Pat Thetford announces candidacy for Alabama Court of Civil Appeals

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Pat Thetford

Former Jefferson County Circuit Judge Peyton C. “Pat” Thetford on Wednesday announced his candidacy for the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals. Thetford, a Republican, has qualified for the Place 1 seat currently held by Judge Craig Pittman, who has announced he will not seek re-election.

A native of Montgomery, Ala., Thetford first began practicing civil litigation in Mobile, Ala, with the firm of Crosby Saad and Beebe. He has spent the past 27 years in the greater Birmingham area, and is working currently with Wade S. Anderson and Associates, serving as staff counsel for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. Thetford has tried and won more jury trials for Wade S. Anderson and Associates than any other lawyer in the firm’s history, having handled over a thousand cases and having tried over 80 civil jury trials.

In 2015, the non-partisan Jefferson County Judicial Commission selected Thetford as a top-three candidate for Jefferson County Circuit Judge of the Civil Division — which presides over lawsuits filed in the Birmingham division of the Jefferson County court circuit. He was later selected and appointed to the position by former Gov. Robert Bentley.

”I believe that my background of having over 27 years of experience as a civil lawyer and Civil Circuit Judge makes me uniquely qualified to serve as an Appellate Judge on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals,” Thetford said announcing his candidacy. “If elected, I will bring vast experience and conservative values to the court. I will work hard to administer justice fairly and equitably, but always grounded in the rule of law.”

Judge Thetford attended the University of Alabama, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Business Administration, and later graduated with a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Thetford earned his law degree in 1988 at the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.

He is married to Mary Frances Thetford and is a proud father of two sons. They are members of Canterbury United Methodist Church in Mountain Brook, Ala.

Alabama Tax Tribunal Judge Christy Edwards is also running as a Republican for the seat. As is Baldwin County District Judge Michelle Thomason, who was endorsed by retiring Judge Pittman in September.

The Republican Primary will be held June 5, 2018.