Greg Cook joins the Alabama Supreme Court
The Alabama Supreme Court held an Investiture and Oath of Office ceremony on Friday to welcome newly-elected Justice Greg Cook and re-elected Justice Kelli Wise. The Justices took their oaths of office in the Supreme Court Courtroom. “Yesterday was my investiture for the Alabama Supreme Court,” Cook said on Facebook. “I was overwhelmed by the many, many people who attended, for the thousands and thousands who supported me, and by the responsibility of this office. The Church service beforehand was so powerful and I am so thankful for St. John’s Episcopal and Donna Johnson and my pastor David Eldridge. I admit that I cried. I know that I owe God the glory for this opportunity. I am also so thankful to the many, many people at the Supreme Court (and Allison Skinner) who made the investiture so special. A special thanks to Justice Champ Lyons for swearing me in and to Attorney General Steve Marshall for presenting my commission. I have so much to be thankful.” Justice Cook was elected in November 2022 to fill the seat of Justice Michael F. Bolin, who retired last week after 18 years of service on the Supreme Court. Justice Wise was re-elected to her third term, having served on the Court since 2010. Chief Justice Tom Parker presided over the investiture ceremony. “We welcome our new colleague Justice Greg Cook to our Court, and we welcome back Justice Wise,” Parker said. “We thank them both for their past service in the legal and judicial community, and confidently pray and believe that their future service will honor the Lord, the law, and the trust that the people of Alabama have placed in them.” “I wish Mike all the best in his retirement from the bench, although I expect he will stay active in service to his beloved State and Jefferson County,” Parker continued. “Mike and I joined this Court at the same time in 2005, so it will not be the same here without his formidable presence and voice on the Supreme Court. I thank him for his decades of service and for his friendship.” Justice Cook formally took office and joined the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Alabama is one of the few states in the country that have partisan elected judges. All the Justices on the Alabama Supreme Court are Republicans. Similarly, all the Judges on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals and the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals are also Republicans. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
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Chief Justice Lyn Stuart picks up major endorsements in primary
Six current and former Alabama Supreme Court justices have endorsed Alabama Chief Justice Lyn Stuart in a Republican primary. The current and former justices on Thursday announced their support for Stuart who faces Associate Justice Tom Parker in the June 5 GOP primary for chief justice. Justice Mike Bolin, Justice Jim Main, retired Justice Gorman Houston, retired Justice Patti Smith, retired Justice Champ Lyons, and retired Justice Bernard Harwood said they were supporting Stuart. The GOP primary pits Parker, a longtime ally of former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, against Stuart, who took over Moore’s duties when Moore was suspended from the bench. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey later appointed Stuart as Moore’s replacement. The winner of the GOP primary will face Democrat Bob Vance in November. Reprinted with permission of the Associated Press.
