Thomas Govan campaigns for Court of Criminal Appeals
Judicial candidate Thomas Govan addressed the Etowah County Republican breakfast Saturday about his campaign to be elected to an open seat on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. Govan currently works for the Alabama Attorney General’s office, where he is the Chief of the Attorney General’s Criminal Trial Division. “Chris McCool is running for the Supreme Court, which creates the open seat I am running for,” said Govan. Govan said that in his former role as head of the AG’s capital division, he argued for imposing individual death sentences even before the U.S. Supreme Court. “The cases that take the most time at the appellate level are death penalty cases,” Govan explained. “I handled some of the most heinous murders that happened in our state,” Govan said. “I led those prosecutors, including against a defendant who had murdered a Mobile police officer. The defendant snuck up behind the officer who was sitting in his car and shot him in the head.” “Now I do trial work,” said Govan. “We work hand in hand with law enforcement officers to tell the story of victims.” Govan said that he primarily prosecutes violent crime. One of those cases is in Macon County, where he leads the prosecution of Ibraheem Azeed, who killed Anaiah Blanchard. “It is so important that we stand up for victims of crime,” Govan said. “We need strong leaders at all levels of government who will fight for our values,” Govan said. “Judges are there to interpret the law as it is written,” Govan explained. “A judge is kind of like an umpire in baseball. He is there to just call balls and strikes as he sees them.” Govan said that judges should also “uphold the Constitution” and “interpret the Constitution as it is written.” Govan attended the University of Alabama and also serves in the U.S. Air Force, where he is a JAG officer. “We all have callings,” said Govan. “We do it for the glory of God.” Govan said he has practiced before the Court of Criminal Appeals for over a decade. “The Court of Criminal Appeals has a big caseload – all the judges in Alabama carry a big caseload,” Govan said. “I have practical experience trying cases all over Alabama working with law enforcement. That kind of experience is very important and unique.” “Most of us grew up in communities where the law is respected,” Govan said. “It is my hope and prayer that we will continue to live in a state where the rule of law is respected.” “My wife and I have four children,” Govan said. “She is a teacher at our kid’s school.” Govan was asked about a bill passed by both Houses of the Legislature that limits good time incentives for prisoners. “That is a really important bill,” Govan answered. “My office supported that bill.” “My entire career as a prosecutor, I have been tough on crime,” Govan said. Govan said that he is not the only announced candidate. “There are two other folks who have announced, and there could be more jumping in,” Govan said. Alabama Today asked Govan if the state needs more judges. “I think across the board, we need more law enforcement, DA support, and judges across the state,” Govan said. “I will let smarter folks in the legislature handle that.” During the breakfast, conservative talk radio host Jay Holland announced, “Phil Hodges passed away just Tuesday.” “He was a good Republican,” Holland said. “As some of you might know, Phil beat me by one vote in the Republican Primary in 1994 (State Representative) in House District 30. We went through an election challenge, but Phil came out on top. We came out of that great friends. His funeral is Tuesday.” State Rep. Mack Butler said, “Phil was a former FBI agent a long, long time ago.” The Etowah County Republican breakfast is held monthly at the Western Sizzler in Rainbow City. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
