1819--- Constitution of Alabama, Judicial Article: Created Circuit Courts and inferior courts; 5 circuits created; circuit judges served as Supreme Court of Alabama; judges selected by legislature for term of good behavior
1821--- 6th circuit created
1828--- 7th circuit created
1830--- Constitution amended to establish 6 year terms for circuit judges
1832--- Separate Supreme Court of Alabama created; 3 justices elected by Legislature for 6 year terms
1833--- 8th circuit created
1836--- 9th circuit created
1840--- 10th circuit created
1850--- Popular election of judges
1851--- Supreme Court 6 justices
1854--- Supreme Court 3 justices
1867--- Popular election of appellate justices; Chief Justice elected by popular vote for the 1st time
1889--- Supreme Court 4 justices
1891--- Supreme Court 5 justices
1904--- Supreme Court 7 justices
1911--- Court of Appeals created with 3 members
1912--- Governor O'Neal created a commission to study judicial reform
1915--- Governor O'Neal calls for judicial reform; Legislature created Special Commission on the Judiciary; conferred on the Chief Justice administrative supervisory powers (Not implemented until 1971 in the Heflin creation of Department of Court Management); consolidation act reduced number of limited jurisdiction courts (Number increased over next 50 years)
1935--- Supreme Court obtained legislative authority to adopt procedures for use in equity
1953--- Law clerks provided
1955--- Legislature established a Judicial Advisory Council and Judicial Reform Commission; commission funded in 1956; work of the Commission not used until 1971; 1971 reform based on 1956 work
1959--- Act 59-92 authorized the Chief Justice to assign judges to assist in clearing of civil and criminal dockets
1961--- Judicial Conference (Act 61-74)
1965--- Howell Heflin elected President of Alabama State Bar
1966--- Citizens' Conference of Alabama State Courts
1967--- Legislature established Constitutional Revision Commission to recommend procedures for revising the 1901 Constitution
1969--- Legislature created separate Criminal and Civil Appeals courts with 3 members each (Act 69-987)
1970--- Howell Heflin elected Chief Justice
1971--- Supreme Court provided power to promulgate rules of civil trial and appellate procedure; created Department of Court Management; Legislature created Judicial Study Commission (Act 71-2337)
1971--- Constitutional amendments abolished impeachment process for judges and established Judicial Commission (Amendment 317) for discipline; abolished justice of the peace courts (Amendment 323)
1971--- Legislature created permanent study commission on Alabama Judicial System (Act 71-2337)
1971-- Criminal Appeals Court expanded to 5 judges
1971--- Alabama Law Institute
1973--- Supreme Court adopted new rules of civil procedures
1973--- Second Citizens' Conference on State Courts
1973--- Legislature passed Judicial Article VI
1973--- Judicial Article ratified; Amendment 328; created Judicial Inquiry Commission and Court of the Judiciary; consolidated courts of limited jurisdiction; ratified by 62% vote with 6.7% voter turnout
1974--- Chief Justice Heflin appointed a 55 member Judicial Article Implementation Commission
1975--- Legislature passed Judicial Article Implementation Act; Act No. 1205; created Administrative Office of Courts (AOC)
1976--- C.C. "Bo" Torbert elected Chief Justice
1977--- Department of Court Management and AOC consolidated into AOC; implemented unified court structure for District courts; juvenile jurisdiction transferred from Probate Court
1977--- Personnel crisis; Legislative Sunset Committee recommended termination of Department of Court Management (AOC)
1977--- Budget Crisis; judiciary appropriations limited to judicial system revenues; rescinded by Act No. 23, Special Session
1978--- Supreme Court created Judicial College
1980--- New Criminal Code adopted
1980--- Implementation of Judicial Article