Alabama Constitution Section 156 Time of holding election for supreme court justices staggered terms of office for supreme court justices
Alabama Constitution – Section 156: Time of Holding Election for Supreme Court Justices; Staggered Terms of Office
📜 Section 156 Text (Paraphrased and Explained)
The justices of the Alabama Supreme Court shall be elected by the qualified voters of the state at the time and places of general state elections.
The terms of the justices are to be staggered, so not all are elected at once. This is to ensure continuity in the court’s membership.
🔍 Key Points:
Election Timing: Supreme Court justices are elected during general state elections—this aligns judicial elections with other major state office elections.
Staggered Terms: Not all justices are up for election at the same time. Their terms are arranged to expire at different intervals. This avoids a complete turnover and helps maintain institutional knowledge and judicial consistency.
✅ Purpose of Section 156:
Promotes judicial stability by staggering terms.
Encourages public accountability by requiring elections.
Prevents a full shift in the Supreme Court composition at one time.
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