How Does The Alabama District Court Work?

District Courts are non-jury trial courts in the Alabama judicial system. These courts have limited jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases, and decisions rendered in these courts may be appealed at the state’s Circuit Courts.

Alabama District Courts typically have jurisdiction over the following types of cases:

• Civil cases where the matter in controversy is less than $10,000, excluding interest and costs. (In cases where the amount is between $3,000 - $10,000, these court share jurisdiction with the Circuit Courts)
• Most misdemeanor cases
• Ordinance violations (This usually only happens when there is no Municipal Court in the area)
• Preliminary hearings for felony cases
• Non-capital (not punishable by death) felony cases where a guilty plea is entered (District Courts share jurisdiction with Circuit Courts in these types of cases)
• Certain domestic relations and juvenile cases, including child support, child custody, paternity, and child neglect cases

When juvenile cases are filed, separate dockets are typically maintained for these cases. Some counties also maintain different dockets for paternity, child support, and child support cases. These dockets are Juvenile Courts or Family Courts.

The Alabama judicial system currently has 106 District Court judges spread out across the state’s 67 counties. They are elected in partisan elections, and they serve terms of six years. A District Court judge can run for re-election as many times as possible before the age of 70. Once a judge turns 70, the judge is no longer eligible to run. When there is a vacancy judgeship position, the Alabama state governor appoints a qualified individual to fill the position.

Before an individual can become a District Court judge, they must have resided in the district for at least one year before the election or appointment. Also, only individuals licensed to practice law in Alabama are qualified to seek election as a District Court judge. They must also be licensed by the Alabama State Bar Association or the bar association of another state for a combined total of at least three years.

In an Alabama District Court, the Average time before a judge issues a disposition is 91 days. County Circuit Clerks maintain District Court case records. Members of the public interested in accessing these records may do so by contacting the Circuit Clerk’s office in the county where the case in question was filed. Note that the payment of a fee may be required before these records are accessed.

The Alabama judicial system is divided into 67 judicial districts, and the District Courts available in these districts can be located at:

Autauga County District Court
134 N Court Street
Suite 114
Prattville, AL 36067
Phone: (334) 358–6820

Baldwin County District Court
312 Courthouse Square
Suite 10
Bay Minette, AL 36507
Phone: (251) 937–9561

Baldwin County District Court - Fairhope Satellite Courthouse
1100 Fairhope Avenue
Fairhope, AL 36532
Phone: (251) 928–3002

Baldwin County District Court - Foley Satellite Courthouse
201 E Section Avenue
Foley, AL 36535
Phone: (251) 943–5061

Barbour County District Court 1
1 Court Square
P.O. Box 219
Clayton, AL 36016
Phone: (334) 775–8366

Barbour County District Court 2
303 E Broad Street
Eufaula, AL 36027
Phone: (334) 687–1516

Bibb County District Court
35 Court Square E
P.O. Box 185
Centreville, AL 35042
Phone: (205) 926–3106

Blount County District Court
Blount County Courthouse
220 2nd Avenue E
Suite 208
Oneonta, AL 35121
Phone: (205) 625–4153

Bullock County District Court
217 N Prairie Street
P.O. Box 230
Union Springs, AL 36089
Phone: (334) 738–2280

Butler County District Court
700 Court Square
P.O. Box 236
Greenville, AL 36037
Phone: (334) 382–3521

Calhoun County District Court
25 W 11th Street
Anniston, AL 36201
Phone: (256) 231–1850

Chambers County District Court
2 S LaFayette Street
LaFayette, AL 36862
Phone: (334) 864–4348

Chambers County District Court - Lanett Annex
610 S Gilmer Avenue
Lanett, AL 36863
Phone: (334) 644–7068

Cherokee County District Court
Cherokee County Courthouse
100 Main Street
Suite 203
Centre, AL 35960
Phone: (256) 927–3637

Chilton County District Court
500 2nd Avenue N
P.O. Box 1946
Clanton, AL 35046
Phone: (205) 755–4275

Choctaw County District Court
Choctaw County Courthouse
117 S Mulberry Street
P.O. Box 428
Butler, AL 36904
Phone: (205) 459–2155

Clarke County District Court
Clarke County Courthouse
114 Court Street
P.O. Box 921
Grove Hill, AL 36451
Phone: (251) 275–3363

Clay County District Court
Clay County Courthouse
25 Court Square
P.O. Box 816
Ashland, AL 36251
Phone: (256) 354–7926

Cleburne County District Court
Cleburne County Courthouse
120 Vickery Street
Suite 202
Heflin, AL 36264
Phone: (256) 463–2651

