Former State Senator Bryan Taylor (R) announced on Tuesday endorsements from three Republican prosecutors. David Barber and Brandon Falls, both former DAs for Jefferson County, as well as Randall Houston, former DA for Autauga, Elmore, and Chilton Counties, have endorsed Taylor’s campaign for Chief Justice.
“I’ve known him for over a decade, and I can say without a doubt that there is no better Republican candidate for Chief Justice than Bryan Taylor,” said Barber.
Barber served more than 23 years as Jefferson County’s District Attorney.
“Bryan Taylor is a former prosecutor, a conservative stalwart, and a principled believer in the rule of law,” Barber added. “I’m proud to support Bryan Taylor for Chief Justice because I’m witness to his tireless work ethic, his conservative philosophy, and his devotion to upholding the law and the Constitution as written.”
Brandon Falls succeeded Barber as Jefferson County DA in 2008 and served over eight years in that role.
“Bryan Taylor is fearless, and that’s the kind of Chief Justice we need right now,” Falls said. “I support Bryan because Alabama deserves a Chief Justice who understands the job and the needs of prosecutors, who has been in the trenches, and who has a record of holding criminals accountable under the law.”
Randall Houston served 32 years as the DA for the 19th Judicial Circuit, which covers Autauga, Elmore, and Chilton Counties. Taylor represented Houston’s community when Taylor served in the Alabama State Senate from 2010 to 2014.
“I know Bryan Taylor is a stalwart supporter of law enforcement and an unrelenting advocate for crime victims,” Houston said. “Whenever we came to him with a need—for more resources or for strengthening the law—district attorneys could always count on Bryan Taylor to get it right,” Houston added. “He has a profound respect for the Separation of Powers and will faithfully apply the law as written and not legislate from the bench.”
Houston recalled that as a state senator, after a series of three tragic deaths caused by drunk boaters on Alabama lakes, Taylor strengthened the law, allowing DAs to seek the same felony penalties for homicides caused by drunk boating that apply to vehicular DUI homicides. He said Taylor also advanced legislation increasing compensation for victims of violent crime.
As Governor Kay Ivey’s chief legal advisor from 2017 to 2019, Taylor spearheaded the governor’s investigation and overhaul of the state’s Pardons and Paroles Board after Jimmy O’Neal Spencer committed a triple homicide in Guntersville while on parole under the Board’s supervision.
Taylor is an Iraq War veteran and former military prosecutor.
As a state senator, he spearheaded passage of the state’s first Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Taylor also introduced legislation to crack down on the state’s illegal casinos after casino owners were federally prosecuted for bribery. That made him a lot of enemies in Montgomery. Illegal gambling bosses continue to operate at least 30 illegal gambling operations in open defiance of the Alabama Constitution and state law by making large campaign contributions to politicians from both political parties, including judges, sheriffs, and legislators.
Taylor also played a major role in writing and enacting sweeping reforms to strengthen the state’s ethics laws, including a bill to make it a crime for public officials to accept lavish gifts, meals, or junkets from lobbyists. There is an ongoing effort underway to weaken those 2010 ethics laws.
Taylor is a founding member of the law firm of Bachus Brom & Taylor, with a concentration in appellate and constitutional law, election law, business law, and civil litigation.
Taylor lives in Shelby County with his three children, where they attend Double Oak Community Church.
Current Chief Justice Tom Parker (R) is prevented from running for another term because of Alabama’s archaic age limits on judges. Associate Justice Sara Stewart (R) has also qualified to run for Chief Justice. Greg Griffin has qualified to run as a Democrat for Chief Justice.
The major party primaries are on March 5.
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