Alabama Code Title 41. State Government § 41-9-67

(a) The Board of Adjustment shall have the power and it shall be its duty when any claim or claims for damages provided for in this division are presented to it to require any employee, agency, commission, board, institution or department of the State of Alabama to furnish any documents or information deemed necessary by the Board of Adjustment and to require the presence of any person or the production of any documents in the same manner as in circuit court trials with the same rights as the circuit courts to punish for contempt.

(b) With the approval of the Governor and subject to the provisions of the Merit System, the Board of Adjustment may employ such necessary clerical or other help in ascertaining the facts incident to or growing out of claims presented to it and to make such investigations and to interview such witnesses as in the opinion of the Board of Adjustment are essential to ascertain the true facts upon which to base their findings and awards.