Alabama Supreme Court elections

There are nine justices on the Alabama Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the Alabama judicial elections page.

Judicial selection

See also: Judicial selection in Alabama

The nine justices on the Alabama Supreme Court are selected through partisan elections for six-year terms. They appear on partisan election ballots statewide and face re-election if they wish to serve again. For more information about these elections, visit the Alabama judicial elections page.

Qualifications

To serve on this court, a judge must be:

• licensed to practice law for at least 10 years;
• a state resident for at least one year;
• under the age of 70 at the time of election (judges who turn 70 in office may serve until their terms expire).

Chief justice

The chief justice of the court is selected by popular vote, serving in that office for his or her full six-year term.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

Should a vacancy occur between regularly scheduled elections, which take place in November of even-numbered years, an interim justice is appointed by the governor. Any justice appointed in this fashion must then stand for election in the next general election occurring at least one year after taking office.

The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.

2024

See also: Alabama Supreme Court elections, 2024

Chief Justice

General election

General election for Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice

Sarah Stewart defeated Greg Griffin in the general election for Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sarah Stewart (R)	65.8	1,458,501
		Greg Griffin (D)	34.1	756,675
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	2,350

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,217,526
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Greg Griffin advanced from the Democratic primary for Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice

Sarah Stewart defeated Bryan Taylor in the Republican primary for Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sarah Stewart	61.5	334,135
		Bryan Taylor	38.5	209,217

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 543,352
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jerry M. Blevins (R)

Place 1

General election

General election for Alabama Supreme Court

Chris McCool won election in the general election for Alabama Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris McCool (R)	97.6	1,564,832
		Other/Write-in votes	2.4	38,088

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,602,920
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Chris McCool advanced from the Republican primary for Alabama Supreme Court.

Place 2

General election

General election for Alabama Supreme Court

Incumbent Tommy Bryan won election in the general election for Alabama Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tommy Bryan (R)	97.7	1,560,072
		Other/Write-in votes	2.3	36,383

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,596,455
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Tommy Bryan advanced from the Republican primary for Alabama Supreme Court.

Place 3

General election

General election for Alabama Supreme Court

Incumbent William Sellers won election in the general election for Alabama Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		William Sellers (R)	97.8	1,557,606
		Other/Write-in votes	2.2	35,479

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,593,085
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent William Sellers advanced from the Republican primary for Alabama Supreme Court.

Place 4

General election

General election for Alabama Supreme Court

Incumbent Jay Mitchell won election in the general election for Alabama Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jay Mitchell (R)	97.8	1,555,235
		Other/Write-in votes	2.2	35,034

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,590,269
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jay Mitchell advanced from the Republican primary for Alabama Supreme Court.

2022

See also: Alabama Supreme Court elections, 2022

Place 5

General election

General election for Alabama Supreme Court

Greg Cook defeated Anita L. Kelly in the general election for Alabama Supreme Court on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Greg Cook (R)	67.4	943,177
	Submit photo	Anita L. Kelly (D)	32.5	454,878
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	1,271

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,399,326
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Anita L. Kelly advanced from the Democratic primary for Alabama Supreme Court.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Alabama Supreme Court

Greg Cook defeated Debra H. Jones in the Republican primary for Alabama Supreme Court on May 24, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Greg Cook	55.3	318,366
		Debra H. Jones	44.7	256,827

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 575,193
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Place 6

General election

General election for Alabama Supreme Court

Incumbent Kelli Wise won election in the general election for Alabama Supreme Court on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kelli Wise (R)	97.5	998,043
		Other/Write-in votes	2.5	25,490

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,023,533
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Kelli Wise advanced from the Republican primary for Alabama Supreme Court.

2020

See also: Alabama Supreme Court elections, 2020

Place 1

General election candidates

• Greg Shaw  (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔

 Democratic primary candidates

The Democratic Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.

 Republican primary candidates

• Greg Shaw (Incumbent) ✔
• Cam Ward

Did not make the ballot:

• Bryan Taylor

Place 2

General election candidates

• Brad Mendheim  (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔

 Democratic primary candidates

The Democratic Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.

