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Rule 3 Juvenile court judge - Administrative authority.

← Previous Rule 2.1: Referees. [Rescinded.] Next → Rule 4: Probation officers. [Rescinded.]

Rule Text

The presiding juvenile court judge for each county shall exercise administrative authority over the juvenile court. Unless otherwise provided by law, this authority shall include the power to appoint and supervise chief juvenile probation officers, juvenile probation officers, administrative support assistants, juvenile court magistrates appointed pursuant to Rule 8.1 of these Rules, juvenile court intake officers not subject to the direction and supervision of the circuit clerk, and volunteers appointed pursuant to Rule 6 of these Rules; to initiate and carry on programs; to assign and distribute the work of the juvenile court; to establish and implement policies; and to assign such duties as may be legally delegated.

[Amended 7-14-2011, eff. 10-1-2011; Amended 5-1-2014, eff. 7-1-2014.]

Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)

This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.

Each county has one judge in charge of running the juvenile court system. This judge handles the day to day management of the court, not just individual cases.

This judge has the power to hire and oversee the people who work in juvenile court. That includes probation officers, support staff, court magistrates, intake officers, and volunteers. The judge decides who gets these jobs and makes sure they do their work correctly.

The judge also sets up programs, decides how work gets divided among staff, and creates policies for how the court operates. The judge can hand off certain tasks to other people, but only when the law allows it. Basically, this rule makes one judge responsible for keeping the juvenile court running smoothly and makes sure someone is accountable for how the court operates.

Committee Notes

Comment

Administrative authority in a juvenile judge is necessary for efficient and uniform procedure within the circuit. Uniformity in records throughout the state may be maintained by the ADC.

Comment to Amendment to Rule 3 Effective October 1, 2011

The changes to this rule were technical. The last sentence of the rule ("The administrative director of courts (ADC) shall have the authority to fix the character and the form of the records.") was deleted because it is no longer necessary.

Comment to Amendment to Rule 3 Effective July 1, 2014

Rule 3 was amended to list specifically the personnel a presiding juvenile court judge appoints and supervises.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending effective October 1, 2011, Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 3, Rule 5, Rule 6, Rule 8, Rule 9, Rule 12, Rule 13, Rule 14, Rule 15, Rule 15.1, Rule 17, Rule 18, Rule 20, Rule 23, Rule 24, Rule 25, Rule 26, Rule 28, and Rule 31 and adopting effective October 1, 2011, Rule 8.1 and the Comment to Amendment to Rule 1 Effective October 1, 2011; the

Comment to Amendment to Rule 2 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to

Amendment to Rule 3 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 5 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 6 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 8 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Adoption of Rule 8.1 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 9 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 12 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 13 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 14 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 15 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 15.1 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 17 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 18 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 20 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 23 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 24 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 25 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 26 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 28 Effective October 1, 2011; and the Comment to Amendment to Rule 31 Effective October 1, 2011, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from ___ So. 3d.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 3, Rule 5, Rule 5.1, Rule 6, Rule 8, Rule 8.1, Rule 12, Rule 13, Rule 14, Rule 15, Rule 18, Rule 20, Rule 24, Rule 26, Rule 28, and Rule 31 effective July 1, 2014, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from ___ So. 3d.

← Previous Rule 2.1: Referees. [Rescinded.] Next → Rule 4: Probation officers. [Rescinded.]

Cross-References

References (2)

Ala. R. Juv. P. Rule 6 Ala. R. Juv. P. Rule 8.1

This Rule Set

View All Ala. R. Juv. P. Rules

Last updated: September 2026

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