Ala. Code § 12-5-5
The officers, officials and employees of the Department of Court Management, other than the court administrator and the assistant court administrator, shall automatically come under the provisions of the personnel merit system after serving a continuous period of six months with the Department of Court Management; provided, that they are not receiving their compensation in whole or in part from grant funds. Thereafter, the officers, officials and employees of the Department of Court Management, other than the court administrator and the assistant court administrator, shall be governed by personnel merit system laws, rules and regulations the same as other employees in the state service, as administered by the state personnel department, but nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent or preclude the removal of an officer, official or employee for cause in the manner provided by law; and such officers, officials and employees, except for appointment and nonmerit system service, shall be subject fully to the provisions of the State Merit System Act and rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board.
Ala. Code § 12-5-5 (1975)