Code of Alabama
Ala. Code § 15-14-50 (2026)
Short Title.
✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
This article shall be known as and may be cited as “The Alabama Crime Victims’ Court Attendance Act.”
(Acts 1983, No. 83-622, p. 971, §1.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 16
cases, 1990–2013 · leading case: Smith v. State, 581 So. 2d 497 (Ala. Crim. App. 1990).
Smith v. State, 581 So. 2d 497 (Ala. Crim. App. 1990). “) Other than this statement, there is no evidence whatever that Donnie Lee Talbert was in the courtroom, except when he testified. Furthermore, assuming defense counsel was referring to Donnie Lee Talbert in his statement, he seemed to acquiesce in his presence at the State's…”
Coral v. State, 628 So. 2d 954 (Ala. Crim. App. 1992). “Under the Alabama Crime Victims' Court Attendance Act, §§ 15-14-50 through -57, Code of Alabama 1975 , the victim of a criminal offense or representative of the victim's family has a right to be present in the courtroom and to be seated alongside the prosecutor during the trial…”
Drinkard v. State, 777 So. 2d 225 (Ala. Crim. App. 1998). “) In one sentence, the appellant also claims that "by permitting the victim's family members to sit at counsel table pursuant to the Alabama Crime Victims Court Attendance Act, Ala.Code § 15-14-50(1975), ... the Court exacerbated the problem of jurors believing that they were…”
Smith v. State, 838 So. 2d 413 (Ala. Crim. App. 2002). “This last claim has previously been addressed and determined to be meritless in this opinion. See Issue X. *470 There was no error in allowing the victim's family and friends to be present in the courtroom.”
Taylor v. State, 808 So. 2d 1148 (Ala. Crim. App. 2000). “App.P. Taylor's right to a fair trial does not require that the victims' family members be barred from the courtroom for the entire trial.”
Harris v. State, 632 So. 2d 503 (Ala. Crim. App. 1992). “"The presence of a victim seated at the counsel table for the prosecution is specifically provided for by `the Alabama Crime Victims' Court Attendance Act,' codified at §§ 15-14-50 et seq., Code of Alabama 1975.”
Perkins v. State, 808 So. 2d 1041 (Ala. Crim. App. 1999). “2d at 285-86. Section 15-14-56(a), Ala.Code 1975, specifically provides: "Whenever a victim is unable to attend such trial or hearing or any portion thereof by reason of death; disability; hardship; incapacity; physical, mental, or emotional condition; age; or other inability,…”
Whitehead v. State, 777 So. 2d 781 (Ala. Crim. App. 1999). “As we previously stated, the decision whether to exclude witnesses from the courtroom during trial is a matter left entirely to the trial court's discretion.”
Thomas v. State, 766 So. 2d 860 (Ala. Crim. App. 1998). “The Crime Victims' Court Attendance Act, § 15-14-50 et seq., which allows for a representative of deceased victim to be seated alongside the prosecutor at "trial or hearing or any portion thereof," applies to capital offenses.”
Dorsey v. State, 881 So. 2d 460 (Ala. Crim. App. 2002). “Section 15-14-56(a) states: "Whenever a victim is unable to attend such trial or hearing or any portion thereof by reason of death; disability; hardship; incapacity; physical, mental, or emotional condition; age; or other inability, the victim, the victim's guardian or the…”
Minor v. State, 780 So. 2d 707 (Ala. Crim. App. 1999). “2d 496 (1992), this Court stated: "The presence of a victim seated at the counsel table for the prosecution is specifically provided for by `The Alabama Crime Victims' Court Attendance Act,' codified at §§ 15-14-50 et seq., Code of Alabama 1975.”
Burgess v. State, 827 So. 2d 134 (Ala. Crim. App. 1998). “counsel's table, his being identified at court, and his being exempt from the operation of the rule of court that witnesses not be allowed to remain in the courtroom has been previously addressed by this court: "The presence of a victim seated at the counsel table for the…”
— Ala. Code § 15-14-50(1975) — 1 case
Drinkard v. State, 777 So. 2d 225 (Ala. Crim. App. 1998). “) In one sentence, the appellant also claims that "by permitting the victim's family members to sit at counsel table pursuant to the Alabama Crime Victims Court Attendance Act, Ala.Code § 15-14-50(1975), ... the Court exacerbated the problem of jurors believing that they were…”
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