HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Attorney David J. Hodge has been appointed to the Alabama Legislative Study Commission on Child Sexual Abuse Laws and Policies by Governor Kay Ivey, his firm Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., announced on October 15, 2026. The appointment places a veteran trial lawyer at the center of a state effort to overhaul how Alabama handles child abuse cases.
The commission was created by legislation to study child abuse broadly, with a specific focus on child trafficking, exploitation, and abuse of vulnerable children. It will review related criminal and civil laws, as well as reporting requirements and accountability for institutions. According to the Legislature’s website, the commission is tasked with identifying gaps, inconsistencies, and barriers to investigation, prosecution, and victim support, comparing Alabama’s approach to other states, and submitting a report with findings and proposed legislation to the Governor and legislative leaders by November 1, 2026. The commission will then be dissolved.
The appointment matters because Alabama, like many states, has faced criticism for fragmented statutes that can leave victims without recourse and allow institutions to evade accountability. By comparing its laws to those in other states, the commission could recommend model reforms that streamline reporting, strengthen criminal penalties, and remove barriers to civil suits. For families and advocates, the review represents a rare opportunity to close loopholes that have historically shielded abusers and the organizations that employ them.
Hodge is an attorney with Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., a Huntsville-based personal injury law firm that has been named a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News-Best Lawyers® for over a decade. The firm represents clients in personal injury and wrongful death matters, including car, truck, motorcycle, and other motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, and product liability. It also handles workers’ compensation, insurance disputes, and business litigation.
While the firm is known for its personal injury practice, Hodge’s involvement in the commission signals that the study will consider not only criminal justice responses but also civil remedies and institutional accountability. The commission’s findings could influence legislation in the 2027 session, potentially changing how schools, churches, and youth organizations report and respond to allegations of abuse.
For businesses and institutions across Alabama, the commission’s recommendations may lead to new compliance obligations, training requirements, and liability standards. That prospect has already drawn attention from legal and advocacy groups who see the study as a pivotal moment for child protection policy in the state.
Morris, King & Hodge is located at 200 Pratt Avenue NE, Huntsville, AL 35801, with additional offices in Florence, Decatur, and Athens. The firm can be reached through its online form.
