Alabama voters say yes to protecting pay for district attorneys
The amendment says district attorneys cannot receive a pay cut during their term of office.
Mason Reed 
Alabama voters have officially cleared the way to safeguard the salaries of district attorneys. During Tuesday’s primary, the state approved a constitutional amendment that prohibits pay cuts for district attorneys while they are in office.
According to unofficial results published on the secretary of state’s website, 58% of voters supported the measure. By passing this amendment, Alabama extends the same compensation protections to district attorneys that have long been in place for judges.
Compensation and Context
District attorneys serve six-year terms, and their pay structure was established by a 2021 legislative act. That legislation set the starting annual salary at $140,000 for those elected after October 1, 2021. The structure also allows for a 7.5% pay bump upon being elected to a second term, followed by another 7.5% increase for a third term. Additionally, these officials remain eligible for cost-of-living adjustments approved by the Legislature for state employees.
Ensuring Talent
Rep. Jim Hill, R-St. Clair County, spearheaded the push for the amendment. As a retired circuit judge, Hill argued that consistent, stable compensation is essential to retaining high-quality legal talent who might otherwise gravitate toward the private sector.
"We want to attract the best people we can to be district attorneys and to be judges," Hill stated.
