hale county alHon. Timothy A. Evans
Presiding District and Juvenile Judge

District Court
1001 Main Street Suite 36
Greensboro, AL. 36744
Phone: 334-624-8561
Fax:     334-624-8841

 

 

The District Court Judge of Hale County presides over the following courts:

District Civil:

The original civil jurisdiction of the District Courts of Alabama shall be uniform throughout the state, concurrent with the circuit court, except as otherwise provided, and shall include all civil actions in which the matter in controversy does not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000), exclusive of interest and costs, and civil actions based on unlawful detainer; except, that the district court shall not exercise jurisdiction over any of the following matters:

1.  Actions seeking equitable relief other than:
      a.  Equitable questions arising in juvenile cases within the jurisdiction of the district court.
      b.  Equitable defenses asserted or compulsory counterclaims filed by any party in any civil action within the jurisdiction of the district court.
2.  Any actions enumerated in Rule 81 of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure other than any of the following:
      a.  Actions based in negligence against municipalities.
      b.  Actions seeking substitution of lost or destroyed records or instruments.
      c.  Summary motion proceedings.
      d.  Relieving disabilities of nonage.
3.  Actions seeking declaratory judgments.
4.  Appeals from Probate or Municipal Courts.

Ala.Code 1975 § 12-12-30

Small Claims:

Small claims court is a civil action in which the matter in controversy does not exceed six thousand dollars ($6,000.00).

District Criminal:

The criminal jurisdiction of the District Courts is as follows:

a.  Misdemeanors.  

     The District Court shall have exclusive original trial jurisdiction over prosecutions of all offenses defined by law or ordinance as misdemeanors, except:

  1.  Prosecutions by municipalities having municipal courts;
  2.  Any such prosecution which also involves a felony offense which is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Circuit Court, except as the District Court is empowered to hold preliminary hearings with respect to felonies and to receive guilty pleas as provided in subsection (b) of this section; and
  3.  Any misdemeanor for which an indictment has been returned by a grand jury.

b.  Felonies.

  1.  The district court may exercise original jurisdiction concurrent with the circuit court to receive pleas of guilty in prosecutions of offenses defined by law as felonies not punishable by sentence of death.
  2.  The District Court shall have jurisdiction to hold preliminary hearings in prosecutions for felonies as provided for in Title 15 of this code.

Ala.Code 1975 § 12-12-32

Juvenile/Family Court:

Family Court, or Juvenile Court, of Hale County exercises jurisdiction in matters involving children.  These matters might include cases in which a child is alleged to be delinquent, dependent, or in need of supervision.  The Court also exercises jurisdiction over other proceedings, including establishment of paternity and child support enforcement as well as protection from abuse.  Proceedings before the Juvenile Court Judge and Juvenile Court records are confidential (not open to the public). There are no jury trials in Juvenile Court.

A delinquent is a child under the age of 18 who has committed an offense which, if the individual were an adult, would be considered a crime.  A dependent child is a child who is orphaned, neglected, abused and in need of care, or is without a parent or legal guardian able and willing to care for the child.  A Child in Need of Supervision (CHINS) is one who has committed an act which, if that child were an adult, would not be considered a crime but is in need of care or rehabilitation, such as one who is habitually truant, disobedient to parents, or is a runaway.

There are some cases which the Juvenile Court cannot hear even if the individual is under the age of 18.  The Juvenile Court does not have jurisdiction over juveniles 16 years of age or older charged with traffic offenses, except for driving under the influence (DUI) cases, or juveniles 16 years of age or older charged with any of the following offenses, which, if they were committed by an adult, would be:

  • a capital offense;
  • a Class A felony;
  • a felony which has an element of the offense, the use of a deadly weapon;
  • a felony which has as an element of the offense, the causing of death or serious physical injury;
  • a felony which involves the use of a dangerous instrument against certain officials or persons; and
  • trafficking in drugs.

Traffic:

The District Court of Hale County hears all traffic offenses filed within Hale County by the Alabama State Trooper and the Hale County Sheriff Department.  As the City of Moundville no longer has a municipal court, the Hale County District Court hears all traffic offenses filed by the Moundville Police Department.

If you are charged with a traffic offense and wish to avoid appearing in court, you may pay the citation prior to your court date “on-line” at https://traffic.alacourt.gov/ or by calling 1-866-954-9399.

There are certain traffic offenses which require a court appearance (cannot be paid without a court appearance).  If you are not sure if your offense requires a court appearance, you may call the Hale County Circuit Clerk at 1-334-624-4334.

If you desire a Court Hearing, you must appear on the Court date and time shown on your citation.  The Court date on your copy of the ticket is NOT A TRIAL DATE. If you desire to plead NOT GUILTY and want a TRIAL, you must appear in court on your court date to request a separate TRIAL DATE.

DRIVING SCHOOL

If you are charged with a minor moving violation, you may be eligible to have your case dismissed upon completion of a Defensive Driving course and payment of court costs.  This will allow you to avoid a court appearance and will prevent the accrual of points assessed against your Alabama Driver’s License as a result of this offense.  To qualify you must:

  1. Be charged with an offense eligible for Driving School.
  2. Have not received a moving violation in the past year.
  3. Have not been arrested for DUI.
  4. Do not currently have a CDL, and
  5. Be approved for Driving School by the District Attorney.

To determine your eligibility for Driving School, you must contact the office of District Court.  To expedite the process, call 1-334-624-8561 and be sure to have:

  • the UTC number (located in the upper right of your ticket);
  • your date of birth;
  • contact information.

If you are approved for Defensive Driving School, you will be given a new court date 45-60 days out.  Your case may be dismissed upon payment of court costs after your completion of the course.

Payment and certificate must be received in the Circuit clerk's office before the court date to dispose of the case.  Payment or certificate will not be accepted without the other.  NO REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL TIME WILL BE GIVEN.

If you are not eligible for driving school, you may still avoid a court appearance by paying the citation prior to your court date.

District Court case load information

  1.  The Hale County District Civil Court hears on average 100 cases per year.
  2.  The Hale County Small Claims Court hears on average 200 cases per year.
  3.  The Hale County District Criminal Court hears on average 700 cases per year.
  4.  The Hale County Juvenile/Family Court hears on average 200 cases involving  delinquency and/or dependency.  The Court carries a case load of 1,400 active child support cases. Through the child support cases, approximately $2,100,000.00 to $2,300,000.00 is collected each year by the Hale County Department of Human Resources.
  5.  The Hale County District Court hears on average, 3,000 traffic cases per year.