A Judicial Conference for the State of Alabama is hereby created, which shall consist of: the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama and two associate justices of such court, designated by the Chief Justice; a member of the Court of Criminal Appeals, designated by the presiding judge of that court; a member of the Court of Civil Appeals, designated by the presiding judge of that court; three circuit judges of the state, designated by the president of the association of circuit judges; three lawyers, who are members in good standing of the Alabama State Bar, designated by the president of the Alabama State Bar; one probate judge, designated by the president of the association of probate judges; and, subsequent to establishment of the district courts of Alabama, two district court judges, designated by the president of the association of district judges, and two municipal court judges, designated by the president of the association of municipal court judges.

The Chief Justice and the associate justices of the Supreme Courtand the judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Court of Civil Appealsshall serve as members of such conference until their designations are changed.The first circuit judges and lawyers shall be appointed one for a term ofone year, one for a term of two years and one for a term of three years. Thereafter,their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years. The first districtand municipal judges shall be appointed, one for a term of two years and onefor a term of three years. Thereafter, their successors shall be appointedfor terms of three years. The probate judge shall be appointed for a termof three years, and his successors shall be appointed for three-year terms.

Vacancies in the membership of the conference shall be filled for the remainder of any term in the same manner as the original appointment was made.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law relating to reimbursement of traveling expenses of public officers and employees, the Chief Justice, justices, judges, lawyer members, officials and employees attending meetings or traveling on official business of the conference or of the Permanent Study Commission on Alabama's Judicial System, at the direction of the Chief Justice, within or outside of the state, may be reimbursed their actual and necessary expenses, including travel, lodging, food and other expenses, including registration fees and membership fees. Such expenses hereby authorized shall be paid, in full or in part, from any funds in the State Treasury appropriated to the Permanent Study Commission on Alabama's Judicial System, the Judicial Conference, the Supreme Court of Alabama, circuit judges' travel, supernumerary circuit judges' travel and/or to grant funds, as directed by the Chief Justice, upon claims therefor approved by the Chief Justice.

(b) Any other expenses of the conference, including printing, postage and mailing expenses, may be charged by the Chief Justice to the Supreme Court library fund, the Permanent Study Commission on Alabama's Judicial System, the Judicial Conference and grant funds, in accordance with the direction of the Chief Justice.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall be the chairman of the conference. The conference shall meet at least annually but shall meet at such other times as, in the opinion of the Chief Justice, such meetings are needed, upon the call of the Chief Justice.

The Chief Justice shall have the right, if he deems it advisable, to appoint and dismiss a secretary and other officials and employees, including consultants and consulting agencies, without regard to the provisions of the merit system, for the Judicial Conference, who shall perform such other duties as directed by the Chief Justice with the Supreme Court, the Permanent Study Commission on Alabama's Judicial System and the Department of Court Management and who shall be paid, in full or in part, such compensation or salaries as the chief justice may direct, from any funds appropriated to the Supreme Court, the Permanent Study Commission on Alabama's Judicial System, the Department of Court Management or any grant funds awarded or given to the Permanent Study Commission on Alabama's Judicial System, the Judicial Conference, the Department of Court Management and the Supreme Court in accordance with the direction of the Chief Justice.

It shall be the duty of the Judicial Conference:

(1) To make a continuous study of the administration of justice in this state and of the organization, procedure, practice, rules and methods of administration and operation of each and all of the courts of the state;

(2) To receive and consider and in its discretion investigate criticisms and suggestions pertaining to the administration of justice in the state;

(3) To prepare for presentation to the Legislature at each regular session thereof a report of the proceedings of the conference and its recommendations relative to improving the administration of justice in Alabama and particularly of expediting the business of the courts and utilizing in the most appropriate manner the judges of the circuit courts and district courts of the state. The conference shall also recommend such changes or additions to the rules of practice of the trial and appellate courts of the state as in its judgment are needed to the Legislature and the Supreme Court; and

(4) To cooperate with and become a part of the Permanent Study Commission on Alabama's Judicial System.

(a) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is authorized and empowered to obtain from court officials, including clerks, registers, judges and court reporters, statistics, data and other factual information which he may deem advisable pertaining to the courts, the work of such court officials and any other phase of the work of such officials pertaining to the administration of justice or the operation of the courts or their offices, at such times as he may deem advisable.

(b) For the failure of any court official to furnish such information as may be requested from said court official by the Chief Justice, such court official shall forfeit $100.00 to the state to be recovered on complaint by the district attorney of any court of record of the county in which the court official resides, in the name of the state, such court official to have three days' notice of such complaint.

(c) The Chief Justice is further authorized and empowered to prepare forms for such court officials to fill out and submit to him in accordance with his direction.

(d) The statistics, data and other factual information submitted to and compiled by the Chief Justice shall be made available by the Chief Justice to all members of the conference for their use in carrying out the duties imposed upon them by this chapter.

(a) In connection with any of the duties and work of the Judicial Conference, including the study of the courts of the state, the Chief Justice is authorized and empowered to direct that any funds appropriated for consultant study or similar purposes to the Supreme Court and any funds appropriated for the Judicial Conference may be used in connection with studies and other work of the Permanent Study Commission on Alabama's Judicial System, the Judicial Conference and/or the Department of Court Management, in whole or in part.

(b) The Chief Justice is further authorized and empowered to apply for grants and other assistance to any public or any private entity and to take any and all necessary steps and actions pertaining to the same in connection with the duties and work of the Judicial Conference.