Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has expressed his approval following the Alabama Senate's passage of Senate Bill 178, known as the Speedy Trial Act. The legislation aims to expedite trials for violent criminal cases, reduce court backlogs, and ensure swift justice for victims. Sponsored by Senate Judiciary Chairman Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road), the bill will now be considered by the Alabama House.
“Today’s action by the Senate sends a strong message about our justice system: we are taking critical steps toward a safer, more efficient Alabama, where victims receive the justice they deserve and violent criminals are swiftly held accountable,” said Attorney General Marshall. He praised Chairman Barfoot for his role in guiding the bill through the chamber and expressed hope that the House would soon approve its companion bill.
Under existing Alabama law, while the state supreme court can appoint special judges, there is no formal process for prosecutors to request additional judicial resources to handle violent crime case backlogs. Senate Bill 178 and its counterpart, House Bill 307—sponsored by House Judiciary Chairman Jim Hill (R-Moody)—address this issue by allowing district attorneys or the Attorney General to request temporary judicial appointments. The legislation also establishes a Speedy Trial Fund to provide financial resources for special judges, court reporters, and additional juries.
Attorney General Marshall highlighted that timely trials benefit not only defendants but also victims and their families. “When trials drag on for months or even years, victims and witnesses are forced to relive their trauma repeatedly," he stated. "The Speedy Trial Act ensures that our courts operate efficiently, keeping Alabama families and communities safer.”
The House Judiciary Committee has already advanced House Bill 307.
“I am grateful for the leadership of Chairman Barfoot in championing this vital legislation, and for Senate Pro Tem Gudger who made this a priority for the Senate," Marshall said. "I urge the House to move quickly so that we can get this bill to the Governor’s desk."