Chief Justice-Elect Urges Nonpartisan Elections in State
Fair Courts E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Author: Phillip Rawls
Source: Associated Press
Date: 11/20/2006
Article reports that Alabamas newly-elected Supreme Court Chief Justice, Sue Bell Cobb, who gained her seat after what is most likely the second most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, said that she hopes to implement non-partisan elections for judges in Alabama. She said that t wouldnt fix all the problems by any stretch, but it would at least take the issue of party out of it. Through late October Judge Cobb had reportedly raised $2.4 million and her opponent, incumbent Chief Justice Drayton Nabers, had raised $4 million, including the money raised for his primary campaign. Judge Cobb said of the high cost that t certainly did not improve the image of the courts. I want us to have a method for selecting judges that improves the publics perception of independence and impartiality of the courts. Judge Cobb is the first woman elected to Alabamas high court and the only Democrat now on the bench.