Rule 16 Calendar management.

Comment

Because presiding judges of the circuit and district courts are charged with the responsibility of seeing that the business of the courts is attended with proper dispatch and that dockets are not permitted to become congested or delayed, it is important that they have control of court calendars and dockets, as provided in subdivision (A), if they are to accomplish this task.

Subdivision (B), providing for the call of cases, further authorizes the presiding circuit judge or the chief justice to order the special call of cases at times other than now fixed by law to ensure the efficient management of cases.

Subdivision (C) was drafted to help minimize docket congestion in circuit courts caused by the accumulation of cases wherein the defendants cannot be located. The rule authorizes the circuit judge, in addition to the district attorney who is already authorized pursuant to Ala.Code 1975, Section 15-8-71, to direct the withdrawal and filing of indictments after two warrants of arrest are returned unexecuted.

This Rule replaces former Rules 15 and 29.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending Rule 16, Rule 18, Rule 19, Rule 20, Appendix B to Rule 20, Rule 30, and Rule 31, effective November 9, 2006, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from 944 So. 2d.