Gulf Shores Municipal Court

Gulf Shores Municipal Court cases in Baldwin County, Gulf Shores, AL

Gulf Shores Municipal Court is a municipal court in Gulf Shores, Alabama. It has limited jurisdiction over violations of Gulf Shores city ordinances and certain state-law misdemeanors adopted by ordinance that occur within the city limits. The court handles criminal misdemeanor matters and traffic offenses, including DUI, speeding, driving without a license or insurance, and other ordinance violations, as well as parking citations. It does not hear civil or family law cases and does not adjudicate felonies; felony matters receive only preliminary processing and are forwarded to Baldwin County courts. The court may issue warrants, set bail, and conduct initial appearances. Appeals from this court are taken to Baldwin County Circuit Court for trial de novo.

Gulf Shores Municipal Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Gulf Shores Municipal Court

Gulf Shores Municipal Court serves the public by administering city-level criminal cases. Primary case types: traffic and parking citations, municipal ordinance violations, and misdemeanor offenses within the city/police jurisdiction. Key services include:
- Case intake: processing citations, criminal complaints, and warrant applications; accepting motions and continuance requests.
- Hearings: arraignments, plea and bench-trial dockets, probation/compliance and show-cause hearings; bond setting/modification; issuance of warrants and subpoenas.
- Payments/compliance: fines and costs, payment plans, and court-approved diversion/defensive driving programs.
- Records: case inquiries and certified dispositions for employers, licensing, or expungement filings.
- Victim safeguards: no-contact conditions and restitution in criminal cases.
Protective orders (Protection From Abuse) are filed in Baldwin County Circuit Court, not this court. Jury services and jury trials are not conducted here; defendants seeking a jury trial proceed in Circuit Court on appeal.