"The Alabama Civil Justice Reform Committee was organized in 1985 to respond to the growing number of lawsuits in Alabama and the outrageous awards being levied against the business and industry sector. ACJRC is composed of organizations representing various business and industry related associations, agricultural groups, medical interests, major corporations, as well as small businesses. ​ The membership of ACJRC was successful in working to get a strong tort reform package through the Alabama Legislature in 1987. That tort reform package was hailed throughout the nation as one of the best reform measures ever written. With the passage of these bills, the business community assumed they had accomplished tort reform. The trial lawyers then focused their resources on electing liberal judges who struck down the entire reform package. In 1994, ACJRC members responded to this challenge by refocusing our efforts and since then we have led Alabama’s business, agriculture, manufacturing and small business communities in a grassroots effort to elect reasonable, fair-minded judges. As a result, Alabama now has balanced appellate courts with reputations of fairness for all. Our challenge now is to maintain this balance and keep Alabama court’s out of the national headlines, thus contributing to further economic development. In 2011, ACJRC was successful in getting four reform measures through the Alabama Legislature. That package included measures to reduce the interest rate on post judgment awards, provided protection from civil liability to product manufacturers and retailers, added restrictions on venue and improved Alabama’s standards for expert witnesses. Today, ACJRC’s task is to maintain the gains we have made on Alabama’s high courts and to continue our work with the Legislature to pass further reforms. We need to work to bring a philosophical balance to Alabama’s lower courts so abuses can be stopped at the local level. We need to work harder to educate Alabama’s younger voters about the importance of maintaining a fair, conservative judiciary and its impact on economic develop in our state. Alabama has so much to offer. Our court system should not impede our economic development opportunities."