Coffee County District Court - Elba
230 Court Avenue
Elba, AL 36323
Phone: (334) 897–2954

Coffee County District Court - Enterprise
101 S Edwards Street
Enterprise, AL 36330
Phone: (334) 393–2750

Colbert County District Court
Colbert County Courthouse
201 N Main Street
P.O. Box 740370
Tuscumbia, AL 35674
Phone: (256) 314–5854

Conecuh County District Court
111 Court Street
Suite 203
Evergreen, AL 36401
Phone: (251) 578–2066

Coosa County District Court
100 Main Street
P.O. Box 98
Rockford, AL 35136
Phone: (256) 377–4988

Covington County District Court
Covington County Courthouse
1-K N Court Square
Andalusia, AL 36420
Phone: (334) 428–2520

Crenshaw County District Court
Crenshaw County Courthouse
29 S Glenwood Avenue
P.O. Box 167
Luverne, AL 36049
Phone: (334) 335–6575

Cullman County District Court
Cullman County Courthouse
500 2nd Avenue, S. W.
Suite 303
Cullman, AL 35055
Phone: (256) 775–4654

Dale County District Court
Dale County Courthouse
100 E Court Square
P.O. Box 1350
Ozark, AL 36361
Phone: (334) 774–5003

Dallas County District Court
Dallas County Courthouse
105 Lauderdale Street
P.O. Box 327
Selma, AL 36702
Phone: (334) 874–2523

DeKalb County District Court
DeKalb County Courthouse
300 Grand Avenue S
Suite 200
P.O. Box 681149
Fort Payne, AL 35968
Phone: (256) 845–8525

Elmore County District Court
Elmore County Judicial Complex
8935 US Highway 231
Wetumpka, AL 36092
Phone: (334) 567–1156

Escambia District Court
Escambia County Courthouse
314 Belleville Avenue
P.O. Box 856
Brewton, AL 36427
Phone: (251) 867–0225

Etowah County District Court
Etowah County Courthouse
801 Forrest Avenue
Suite 202
Gadsden, AL 35901
Phone: (256) 549–2150

Fayette County District Court
Fayette County Courthouse
113 Temple Avenue N
P.O. Box 509
Fayette, AL 35555
Phone: (205) 932–4617

Franklin County District Court
Franklin County Courthouse
410 N Jackson Avenue
P.O. Box 160
Russellville, AL 35653
Phone: (256) 332–8861

Geneva County District Court
Geneva County Courthouse
200 N Commerce Street
P.O. Box 86
Geneva, AL 36340
Phone: (334) 684–5620

Greene County District Court
Greene County Courthouse
400 Morrow Avenue
P.O. Box 307
Eutaw, AL 35462
Phone: (205) 372–3598

Hale County District Court
Hale County Courthouse
1001 Main Street
P.O. Box 99
Greensboro, AL 36744
Phone: (334) 624–4334

Henry County District Court
Henry County Courthouse
101 Court Square
Suite J
Abbeville, AL 36310
Phone: (334) 585–2753

Houston County District Court
Houston County Courthouse
114 N Oates St
Dothan, AL 36302
Phone: (334) 677–4805

Jackson County District Court
Jackson County Courthouse
102 E Laurel St
P.O. Box 397
Scottsboro, AL 35768
Phone: (256) 574–9320

Jefferson County District Court 1
Bessemer Justice Center
1851 2nd Avenue N
Bessemer, AL 35020
Phone: (205) 497–8510

(The court hears criminal, civil, domestic relations, small claims, and traffic cases)

Jefferson County District Court 2
Jefferson County Criminal Justice Center
801 Richard Arrington, Jr. Boulevard N
Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 325–5285

(The court hears criminal cases, including traffic cases)

Jefferson County District Court 3
Jefferson County Courthouse
716 Richard Arrington, Jr. Boulevard N
Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 325–5355

(The court hears civil cases, including small claims)

Jefferson County Family Court 1
1801 3rd Avenue N
Bessemer, AL 35020
Phone: (205) 744–3500

(The court hears child support and juvenile cases)

Jefferson County Family Court 2
120 2nd Court N
Birmingham, AL 35204
Phone: (205) 325–5491

(The court hears child support and juvenile cases)

Lamar County District Court
Lamar County Courthouse
330 1st St NE
P.O. Box 434
Vernon, AL 35592
Phone: (205) 695–7193

Lauderdale County District Court
Lauderdale County Courthouse
200 S Court St
P.O. Box 776
Florence, AL 35631
Phone: (256) 760–5728

Lawrence County District Court
Lawrence County Judicial and Administrative Annex
14451 Market St
P.O. Box 249
Moulton, AL 35650
Phone: (256) 974–2438

