MONTGOMERY, AL — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall today praised the Alabama Senate for approving House Bill 307, a measure aimed at accelerating trials in violent criminal cases. The bill, which passed with bipartisan support, will now head to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk for final approval.
The legislation was designed to address longstanding delays in Alabama’s judicial system by creating a more efficient process for handling violent crime cases. Supporters argue that the bill will help reduce court backlogs, provide more timely justice for crime victims, and improve public confidence in the state’s legal system.
“This legislation is another step towards making Alabama safer by holding violent offenders accountable and ensuring that more victims receive timely justice,” said Marshall, who applauded lawmakers for moving the bill forward. “It will deliver long-overdue efficiency to our courts and show that crime victims have not been forgotten.”
The legislation also establishes a new Speedy Trial Fund, intended to support the logistics necessary for these expedited trials. The fund will cover the cost of appointing special judges, hiring court reporters, and assembling additional juries—factors that often contribute to delays.
Marshall credited multiple state leaders for their roles in advancing the bill, including Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter, Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, and Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarah Stewart, whose input helped shape the final draft.
Should the bill be signed into law, the Attorney General’s Office plans to act quickly. “My Office will be ready on Day 1 to make our own request for speedy trials in a few prominent cases that have been needlessly delayed,” Marshall said.