 Republican primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

• Brad Mendheim (Incumbent) ✔

2018

See also: Alabama Supreme Court elections, 2018

Chief justice

General election candidates

• Robert S. Vance  (Democratic Party)
• Tom Parker  (Republican Party) ✔

 Democratic primary candidates

• Robert S. Vance ✔

 Republican primary candidates

• Lyn Stuart (Incumbent)
• Tom Parker ✔

Place 1

General election candidates

• Sarah Stewart  (Republican Party) ✔

 Republican primary runoff candidates

• Brad Mendheim (Incumbent)
• Sarah Stewart ✔

 Republican primary candidates

• Brad Mendheim (Incumbent) ✔
• Debra H. Jones
• Sarah Stewart ✔

Place 2

General election candidates

• Tommy Bryan  (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔

 Republican primary candidates

• Tommy Bryan (Incumbent) ✔

Place 3

General election candidates

• William Sellers  (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔

 Republican primary candidates

• William Sellers (Incumbent) ✔

Place 4

General election candidates

• Donna Wesson Smalley  (Democratic Party)
• Jay Mitchell  (Republican Party) ✔

 Democratic primary candidates

• Donna Wesson Smalley ✔

 Republican primary candidates

• John Bahakel
• Jay Mitchell ✔

2016

See also: Alabama Supreme Court elections, 2016

Three seats on the Alabama Supreme Court were on the general election ballot on November 8, 2016. A primary was held on March 1.

Justice Kelli Wise (R), Justice Michael Bolin (R), and Justice Tom Parker (R) held the seats heading into the election. All nine seats on the court were held by Republicans prior to the election. Each justice elected to the court serves a six-year term.

Only Place 3, held by Tom Parker, was contested in the 2016 election cycle. This was a primary challenge between two Republicans; the seat was not contested in the general election.

General election candidates

Place 1

■ Kelli Wise (R) (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Place 2

■ Michael Bolin (R) (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Place 3

■ Tom Parker (R) (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Election results

November 8 general election

Incumbent Michael Bolin ran unopposed in the general election for the Alabama Supreme Court, Place 1.

Alabama Supreme Court, Place 1, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Michael Bolin Incumbent (unopposed)

Incumbent Kelli Wise ran unopposed in the general election for the Alabama Supreme Court, Place 2.

Alabama Supreme Court, Place 2, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Kelli Wise Incumbent (unopposed)

Incumbent Tom Parker ran unopposed in the general election for the Alabama Supreme Court, Place 3.

Alabama Supreme Court, Place 3, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Tom Parker Incumbent (unopposed)

March 1 primary election

Alabama Supreme Court, Place 3, Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Tom Parker Incumbent	72.50%	448,747
	Republican	Donna Beaulieu	27.50%	170,194
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				618,941
Source: Alabama Secretary of State Certified Results

2014

See also: Alabama judicial elections, 2014

Unopposed	Judge Greg Shaw (Seat 1)

2012

See also: Alabama judicial elections, 2012

Candidate	Incumbency	Party	Place	Primary Vote	Election Vote
GraddickCharles Graddick	No	Republican	Chief Justice	25.5%
MaloneCharles Malone (Alabama)	Yes	Republican		24.5%
JonesDebra H. Jones	No	Republican	Place 1	34.8%
PoynterGinger Poynter	No	Independent		n/a	A
MurdockGlenn Murdock   A	Yes	Republican			98.16%   A
LyonHarry Lyon	No	Democratic	Chief Justice		A
MainJames Allen Main   A	Yes	Republican	Place 4		98.13%   A
StuartLyn Stuart   A	Yes	Republican			98.13%   A
MaddoxMelinda Lee Maddox	No	Independent	Chief Justice	n/a	A
VanceRobert S. Vance	No	Democratic	Place 21		48.23%   A
Roy Moore
BryanTommy Bryan   A	No	Republican		65.1%A	98.07%   A

2010

In 2010, two incumbents were re-elected to the Alabama Supreme Court. Kelli Wise was elected the vacant seat left by Justice Patricia Smith.