Lee County District Court
T. K. Davis Justice Center Complex
2311 Gateway Dr
Suite 104
Opelika, AL 36801
Phone: (334) 749–7141

Limestone County District Court
Limestone County Courthouse
200 W Washington St
Athens, AL 35611
Phone: (256) 233–6406

Lowndes County District Court
Lowndes County Courthouse
1 S Washington St
P.O. Box 876
Hayneville, AL 36040
Phone: (334) 548–2252

Marion County District Court
Marion County Courthouse
132 Military St S
P.O. Box 1595
Hamilton, AL 35570
Phone: (205) 921–1943

Macon County District Court
101 E Rosa Parks Avenue
Tuskegee, AL 36083
Phone: (334) 724–2614

Madison County District Court
Madison County Courthouse
100 North Side Sq
Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 532–3380

Marshall County District Court 1
Marshall County Courthouse
424 Blount Avenue
Guntersville, AL 35976
Phone: (256) 571–7785

Marshall County District Court 2
Marshall County Courthouse
200 W Main St
Albertville, AL 35950
Phone: (256) 878–4521

Marengo County District Court
Marengo County Courthouse
101 E Coats Avenue
Linden, AL 36748
Phone: (334) 295–2219

Montgomery County District Court
Montgomery County Courthouse
251 S Lawrence St
P.O. Box 1667
Montgomery, AL 36102
Phone: (334) 832–1260

Morgan County District Court
Morgan County Courthouse
302 Lee St NE
P.O. Box 668
Decatur, AL 35602
Phone: (256) 351–4643 (Civil)
Phone: (256) 351–4644 (Criminal/Traffic)
Phone: (256) 351–4790 (Family)

Mobile County District Court
Government Plaza
205 Government St
Suite 913
Mobile, AL 36644
Phone: (251) 574–8806

Monroe County District Court
Monroe County Courthouse
65 N Alabama Avenue
Suite 220
Monroeville, AL 36460
Phone: (251) 743–2283

Perry County District Court
Perry County Courthouse
300 Washington St
P.O. Box 505
Marion, AL 36756
Phone: (334) 683–6106

Pickens County District Court
Pickens County Courthouse
20 Phoenix Avenue
P.O. Box 418
Carrollton, AL 35447
Phone: (205) 367–2050

Pike County District Court
Pike County Courthouse
120 W Church St
Troy, AL 36081
Phone: (334) 566–5113

Randolph County District Court
Randolph County Courthouse
1 Main St S
P.O. Box 328
Wedowee, AL 36278
Phone: (256) 357–4551

Russell County District Court
Russell County Judicial Center
501 14th St
Phenix City, AL 36867
Phone: (334) 298–6028

Shelby County District Court
Shelby County Courthouse
112 N Main St
P.O. Box 1810
Columbiana, AL 35051
Phone: (205) 669–3760

St. Clair County District Court 1
St. Clair County Courthouse
100 6th Avenue
Suite 400
Ashville, AL 35953
Phone: (205) 594–2184

St. Clair County District Court 2
1815 Cogswell Avenue
Pell City, AL 35125
Phone: (205) 338–2511

Sumter County District Court
Sumter County Courthouse
P.O. Box 936
Livingston, AL 35470
Phone: (205) 652–2291

Talladega County District Court 1
148 East St N
P.O. Box 6137
Talladega, AL 35161
Phone: (256) 761–2103 ext. 1208

Talladega County District Court 2
400 N Norton Avenue
P.O. Box 183
Sylacauga, AL 35150
Phone: (256) 761–2102 ext. 1208

Tallapoosa County District Court 1
Tallapoosa County Courthouse
1 Court Square
P.O. Box 189
Alexander City, AL 35011
Phone: (256) 234–4361

Tallapoosa County District Court 2
Tallapoosa County Courthouse
125 N Broadnax St
Dadeville, AL 36853
Phone: (256) 825–1098

Tuscaloosa County District Court
Tuscaloosa County Courthouse
714 Greensboro Avenue
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Phone: (205) 349–3870 ext. 355

Walker County District Court
1801 3rd Avenue S
P.O. Box 1389
Jasper, AL 35502
Phone: (205) 384–7268

Washington County District Court
Washington County Courthouse
1 Court St
P.O. Box 548
Chatom, AL 36518
Phone: (251) 847–2239

Wilcox County District Court
Wilcox County Courthouse Annex
12 Water St
P.O. Box 608
Camden, AL 36726
Phone: (334) 682–4126

Winston County District Court
Winston County Courthouse Annex
P.O. Box 309
Double Springs, AL 35553
Phone: (205) 489–5533