# Ala. R. Crim. P. 1.5: Rule 1.5. Applicability of rules

> Alabama · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R1_5

## Section

- **Citation:** Ala. R. Crim. P. 1.5
- **Heading:** Rule 1.5. Applicability of rules
- **Jurisdiction:** Alabama
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Alabama Rules of Court / Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure / Ala. R. Crim. P. 1.5

## Text

Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure

Rule 1. Scope; Purpose, Objectives, and Construction; Computation and
Enlargement of Time; Definitions; Effective Date.

Rule 1.5. Applicability of rules.

These rules shall govern all criminal proceedings, without regard to when
the proceeding was commenced.

[Amended eff. 4-21-92.]

Committee Comments

Throughout the rules, the term “criminal proceeding” is used consistently
rather than the term “action.” A “criminal proceeding” may be commenced only by
complaint or indictment, thus the determination of whether these rules are to be
applied in a specific case can be determined by reference to the date of the
accusatory instrument by which the case was initiated or “commenced.”

These rules do not automatically apply to criminal proceedings pending at
the deadline. This rule will leave it to the parties in pending cases to agree to
operate under these rules with consent of court, if they so desire.

Rule 1.5, as it originally read effective January 1, 1991, made these rules
applicable to proceedings “commenced” on or after January 1, 1991. The
amendment of April 21, 1992, makes these criminal rules applicable to all criminal
proceedings without regard to when they were “commenced.”

## Nearby sections

- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 1.1 Rule 1.1. Scope](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R1_1.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 1.2 Rule 1.2. Purpose, objectives, and construction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R1_2.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 1.3 Rule 1.3. Computation and enlargement of time](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R1_3.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 1.4 Rule 1.4. Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R1_4.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 1.5 Rule 1.5. Applicability of rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R1_5.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 2.1 Rule 2.1. Commencement of criminal proceedings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R2_1.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 2.2 Rule 2.2. Prosecution of criminal proceedings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R2_2.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 2.3 Rule 2.3. Contents of a complaint](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R2_3.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 2.4 Rule 2.4. Duty of judge or magistrate upon making of a complaint](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R2_4.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 3.1 Rule 3.1. Issuance of arrest warrant or summons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R3_1.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 3.2 Rule 3.2. Contents of arrest warrant or summons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R3_2.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 3.3 Rule 3.3. Execution and return of arrest warrant](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R3_3.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 3.4 Rule 3.4. Service of summons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R3_4.md)
- [Ala. R. Crim. P. 3.5 Rule 3.5. Defective arrest warrant](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R3_5.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_AL_ARCRP_R1_5. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.