Most Republican appellate court incumbents win without an opponent as Democrats concede state appellate courts to the GOP
Major party qualifying ended on Friday. Four Republican Alabama Supreme Court Justices won election when no opponent – Republican or Democrat came forward. Justices Will Sellers, Tommy Bryan, and Jay Mitchell were all effectively re-elected as they face no Republican primary challenger. Write-in candidates are not allowed in party primaries. No attorney qualified for any of these races as a Democrat, so they are unlikely to face an opponent in the November general election. Chris McCool gave up his seat on the Court of Criminal Appeals to run for the open Place 1 associate supreme court justice seat. He also had no Republican or Democratic opponent qualify. On the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, Republican incumbent Judges Richard Minor and Bill Cole were both effectively re-elected when no Republican or Democratic opponent qualified for either race. Two Republicans: Rich Anderson and Thomas Govan, qualified for the open Place 2 seat that Chris McCool is leaving to run for Supreme Court. Both Govan and Anderson work in the Alabama Attorney General’s office. No Democrat qualified for that seat either, so Govan and Anderson’s race in the Republican primary on March 5 is likely to decide this race. On the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals incumbents Christy Edwards and Terry Moore were both effectively re-elected when qualifying ended without either facing any opposition. The only incumbent appellate judge in the state to face a challenger is Republican: Republican Chad Hanson at Place 2 on the Court of Civil Appeals is being challenged in the Republican primary by Stephen Davis-Parker. There are four candidates running for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. Chief Justice Tom Parker, also a Republican, cannot run again due to the state’s arcane mandatory retirement age for judges provision. Associate Justice Sarah Stewart is giving up her place 1 seat on the court to run for Chief Justice. Former State Senator Bryan Taylor is also running for the office. Taylor is also a former legal counsel for Governors Kay Ivey and Bob Riley. On Friday, Montgomery attorney Jerry Michael Blevins also qualified to run for Chief Justice. Chief Justice is the only state appellate race that the Alabama Democratic Party is even contesting. Judge Greg Griffin will face the eventual Republican nominee for Chief Justice in the November general election. Griffin presently is a Circuit Court Judge in Montgomery’s Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court. Thirty years ago, Democrats dominated the Alabama appellate courts. That changed in 1994 when retired Judge Perry Hooper Sr. defeated incumbent Sonny Hornsby in a contested race for chief justice. In the years since, Republican fortunes have continued to improve. Only one Democratic candidate, Doug Jones in 2017, has won any statewide race since 2008, and no Democratic judicial candidate has won a statewide race since Sue Bell Cobb was elected Chief Justice in 2006. Democrats are hopeful that Judge Griffin can change their fortunes next year. There is still a slight possibility that an attorney could still qualify as an independent or third-party candidate for one of these offices. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
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.
Thomas Govan announces candidacy for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
Montgomery attorney, career prosecutor, and Air Force officer Thomas Govan announced today that he will seek the Republican Party nomination for an open seat on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals in the March 2024 primary. Govan has spent his entire career in public service as a prosecutor. He currently serves as the Chief of the Criminal Trials Division of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, where he leads a team of attorneys who prosecute violent offenders and defend crime victims throughout the State of Alabama. Govan also serves our country as a member of the United States Air Force Reserve. “As a lifelong conservative and experienced champion for justice in our great state, my top priority is creating a just and effective court that Alabamians will trust and believe in,” Govan stated. “If given the privilege of serving the great state of Alabama on the Court of Criminal Appeals, I will defend the rule of law, protect our freedoms, and uphold the Constitution.” Govan earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama, where he served as Chairman of the College Republicans, and later earned his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. After law school, he embarked on a career dedicated to public service. For over fifteen years, Govan has protected the safety of Alabama families as a prosecutor in both state and federal courts. Govan prosecuted capital murder and death penalty cases on appeal for over a decade, rising to become the Chief of the Capital Litigation Division in the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. As part of this extensive legal work, Govan litigated cases on behalf of the citizens of Alabama both in courts throughout the State of Alabama and in federal courts, including arguing a case before the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., in 2018. He also served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Alabama, where he defended the safety of Alabama families by prosecuting both violent offenders and offenders who committed various types of fraud against the citizens of Alabama in federal court. Govan and his wife, Jessica, are proud parents of four children. Jessica is a teacher and small business owner. They are active members of their church in Montgomery, Alabama, where he serves as an Elder, Sunday school teacher, and member of the choir. Govan is seeking Place 2 on the Court of Criminal Appeals, a seat currently held by Judge Chris McCool, who recently announced his candidacy for the Alabama Supreme Court.
