By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Incumbent Chief Justice Chuck Malone (R) spoke to members of the Jefferson County Republican Party at their 2012 Republican Primary Straw Poll. Chief Justice Malone was appointed by Governor Robert Bentley when former Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, then only one of two Democrats holding a state wide elected office in Alabama resigned.
Chief Justice Chuck Malone said “It is an honor and a privilege to be your Chief Justice. I have practiced law for 20 years.” “I ran for Circuit Judge in 2000 as a Republican against an incumbent Democrat Judge and I won. As a judge, I have handled everything from capital murder cases to misdemeanors. Governor Robert Bentley asked me to serve as his Chief of Staff. I saw what it was like from a different perspective. Chief Justice Malone said that he gained understanding of court issues from the executive and the legislative sides.” “Then I was chosen by Governor Bentley” to be the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court when Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb unexpectedly resigned.
Chief Justice Malone said, “Far exceeding this election is the importance of defeating Barack Obama’s reelection. A five to four U.S. Supreme Court decision almost took away your right to bear arms.” Chief Justice Malone said that the next President of the United States will appoint the deciding vote on the court on this and other issues.
On his website Chief Justice Malone said, “I approach each case with the mindset that justice absolutely requires 2 basic elements: FAIRNESS and TOUGHESS. In order for justice to be served, we must allow our local courts to go to work and to be allowed to function in the most efficient manner possible to do what is right for all of Alabama’s citizens in both criminal and civil courts. That is what is good for the State of Alabama and for our citizens. Every Alabamian with a matter in the judicial system deserves to have their case move through the courts in a manner that is timely and certain. When the courts operate fairly and efficiently: Victims get closure, Criminals receive punishment, Civil disputes can be adjudicated in a time period that allows parties in civil disputes to move on and, allows businesses and individuals to go back to the work of making Alabama a better place and to help our state grow socially and economically.” Chief Justice Malone is a life long Republican.
According to his web site, “Chief Justice Chuck Malone graduated from the Cumberland School of Law on the campus of Samford University in Birmingham and practiced law for 20 years before being elected to the bench. As a successful attorney, he handled cases in both state and federal courts and represented individuals, small businesses, corporations, banks, and credit unions.”
Incumbent Chief Justice Chuck Malone is opposed in the March 13th Republican primary by former Chief Justice Roy Moore and by presiding Mobile County Judge Charlie Graddick. The winner of the Republican Primary will face perennial candidate Pelham Attorney Harry Lyons in the November 6th General Election.
Participants in the straw poll paid $25 to the Jefferson County Republican Party for lunch and a ballot. There were an estimated 350 people in attendance and 287 ballots were turned in. Chief Justice Malone won the straw poll by a large margin. Charlies Graddick had just 29 votes. Roy Moore had 59 and Malone had 171.
To learn more about the Malone campaign visit his website:
