By Chip Brownlee
Alabama Political Reporter
Baldwin County District Judge Michelle Thomason is seeking a seat on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals in next year’s general election.
Thomason, a Republican, will be running for the seat on the court currently held by Judge Craig Pittman, who plans to retire and has officially endorsed Thomason as his replacement.
“Judge Pittman is an outstanding jurist. I am truly honored to have received his
endorsement to fill this position upon his retirement,” Thomason said.
Pittman is now in her 12th year on the bench. While she is a district judge in title, she is also effectively a circuit judge and was made a circuit judge by special appointment because the majority of her caseload involves family cases, she said.
On top of family cases, Thomason also handles other criminal and civil cases and presides over the Baldwin County Veterans Court, which she began in 2014.
“While I have enjoyed every aspect of my position, my work to establish a Veterans’ Treatment Court in South Alabama has been by far the most rewarding thing I have ever done,” Thomason said. “If I am elected, I intend to make sure the work of the Court continues to provide assistance to the Veterans in our community that need and deserve our help.”
Thomason said her experience handling family and business cases will be helpful on the Court of Civil appeals after recent changes were made to state laws that significantly altered Alabama’s family law and the business arena has seen changes as well.
“I believe that my particular skill set, having education and extensive experience in both of these areas, not only makes me uniquely qualified to assist in interpreting these new laws, but will allow me to be an all-around asset to the Court,” Thomason said.
