Ala. Code § 12-18-51 (2026) – Right of Election of Judges of County Courts or Full-Time Municipal Court Judges Entitled to Receive Commissions as District Judges to Come Under Provisions of Article 1 of Chapter; Filing of Notice of Election with Clerk of Supreme Court, Secretary-Treasurer of Judicial Retirement Fund and Governing Body of County or Municipality; Applicability of Provisions of Article 1 of Chapter to District Court Judges Elected or Appointed to Office After October 10, 1975.

(a) Each judge of a county court or full-time municipal court judge entitled to receive a commission as a district judge pursuant to the Constitution shall have a right to elect to come under the provisions of Article 1 of this chapter in accord with the provisions of this article, but a full-time municipal court judge shall not be entitled to credit to determine eligibility for retirement under Section 12-18-55 for any service prior to such election.
(b) Such election shall be made by written notice filed within 30 days from the issuance of the commission with the Clerk of the Supreme Court and the Secretary-Treasurer of the Judicial Retirement Fund. Each such judge of a county court shall also file notice of such election with the county commission of the county in which he resides. Each such full-time municipal court judge shall also file such notice with the governing body of the municipality ceasing to have a city or municipal court.
(c) Each district judge elected or appointed to office after October 10, 1975, shall come under the provisions of Article 1 of this chapter as a matter of law.

(Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384, §4-117.)