Mobile Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis is urging Alabamians to vote “yes” on Amendment One, a proposed expansion of Aniah’s Law that would give judges more authority to deny bond for certain violent crimes.
Aniah’s Law, passed in 2022, allows judges to hold defendants without bond for a list of serious offenses. Amendment One would expand that list to include additional crimes like attempted murder and discharging a firearm into occupied homes or vehicles.
Cheriogotis says that change is needed—pointing to deadly shootings in Mobile that she believes highlight gaps in the current law.
“This amendment strengthens Aniah’s Law it brings in attempted murder and discharging a firearm into occupied dwellings or vehicles.”
In one case that occurred December of 2023, police say a man fired into a home, killing a 9-year-old girl as she sat on her couch.
In another, a woman was shot and killed during a gathering at Sage Park—violence that unfolded in a public space meant for the community.
Cheriogotis, who previously served as a judge, says he has seen firsthand how limited the law can be. He was the first judge in Alabama to hold someone without bond under Aniah’s Law.
“I’ve seen the tragedies that occur from that crime in particular some of the most dangerous things that happen in our communities relate directly to discharging firearms into buildings.”
He says many of the victims in these cases were not the intended targets.
“We had situations where young people were killed—laying on their couch, sitting in the back seat of their parents’ car—not even the intended target.”
Supporters of Amendment One say expanding the law would give judges more flexibility to keep potentially dangerous individuals behind bars before trial.
But critics have raised concerns about expanding no-bond policies, arguing it could impact due process for defendants.
Voters will decide on Amendment One in the upcoming election.'
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