Etowah County - Sixteenth Circuit Court of Alabama Court cases in Etowah County, Gadsden, AL
Etowah County District Court in Gadsden is Alabama's limited-jurisdiction district court for Etowah County. It functions as a trial court for misdemeanors and traffic offenses; conducts initial appearances, bail settings, and preliminary hearings in felony cases; and hears certain civil actions within the district court's monetary limits, including small-claims and landlord-tenant/eviction matters. The court also exercises juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Alabama law (e.g., delinquency, dependency, and paternity/child-support proceedings). Matters outside its limited jurisdiction-such as most felony trials, larger civil disputes, and divorces-are handled by the Etowah County Circuit Court.
Etowah County - Sixteenth Circuit Court of Alabama Contact and Location Information
Court Type: | Circuit Court |
County: | Etowah |
Street Address: | 801 Forrest Ave. Suite 202 |
City: | Gadsden |
Zip Code: | 35901 |
Phone: | 256-549-2150 |
Hours: | Monday - Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm |
Website URL: | http://etowah.alacourt.gov/ |
Facebook: | https://www.facebook.com/pages/Etowah-County-Courthouse/153048704705367 |
Services and Case Types Handled in Etowah County - Sixteenth Circuit Court of Alabama
Etowah County District Court provides limited-jurisdiction trial services to the public, including:
- Criminal: state misdemeanors, traffic/DUIs, initial appearances, bonds, warrants, and felony preliminary hearings.
- Civil: small claims and other civil actions within monetary limits; landlord-tenant/evictions.
- Juvenile: delinquency, dependency/CHINS, and related paternity/child support matters.
Public-facing services:
- Case filings, docketing, and e-filing (where available).
- Scheduling and conducting arraignments, preliminary hearings, bench trials, probation revocations, and juvenile hearings.
- Payment of fines, fees, and restitution.
- Records requests and certified copies.
- Magistrate assistance for criminal complaints and warrants.
- Protective-order (Protection from Abuse) petition intake/routing; emergency orders as authorized.
- Interpreters and ADA accommodations.
Jury service is administered by the Etowah County Circuit Court; district matters are generally non-jury, with appeals to Circuit Court for jury trial.