The original civil jurisdiction of the district court 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:
   1. Equitable questions arising in juvenile cases within the jurisdiction of the district court.
   2. 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:
   1. Actions based in negligence against municipalities.
   2. Actions seeking substitution of lost or destroyed records or instruments.
   3. Summary motion proceedings.
   4. Relieving disabilities of nonage.
3. Actions seeking declaratory judgments.
4. Appeals from probate or municipal courts.

Ala.Code 1975 § 12-12-30

The criminal jurisdiction of the district courts is as follows:

1. 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.
2. 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

District Court Judges

Honorable Steven L. Whitmire, District Judge

County Courthouse
300 Grand Avenue, Suite 101
Fort Payne, Alabama 35967
(256) 845-8574