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