With growth comes pain. As the population of Elmore County has grown, so has the number of cases in court.
Presiding 19th Circuit Court Judge Bill Lewis is from Elmore County. Adding two judges will speed up the judicial system especially for divorce and child custody issues. The new judges are the result of studies, legislation and a public referendum. The first study was in 2016.
“It came out and said we needed six circuit judges as opposed to the three we have,” Lewis said. “With all the movement in central Alabama into Elmore and Autauga, our judges were handling more cases per judge than any other judges in the state.”
The 19th circuit currently has three circuit court judges, Lewis from Elmore County, Judge Joy Booth in Autauga County and Judge Amanda Baxley in Chilton County. There is a requirement that a judge come from each county in the circuit.
“We are the only circuit in the state like that,” Lewis said. “It is to protect the smaller counties to make sure Elmore County doesn’t have a [lock] on all the judgeships. I do just as much in the other two counties and they mean just as much to me.”
The judges handle everything in all three counties. The circuit judges have original jurisdiction in most everything and appellate jurisdiction from the district courts.
Lewis said trial terms with juries are set by state statue for civil and criminal.
“You can still do motion hearings all the time,” Lewis said.
Out of the 2016 study came legislation. It would allow judgeships in Jefferson County to be moved as judges retired. The first went to Madison County. But it wasn’t fast enough to help the situation in Elmore, Lee and Baldwin counties.
“Our local delegation stepped up,” Lewis said.
The new legislation allows for two new judges to be elected at large — meaning they are not required to reside in a certain county in the district.
The first new judge will be on the ballot in 2024 to take office in 2025. The second judge on the ballot in 2026 to take office in 2027.
The new legislation states the first new judge to be elected will handle domestic relations cases to aid in speeding up issues related to divorce and child custody. Lewis said if a parent asked for a final hearing it would take a year or more before it could be heard given his current docket.
“The domestic stuff is constant and important,” Lewis said. “The domestic caseload has become very high. Domestic cases are extremely difficult. All parties are extremely stressed. The quicker they can be resolved, the better it is for those families especially when kids are involved.”
Campaigns for the new judgeship are currently underway. Dee Dee Calhoon, Nicole Clark and Jacquelyn Tomlinson have qualified to be on the ballot in the Republican primary. There is no Democratic opposition.
The 2027 judge will be more for family court. It will help alleviate issues in the juvenile system.
In both cases the judges will be able to specialize more in those areas.
“They will know the precedents and issues to be able to make quicker rulings,” Lewis said. “So when you file for divorce, you don’t have to wait two years to get finality.”
Adding judges means a need for space. Currently Elmore County is the larges courthouse in the circuit with four courtrooms. In 2027 seven judges would be operating in Elmore County but not all would need large courtrooms.
The Elmore County Jail is also full.
For future growth the Elmore County Commission has already purchased 11 acres adjacent to the Elmore County Judicial Complex and jail. No decision has been made on how what to do with the property yet.
“At least we have the land to grow,” Lewis said.
Lewis believes the studies show growth for Elmore County, not only in population but in the need for access to courts.
“I foresee with the shift and growth, our circuit being as big or bigger than Montgomery in the next 20 years.” Lewis said.