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Party	Election votes	Election %
Kelli Wise A	No	Place 1	Republican	912,254	62.9%
Rhonda Chambers	No	Place 1	Democratic	537,112	37%

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Party	Election votes	Election %
Michael Bolin A	Yes	Place 2	Republican	907,029	62.7%
Tom Edwards	No	Place 2	Democratic	537,411	37.2%
Tracy W. Cary	No	Place 2	Republican

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Party	Election votes	Election %
Tom Parker A	Yes	Place 3	Republican	849,106	58.9%
Mac Parsons	No	Place 3	Democratic	591,133	41%
James R. Houts	No	Place 3	Republican
Eric Johnston	No	Place 3	Republican

2008

Harold See retired from the court, leaving an open seat.

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Party	Election votes	Election %
Greg Shaw A	No		Republican	1,021,371	50.3%
Deborah Bell Paseur	No		Democratic	1,008,479	49.6%

2006

Democrat Sue Bell Cobb was elected Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, defeating appointed Chief Justice Drayton Nabers, Jr. Glenn Murdock was also elected to the court in 2006, defeating incumbent Justice Jean Brown.

Incumbent Justices Thomas Woodall and Lyn Stuart were re-elected in 2006, after each fending off primary and general election challenges. Justice Champ Lyons was re-elected after running unopposed in the general election.

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Party	Election votes	Election %
Sue Bell Cobb A	No	Chief Justice	Democratic	634,494	51.5%
Drayton Nabers, Jr.	Yes	Chief Justice	Republican	596,237	48.4%
Tom Parker	No	Chief Justice	Republican

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Party	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Champ Lyons A	Yes	Place 1	Republican	60.3%	220,886
Ben Hand	No	Place 1	Republican	39.6%	145,105

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Party	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Thomas Woodall A	Yes	Place 2	Republican	253,732	71.6%	665,610	56.7%
Gwendolyn Thomas Kennedy	No	Place 2	Democratic			506,691	43.2%
Hank Fowler	No	Place 2	Republican	28.3%	100,565

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Party	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Lyn Stuart A	Yes	Place 3	Republican	267,201	71.7%	680,103	57.8%
Albert Johnson	No	Place 3	Democratic			495,846	42.1%
Alan Zeigler	No	Place 3	Republican	28.2%	105,288

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Party	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Glenn Murdock A	No	Place 4	Republican	219,594	61.1%	651,057	54.9%
John England	No	Place 4	Democratic			532,837	45%
Tracy Gwyn BirdSong	No	Place 4	Republican	44,262	12.3%	6
Jean Brown	Yes	Place 4	Republican	95,287	26.5%

2004

The removal of Chief Justice Roy Moore from the Alabama Supreme Court was a substantial campaign issue in the Republican primaries of 2004. Regardless of that situation, Alabama voters still elected three Republicans to open seats over the choice of sending Democrats to the court.

Republicans Tom Parker, Patricia Smith and Michael Bolin were all elected to the court after facing challenges in Republican primaries and the general election.

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Party	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Tom Parker A	No	Place 1	Republican	107,325	50.9%	986,530	55.8%
Robert H. Smith	No	Place 1	Democratic			781,197	44.1%
Jean Brown	Yes	Place 1	Republican	103,241	49%

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Party	Election votes	Election %
Patricia Smith A	No	Place 2	Republican	1,070,789	59.9%
Roger M. Monroe	No	Place 2	Democratic	716,691	40%
Pam Baschab	No	Place 2	Republican

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Party	Primary votes	Primary %	Election votes	Election %
Michael Bolin A	No	Place 3	Republican	99,964	49.9%	1,056,642	59.7%
John E. Rochester	No	Place 3	Democratic			712,569	40.2%
Peggy Givhan	No	Place 3	Republican	34,328	17.1%
(No first name given) Holloway	No	Place 3	Republican	13,913	6.9%

2002

Harold See was re-elected to the court in 2002.

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Party	Election votes	Election %
Harold See A	Yes		Republican	676,539	51.4%
James H. Anderson	No		Democratic	609,490	46.3%
Tom Bear	No		Libertarian	29,247	2.2%

See also

Alabama	Judicial Selection	More Courts
Courts in Alabama Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Alabama Supreme Court	Elections: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 Gubernatorial appointments Judicial selection in Alabama	Federal courts State courts Local courts

Footnotes

Alabama courts

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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