Code of Alabama
Ala. Code § 12-1-7 (2026)
Powers of Courts as to Preservation of Order, Enforcement of Judgments, Etc., Generally.
✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
Every court shall have power:
(1) To preserve and enforce order in its immediate presence and as near thereto as is necessary to prevent interruption, disturbance or hindrance to its proceedings;
(2) To enforce order before a person or body empowered to conduct a judicial investigation under its authority;
(3) To compel obedience to its judgments, orders and process and to orders of a judge out of court, in an action or proceeding therein;
(4) To control, in furtherance of justice, the conduct of its officers and all other persons connected with a judicial proceeding before it in every matter appertaining thereto;
(5) To administer oaths in an action or proceeding pending therein and in all other cases where it may be necessary in the exercise of its powers and duties; and
(6) To amend and control its process and orders so as to make them conformable to law and justice.
(Code 1852, §562; Code 1867, §638; Code 1876, §543; Code 1886, §649; Code 1896, §2639; Code 1907, §4631; Code 1923,§8576; Code 1940, T. 13, §4.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 16
cases (7 in the last 5 years), 1987–2026 · leading case: Altapointe Health Sys., Inc. v. Davis, 90 So. 3d 139 (Ala. 2012).
Altapointe Health Sys., Inc. v. Davis, 90 So. 3d 139 (Ala. 2012). “The following statutes are applicable to a probate court’s contempt jurisdiction: §§ 12-1-7, 12-1-8, 12-1-10, and 12-13-9, Ala.”
Dial v. Morgan, 515 So. 2d 14 (Ala. Civ. App. 1987). “1978); § 12-1-7, Code 1975. Whether or not Morgan could reach the $7,500 via § 27-23-2 does not affect the right of Morgan to have the court enforce an outstanding judgment out of those assets presently before the court.”
Ex Parte Stewart, 74 So. 3d 944 (Ala. 2011). “Section 12-1-7(3), Ala.Code 1975, provides that every court has the power "to compel obedience to its judgments, orders and process and to orders of a judge out of court, in an action or proceeding therein.”
State v. Est. of Yarbrough, 156 So. 3d 947 (Ala. 2014). “2011) (“Section 12-1-7(3), Ala.Code 1975, provides that every court has the power ‘to compel obedience to its judgments, orders and process and to or *952 ders of'a judge out of court, in an action or proceeding therein.”
King v. Wooldridge, 563 So. 2d 20 (Ala. Crim. App. 1990). “1982), and § 12-1-7, Code of Alabama 1975 as amended and, also, §§ 12-14-1, 12-14-10, 12-14-11, 12-14-13 and 12-14-70, all Code of Alabama 1975 as amended.”
Ex Parte Stewart, 1100600 (Ala. 6-30-2011), 74 So. 3d 944 (Ala. 2011). “Section 12-1-7(3), Ala.Code 1975, provides that every court has the power “to compel obedience to its judgments, orders and process and to orders of a judge out of court, in an action or proceeding therein.”
Jessica Hall v. Laddin Cole Mock (Ala. Civ. App. 2026). “§ 12-1-7, Ala. Code 1975 ("Every court shall have power: … (3) To compel obedience to its judgments, orders and process ….”
Bandy v. Scrushy (Ex parte Scrushy), 262 So. 3d 638 (Ala. 2018). “To this extent, the circuit court correctly directed Mayor Daniel and the Town council members to meet on July 10, 2017, to conduct business and, more specifically, to follow this State's election laws in ordering a special election to fill the vacant council seat in District A…”
L.T. v. Chambers Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources (Ala. Civ. App. 2023). “" Every court in Alabama has the authority to issue orders to prevent hindrance of its proceedings, § 12-1-7(1), Ala. Code 1975, and "[t]o control .”
Knox v. Hardwick (MAG+) (M.D. Ala. 2023). “]” Ala. Code § 12-1-7 (1),(4). The court finds that ordering a bailiff to maintain order in the courtroom (i.”
Steven Richard Mulkey v. State of Alabama (Appeal from Jefferson Circuit Court: CC-19-980) (Ala. Crim. App. 2025). “Alabama courts have the authority to issue orders to prevent hindrance of its proceedings, § 12-1-7(1), Ala. Code 1975, and "[t]o control .”
Bandy v. Scrushy (Ex parte Scrushy), 262 So. 3d 638 (Ala. 2018). “To this extent, the circuit court correctly directed Mayor Daniel and the Town council members to meet on July 10, 2017, to conduct business and, more specifically, to follow this State's election laws in ordering a special election to fill the vacant council seat in District A…”
— Ala. Code § 12-1-7(1) — 2 cases
L.T. v. Chambers Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources (Ala. Civ. App. 2023). “" Every court in Alabama has the authority to issue orders to prevent hindrance of its proceedings, § 12-1-7(1), Ala. Code 1975, and "[t]o control .”
Steven Richard Mulkey v. State of Alabama (Appeal from Jefferson Circuit Court: CC-19-980) (Ala. Crim. App. 2025). “Alabama courts have the authority to issue orders to prevent hindrance of its proceedings, § 12-1-7(1), Ala. Code 1975, and "[t]o control .”
— Ala. Code § 12-1-7(3) — 4 cases
Ex Parte Stewart, 74 So. 3d 944 (Ala. 2011). “Section 12-1-7(3), Ala.Code 1975, provides that every court has the power "to compel obedience to its judgments, orders and process and to orders of a judge out of court, in an action or proceeding therein.”
State v. Est. of Yarbrough, 156 So. 3d 947 (Ala. 2014). “2011) (“Section 12-1-7(3), Ala.Code 1975, provides that every court has the power ‘to compel obedience to its judgments, orders and process and to or *952 ders of'a judge out of court, in an action or proceeding therein.”
Ex Parte Stewart, 1100600 (Ala. 6-30-2011), 74 So. 3d 944 (Ala. 2011). “Section 12-1-7(3), Ala.Code 1975, provides that every court has the power “to compel obedience to its judgments, orders and process and to orders of a judge out of court, in an action or proceeding therein.”
Little v. State, 693 So. 2d 30 (Ala. Crim. App. 1997).
— Ala. Code § 12-1-7(4) — 2 cases
L.T. v. Chambers Cnty. Dep't of Human Resources (Ala. Civ. App. 2023). “" Every court in Alabama has the authority to issue orders to prevent hindrance of its proceedings, § 12-1-7(1), Ala. Code 1975, and "[t]o control .”
Steven Richard Mulkey v. State of Alabama (Appeal from Jefferson Circuit Court: CC-19-980) (Ala. Crim. App. 2025). “Alabama courts have the authority to issue orders to prevent hindrance of its proceedings, § 12-1-7(1), Ala. Code 1975, and "[t]o control .”
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