Five things you need to know about Joseph Siegelman
Now that the runoff elections are over, voters are turning their attention to the November General Election only 106 days away. Democratic Attorney General candidate Joseph Siegelman beat his primary opponent Chris Christie in the June primary elections while Incumbent Attorney General and Republican candidate Steve Marshall was thrown into a runoff race. Marshall won his runoff election against Troy King last week with just over 62 percent of the vote; now Marshall will face Siegelman in the November General Election. The attorney general is responsible for representing the state in criminal and civil matters, and the office often is a stepping-stone to other positions. Just ask former Alabama attorney general and U.S. Senator, now-U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. With that in mind, here are the five things you need to know about Joseph Siegelman: 1. He’s the the son of former Gov. Don Siegelman. Siegelman’s father, former Gov. Don Siegelman was a dominating figure in state politics for years, but his career came to a close with a conviction on federal bribery charges. In 2016, Siegelman had filed a lawsuit seeking Department of Justice documents about his father’s prosecution. Ultimately nothing came of it and Don Siegelman was released in 2017, which was a year to the day that Joseph announced his candidacy, from a federal prison in Louisiana where he was serving a six-year sentence for bribery and obstruction of justice. 2. He received some big endorsements during the primary. Siegelman has been endorsed by the New South Alliance and equal pay activist Lilly Ledbetter. 3. He would be a very young AG. If elected, Siegelman, 29, would only be 30 when he assumes office — a stark contrast to his Republican opponent, Steve Marshall who’s career has spanned over 30 years. 4. He’s the managing partner and with The Cochran Firm. Siegelman is the managing partner in The Cochran Firm – Birmingham office. There, his practice focuses primarily in the areas of personal injury, products liability, medical malpractice and mass tort litigation. He is a member of the Alabama State Bar Association and the Birmingham Bar Association and is admitted to practice in all Alabama State and Federal courts. 5. Roll Tide Roll. Siegelman obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama while completing part of his coursework at the London School of Economics and Political Science in London, England. He received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Alabama’s Honors College and Business Honors Program. He also received his Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law. In law school, he twice represented the University of Alabama as an advocate on its National Trial Team and was awarded the George Peach Taylor Award for his outstanding trial advocacy.
Women of Influence: Alabama State Bar President Augusta Dowd
Born and raised in Birmingham, Ala. Augusta Dowd has spent much of her life and career in the Magic City. She attended college at Sewanee: University of the South in Tennessee, and proceeded to Vanderbilt University School of Law. After graduating in 1982, Dowd returned to the Yellowhammer State to begin her long and impressive career in law. Dowd began her career by clerking for the Honorable Judge Seybourne H. Lynne in the Northern District of Alabama. Advancing quickly, she joined the Lange, Simpson, Robinson & Somerville law firm in Birmingham in 1983 where she practiced until 1995. In 1990, Dowd’s third child was born and she made the decision to stay at home and focus on her children, but in 2000 she returned to the workforce in full force. Starting back in her original career field, Dowd joined a firm which would later be reconstructed into White Arnold & Dowd P.C. in 2003. When the reconstruction of the firm occurred, Dowd was offered a position as managing lawyer at the firm, a position she accepted and holds to this day. A major force in her firm, Dowd practices Civil and Complex Litigation law, Environmental Law, White Collar Criminal Defense, Telecommunications, Governmental and Regulatory Affairs, Antitrust, Executive Severance and Compensation, and several more areas of law. Over the years, Dowd has been involved in many committees, boards and organizations including serving as a member of the Birmingham Bar Association’s Executive Committee board from 2004 to 2007 and Chair of the Grievance Committee from 2009 to 2010. She also sat on the board of directors for the YWCA of Central Alabama from 2010 to 2016, and was a member of the organizations Executive Committee from 2011 to 2014. She is also a member of the Alabama Law Foundation’s Atticus Finch Society, the Women’s White Collar Defense Association, the American Bar Association, and the Alabama Committee of the Newcomen Society. Although she had a law degree, and over a decade of experience in her career field Dowd decided she was not done learning and in 2007 she graduated from the Leadership Birmingham program. She also graduated from the Birmingham Multiple Sclerosis Leadership class the same year, and the Momentum Women’s Leadership program in 2010. Dowd has a long history with the Alabama State Bar Association. First serving as a Disciplinary Committee member for the State of Alabama and a Bar Commissioner for the 10th Judicial Circuit in Place 5 from 2009 through 2016. From 2016 to 2017, Dowd served in many aspects of the association, including as a member of the Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Long Range Planning Committee, leading to her position as President-Elect that same year, until 2017 when she was named President of the Alabama Bar Association. Dowd has been recognized and honored by several entities for her prowess, including being named one of the the best lawyers in America by Best Lawyers, a mid-south super lawyer, one of the Top Ten Women in Business in Birmingham in 2006, and was also included in Birmingham Magazine’s list of top Attorneys. Dowd is a woman of great passion for the law, and a true influencer in the Magic City. In spite of her busy schedule, she was kind enough to take some time, and answer some of Alabama Today’s questions on her life, work, and influences. For her service to the community and city of Birmingham, and law professionals across the state, Augusta Dowd is absolutely an Alabama Woman of Influence.
