clerk

I n an opinion dated March 29, 1982, the attorney general determined that prior service credit for the time served as the register may not be transferred t o the office of the clerk should the regis- ter be successful in an election to that office. The opinion also noted that there i s no apparant alternative other than withdrawing the contributions from one fund and beginning again.

District Attorney Should Be

Provided With Sufficient

Office Facilities

In an opinion dated March 19, 1982, the attorney general determined that the county commission should provide the d i s t r i c t attorney with such office facil- i t i e s as will promote the efficient functioning of his office, and that the county commissioners work together to assure t h a t adequate space i s provided.

Sheriff Is M i 1 eage A1 1 owance

In an opinion dated March 5, 1982, the attorney general determined that a county i s required to furnish the necessary

(Continued On Page 16)

Court News Page 16

ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS (Continued From Page 15)

maintenance and expenses i n c i d e n t a l t o t h e operat ions o f such veh ic les as a re provided pursuant t o Sect ion 36-22-18, Code of Alabama 1975. I n add i t ion , t he op in ion concluded t h a t t h e s h e r i f f i s e n t i t l e d t o rece ive the 204 per m i l e mileage allowance provided i n Ac t No. 80-257, Acts o f ~ l a b a m a 1980, o n l y when requ i red t o use h i s personal automobile on - o f f i c i a l business.

MISCELLANEOUS LEGAL NOTES Not ice To Courts And Clerks

Special Procedures For Fines

And Fees: Fores t ry Cases

During the recent meeting o f t he c o u r t s ' bookkeepers conducted i n Birni-ing- ham, several quest ions arose regard ing the appropr ia te methods f o r c o l l e c t i o n and disbursement o f fees and f i n e s i n cases under the s t a t e ' s f o r e s t r y 1 aws. Reprinted below i s an a r t i c l e which appeared i n the June, 1981, i ssue o f Court News which addresses these p o i n t s and should reso lve t h e quest ions ra ised.

I

The s t a t e Fores t ry Comnission has brought t o the a t t e n t i o n o f t h e Adminis- t r a t i v e O f f i c e of Courts i t s i n t e n t i o n s t o begin i n i t i a t i n g more cases under the

p rov i s ions of t h e s t a t e ' s f o r e s t r y laws. I n r e l a t i o n t o these cases, i t i s impor- /@ t a n t t o note the ~ r o v i s i o n s o f Sect ion 9-13-24, Code o f Alabama 1975 regarding the fees of t h e a r r e s t i n g o f f i c e r s and the in formers ' fees. hat Code provides - the f o l 1 owing :

"Fees of a r r e s t i n g of f icers, e tc . ; informers ' fees.

"When an a r r e s t f o r a v i o l a t i o n o f t he p rov i s ions o f t h e f o r e s t r y laws i s made by a s a l a r i e d o f f i c e r o r s a l a r i e d ernpl oyee of t he s t a t e f o r e s t r y cormii s- s ion and the defendant i s convicted, there s h a l l be taxed as costs t h e same fee as #e s h e r i f f i n t h i s s t a l r f r e n t i t l e d t o fo r s i m i l a r s e r v i c and, Tf c o l l e c t e d f rom the d e d s h a l l be immediately remi t ted by the t r i a l c o u r t d i r e c t l y t o t h e s t a t e fo res ter , and sa id fee s h a l l be used fo r t he pur- pose o f the admin i s t ra t i on o f the s t a t e f o r e s t r y comnission. I f t h e person making the a r r e s t s h a l l be a nonsalar ied o f f i c e r o r n o t an employee o f t he s t a t e f o r e s t r y c o m i s s i o n and i f sa id fee i s c o l l e c t e d f rom the defendant, such per-

a son s h a l l be e n t i t l e d t o sa id fee and s h a l l rece ive i n a d d i t i o n the re to an i n - fo rmer 's f e e o f one-hal f t h e f i n e i n each case where the in format ion fu rn ished by him r e s u l t s i n a c o n v i c t i o n and the f i n e i s c o l l e c t e d and pa id i n t o court ; provided, however, t h a t i n no case s h a l l t he amount pa id t o t h e informant o r p a r t y making t h e a f f i d a v i t as t o the commission o f any of fense embraced i n t h i s chapter exceed t h e sum of $25. A1 1 amounts i n ex- cess of $25 s h a l l be remi t ted t o the s t a t e fo res te r as provided i n t h i s sect ion. No fee s h a l l be al lowed i n cases o f acqu i t - t a l . (Act 1936-37, Ex. Sess., No. 161, p. 183, Code 1940, T.8., Sect ion 218; Acts 1951, No. 984, p. 1659)"

It i s the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h i s o f f i c e , based upon conversat ions w i t h t h e s t a t e Fores t ry Comi ssion, t h a t these p rov i s ions r e q u i r e t h e f o l lowing procedures of the c l e r k s when an a r r e s t i s made f o r the v i o l a t i o n o f one of t h e f o r e s t r y laws: e

(1) I f the a r r e s t i s made by an (Continued On Page 17)

1 ' tourt News - Page 17

MISCELLANEOUS LEGAL NOTES I (Continued From Page 16) I

o f f i c e r o f the s t a t e f o r e s t r y commission o r an employee of t h e commission, the a r r e s t f ee c o l l e c t e d upon conv ic t i on s h a l l be remi t ted t o the s t a t e forester ; o r 9

1 ( 2 ) I f the a r r e s t i s made by any o the r conservat ion o f f i c e r o r o the r o f f i c e r , general ly , disbursement o f t he a r r e s t fee should f o l l o w normal proce- dure; e.g., i f the a r r e s t i s made by s t a t e o f f i c e r t h e a r r e s t f ee goes t o the s t a t e general fund and i f the a r r e s t i s made by a county o f f i c e r t h e a r r e s t fee goes t o the county general fund;

(3 ) The in fo rmate r ' s fee mentioned i n t h i s sec t i on should n o t be pa id by the cour t . I f any i n d i v i d u a l making an a f f i d a v i t i n a f o r e s t r y law case requests the i n fo rmer ' s fee mentioned there in , he o r she should be d i r e c t e d t o contac t t he s t a t e f o r e s t r y commission.

