Carole C. Smitherman
Carole C. Smitherman was a judge of the Alabama 10th Judicial Circuit Place 13. She left office on January 20, 2025.
Smitherman (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for judge of the Alabama 10th Judicial Circuit Place 13. She won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Smitherman was first elected to the court in 2012.
Biography
Smitherman received her undergraduate degree from Spelman College in 1973 and her J.D. from Miles Law School in 1979.[1]
Smitherman became an attorney in private practice since 1992. She also served as councilwoman for Birmingham, ran for mayor of Birmingham three times (and served one month as interim mayor), and served on the Birmingham Municipal Court.[1][2]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Alabama 10th Judicial Circuit Place 13
Incumbent Carole C. Smitherman won election in the general election for Alabama 10th Judicial Circuit Place 13 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Carole C. Smitherman (D) | 96.8 | 155,923 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 3.2 | 5,101 | ||
| Total votes: 161,024 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Alabama 10th Judicial Circuit Place 13
Incumbent Carole C. Smitherman advanced from the Democratic primary for Alabama 10th Judicial Circuit Place 13 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Carole C. Smitherman | |
| ||||
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2012
- See also: Alabama judicial elections, 2012
Smitherman defeated Peter Johnson Davis and Patrick J. Ballard in the Democratic primary on March 13, winning 73.38 percent of the vote. She defeated Peyton C. Thetford in the general election on November 6, winning 52.91 percent of the vote.[3][4][5]
Birmingham Bar Association ratings
General election
In October, the Birmingham Bar Association compiled results of its Judicial Primary Qualifications Poll. 687 members of the association participated in the poll, though all members did not participate in each evaluation. Below are the candidate's results.[6]
- Highly Qualified: 12%
- Qualified: 22%
- Not Qualified: 42%
- Unknown: 25%
Primary election
In February, the Birmingham Bar Association compiled results of its Judicial Primary Qualifications Poll. Below are the candidate's results.[7]
- Highly Qualified: 10%
- Qualified: 24%
- Not Qualified: 35%
- Unknown: 832%
Selection method
- See also: Partisan elections
There are 144 judges on the Alabama Circuit Courts, each elected to six-year terms. They appear on partisan election ballots statewide and must face re-election if they wish to serve again. The chief judge of a circuit court is selected by peer vote and serves a three-year term.[8]
Only voters residing in a particular circuit may vote for the circuit judge of that region.[8]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:
- licensed to practice law for at least five years;
- a resident of his or her circuit 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 term expires)[8][9]
See also
- Courts in Alabama
- Local trial court judicial elections, 2018
- Municipal elections in Jefferson County, Alabama (2018)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 AL.com, "Jefferson County Circuit Court Place 13 candidates are Carole Smitherman, Pat Thetford," August 20, 2012
- ↑ AL.com, "Jefferson County Circuit Court, Place 13:5," March 7, 2012
- ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "Certified 2012 General Election Results," February 21, 2013
- ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Election Results - Unofficial"
- ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "Democratic Primary Candidates," January 20, 2012
- ↑ Birmingham Bar Association, "Birmingham Bar Association Releases Judicial Candidate Qualifications Poll Results," October 9, 2012
- ↑ Birmingham Bar Association, "2012 Judicial Primary Qualifications Poll"
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Alabama," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Judicial Retirement Laws, "Alabama: Mandatory Retirement Provisions Applicable Generally," accessed March 31, 2016
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
