ALABAMA'S BREAKTHROUGH FOR REFORM
THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION WAS PRODUCED IN 1971 - A MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE FOR JUDGES WAS FIXED AT AGE 70, ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY WAS CONFERRED UPON THE CHIEF JUSTICE TO ASSIGN JUDGES WHERE NEEDED TO SPEED THE BUSINESS OF THE COURTS, THE NUMBER OF JUDGES ON THE INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS WAS INCREASED FROM THREE TO FIVE, THE TRANSFER OF CASES AMONG THE APPELLATE COURTS WAS PERMITTED, PROVISIONS FOR CONTINUING JUDICIAL EDUCATION ON A LOCAL AND NATIONAL BASIS WERE IMPROVED, AND THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE CREATED A PERMANENT STUDY COMMISSION ON THE STATE'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM
Article, 1972