There appear to be 6 key factors that were evident in the Alabama judicial reform process.
1.) National State Reform Movement
2.) Availability of federal funds through the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration to conduct studies and educate the participants in the process
3.) Leadership role of Howell Heflin in the developmental and adoption stages of the Judicial Article
4.) Leadership role of C.C. "Bo" Torbert in the critical implementation stage
5.) The able and impressive work of various legislators, commissions, conferences, and committees and their la and professional members
6.) Success in generating media and public acceptance and support of the Judicial Article
A long list of specific actions by key people at the right time and place made the reformation process work at the specific level it needed. This included the election of Howell Heflin to the Presidency of the Alabama Bar Association and his utilization of his position to place major ideas and concepts of the national state court reform movement on the Alabama policy-making agenda. Other key factors include Governor Albert Brewer taking office at a time when the Governor's support for the creation of a Constitutional Commission was needed, the election of Heflin to the office of Chief Justice, the election of C.C. "Bo" Torbert to the office of Chief Justice after Heflin, and numerous other factors.