Alabama Democrats to hold hearing on whether to disqualify their Supreme Court candidate
August 14, 2012
Alabama: This Friday, August 17, the Alabama Democratic Party will consider whether to disqualify Harry Lyon, their candidate for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. Lyon was the only Democrat to file for the race, and thus won nomination unopposed in the March primary election. Since then, Democrats have questioned his behavior and public statements, which some believe violate the canon of judicial ethics. Critics point to comments made about gays and lesbians, taunting of his opponent, Roy Moore, and references to the Alabama Supreme Court as a whole.[1]
For his part, Lyon believes that the Democrats have planned to remove him from the ballot. He said, "They are looking for anything they can to get rid of me now that Moore has won the primary."[2]
If Lyon is disqualified this week, the Democratic Party will be allowed to name a replacement candidate for the general election in November.[3]
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Alabama, Middle District of Alabama, Southern District of Alabama • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Alabama, Middle District of Alabama, Southern District of Alabama
State courts:
Alabama Supreme Court • Alabama Court of Civil Appeals • Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals • Alabama Circuit Courts • Alabama District Courts • Alabama Juvenile Courts • Alabama Municipal Courts • Alabama Probate Courts • Alabama Small Claims Courts
State resources:
Courts in Alabama • Alabama judicial elections • Judicial selection in Alabama
