Alabama Legislature Approves Private Judges

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By CBS 8 News

Story Created: Apr 25, 2012 at 3:46 PM CDT

Story Updated: Apr 25, 2012 at 3:46 PM CDT

The Alabama Legislature has passed a bill that will allow some civil suits to avoid the backlog in the state court system and be handled by privately paid judges.

 

The House voted 78-7 Tuesday to pass the bill, which cleared the Senate 24-24 in February. The bill now goes to the governor for signing into law.

 

The sponsor, Republican Sen. Cam Ward of Alabaster, said the bill will allow parties in a civil dispute involving $100,000 or less to pay a retired or supernumerary judge to hear their dispute in a timely manner. The presiding judge in each county will appoint the judge to hear the case.

 

Ward said it's one way to help state government through the current budget shortfalls.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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