Code of Alabama
Ala. Code § 12-14-1 (2026)
Establishment; Jurisdiction.
✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
(a) There is hereby established, effective December 27, 1977, for each municipal corporation, hereinafter referred to in this chapter as “municipality,” within the state, except those which elect not to have such courts by ordinance adopted before December 27, 1977, a municipal court subject to the authority, conditions and limitations provided by law.
(b) The municipal court shall have jurisdiction of all prosecutions for the breach of the ordinances of the municipality within its police jurisdiction.
(c) The municipal court shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the district court of all acts constituting violations of state law committed within the police jurisdiction of the municipality which may be prosecuted as breaches of municipal ordinances.
(Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384, §8-101.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1978–2025 · leading case: Holt Civic Club v. City of Tuscaloosa, 439 U.S. 60 (1978).
Holt Civic Club v. City of Tuscaloosa, 439 U.S. 60 (1978). “[1] Holt residents are also subject to the criminal jurisdiction of the city's court, Ala. Code § 12-14-1 (1975), [2] and to the city's *62 power to license businesses, trades, and professions, Ala.”
Woodard v. Town of Oakman, 885 F. Supp. 2d 1216 (N.D. Ala. 2012). “§ 12-14-1. The municipal court is required to submit monthly reports to the State’s Chief Examiner of Public Accounts.”
State v. Brown, 591 So. 2d 113 (Ala. Crim. App. 1991). “” The State argues that § 12-14-1 refers to prosecutorial, not territorial, jurisdiction.”
Woods v. State, 224 So. 3d 677 (Ala. Crim. App. 2016). ““ ‘In Matthews, the Court of Criminal Appeals concluded that “the provisions of § 12-11-30(2), § 12-12-32(a), and § 12-14-1, when read together, require that the municipal ordinance violations in this cause be prosecuted directly in circuit court as both of these offenses, i.”
Matthews v. City of Birmingham, 581 So. 2d 15 (Ala. Crim. App. 1991). “)” Unlike § 12-12-32, which provides for an exception to the district court’s jurisdiction for misdemeanors which involve a felony offense that is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit court, the language of § 12-14-1 does not contain such an exception to the…”
Ex Parte Hicks, 437 So. 2d 1346 (Ala. 1983). “" The Legislature in Code 1975, § 12-14-1(a), directed that municipal courts are established subject to the authority, conditions and limitations *1349 provided by law.”
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.”
City of Birmingham v. Mark Pettway, in his Off. capacity as Sheriff of Jefferson Cnty., & the Jefferson Cnty. Comm'n (Ala. 2025). “Pursuant to 4 SC-2025-0105 Ala. Code (1975) § 12-14-1, the Jefferson County District Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor offenses under state law committed within the police jurisdiction of the City.”
City of Montgomery v. Mark G. Montiel, P.C., 192 So. 3d 413 (Ala. Civ. App. 2015). “’ Under Alabama Code [1975,] section 12-14-1 (c), they have ‘concurrent jurisdiction with the district court of all acts constituting violations of state law committed within the police jurisdiction of the municipality which may be prosecuted as breaches of municipal ordinances.”
Kennedy v. Warren Props., LLC (S.D. Ala. 2017). “See Ala. Code § 12-14-1 (establishing municipal courts’ jurisdiction over certain criminal prosecutions).”
City of Ctr. Point v. Crowder, 142 So. 3d 1129 (Ala. Civ. App. 2013). “), and § 12-14-1, Ala.Code 1975, set forth the jurisdiction of municipal courts.”
City of Prichard v. Smith, 477 So. 2d 375 (Ala. 1985). “…courts. All present city courts shall continue to function as provided by law for four years." . Code 1975, § 12-14-1.”
— Ala. Code § 12-14-1(a) — 1 case
Ex Parte Hicks, 437 So. 2d 1346 (Ala. 1983). “" The Legislature in Code 1975, § 12-14-1(a), directed that municipal courts are established subject to the authority, conditions and limitations *1349 provided by law.”
— Ala. Code § 12-14-1(b) — 1 case
Ex Parte Hicks, 437 So. 2d 1346 (Ala. 1983). “" The Legislature in Code 1975, § 12-14-1(a), directed that municipal courts are established subject to the authority, conditions and limitations *1349 provided by law.”
— Ala. Code § 12-14-1(c) — 1 case
City of Birmingham v. Mark Pettway, in his Off. capacity as Sheriff of Jefferson Cnty., & the Jefferson Cnty. Comm'n (Ala. 2025). “Pursuant to 4 SC-2025-0105 Ala. Code (1975) § 12-14-1, the Jefferson County District Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor offenses under state law committed within the police jurisdiction of the City.”
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