Add i t i ona l l v , Sect ion 9-13-11(1). . . - Code o f ~ l a b a n 6 -1975, now es tab l ishes w i 1 l f u l , ma1 i c i o u s o r i n t e n t i o n a l burning - of f o res ts , etc., as a Class C fe lony . Thus, f o r these f e l o n y offenses l i s t e d there in , the same procedures regarding t h e a r r e s t f ee ( o u t l i n e d above) w i l l be appl i cable.

c o l l e c t e d f o r any v i o l a t i o n o f t h a t s e c t i o n as f i n e s o r f o r f e i t u r e s s h a l l b e remi t ted t o the s t a t e f o r e s t r y com- mission. The address t o r these t rans-

-and o the r i n q u i r i e s i s : S ta te Fores t ry Commission, 513 Madison Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36130, A t ten t i on : Law Enforcement Sect ion.

A separate column i n the cash book may be es tab l ished i f a l a r g e number of these cases i s being docketed.

DALLAS COUNTY JURORS

GET S1'UCK I N ELEVATOR

SELMA (AP) - It was a hung j u r y o f s o r t s when several Da l las County grand j u r o r s overloaded an e l e v a t o r a t t he courthouse.

For one and one-hal f hours Monday afternoon, the n ine grand j u r y nierrrbers and a superv isor were l e f t hanging 40 f e e t above the basement when the e le - va to r g o t s tuck between the f i r s t and second f 1 oors .

Joking a t f i r s t , the 10 became s e r i - ous about t h e i r predicament and J u l i a Gibson, a j u v e n i l e c o u r t c l e r k who was superv is ing the group, began sending an "SOS" s igna l over the emergency buzzer.

Courthouse custodian Jake Adams heard the s igna l and t h e rescue miss ion was under way. Adams and Da l las County Deputy Wayne Odom l i n e d up another e le - va to r nex t t o the stuck one and removed metal panels on both. That enabled a few o f t he th inne r j u r o r s t o squeeze through, ~i iaking the e l e v a t o r ' s burden l i g h t e r by hundreds o f pounds and a l - lowina i t t o func t i on aaain.

Subsection (3) o f Sect ion 9-13-11, supra, a l s o provides t h a t a l l moneys

NOTE: ANNUAL CONFEREKES FOR TRIAL C a R T J W E S j JUVENILE COURT JUDGESj CLERKS AM REGISTERS, CURT REWRTERS AM) JUDICIAL SECRETARIES ARE BEING HUD WRING THE MOW% OF JUE At@ JULY, PLEASE PR€PARE YWR SO THAT ALL CONCERNED M Y ATTPD W I R ANNUAL CONFERENCES,

NOTE: ANNUAL CONFERENCES FOR TRIAL COURT JUDGES, JUVENILE COURT JUDGES, CLERKS AND REGISTERS, COURT REPORTERS AND JUDICIAL SECRETARIES ARE BEING HELD DURING THE MONTHS OF JUNE ANT) JULY, 1 9 8 3 . PLEASE PREPARE YOUR CALENbARS SO THAT ALL CONCERNED MAY ATTEND THEIR ANNUAL CCYFERENCES

Court News Paee 20

AN-- C.C. TORBERT JR. Alabama Chief Just ice

~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ m n w m u * w u u o n * L m ALLEN L. TAPLEY Administrat ive Di rec tor o f Courts

COURT NEWS, Vol ume 6, Number 5, newsletter o f the Alabama Jud ic ia l System, i s published monthly as an informat ional and educational serv- i c e t o s ta te j u d i c i a l o f f i c i a l s and personnel . Inqu i r i es should be addressed t o Administrat ive O f f i ce o f Courts, 817 South Court Street, Montgomery, AL 36130. Tel ephone: (205) 834-7990 o r 1-800-392-8077.

Wi l l iam A. Campbell D i rec tor o f Research and Planning and Ed i to r

J u l i e B. Young Ass is tant Ed i to r

ROBERT E. LEE KEY, President Associat ion o f C i r c u i t Judges

JERRY FIELDING, President hssoc ia t ion o f D i s t r J c t Judges DANIEL BURGESS, Presi dent Associat ion o f Municipal Judges

JOHN P. OLIVER,President assoc ia t ion o f Juveni le Court Judges

SAM GRICE President Assoda t ion o f Clerks and Registers

DAVID MILLER, President Shorthand Reporters Associat ion

SANDY HUOVINEN, President C i r c u i t Judges' Secretaries Associat ion

JACKIE President D i s t r i c t Judges' Secretaries Associat ion

8TATt OF ALABAMA ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF COURT8 817 South Court St- M o n w , Al- 56130

U.S. m4-

~ R T , IL