Eric Johnston (Alabama)
A. Eric Johnston was a Republican candidate for Place 3 on the Alabama Supreme Court in 2010. He is an attorney in Birmingham.[1]
Education
Johnston attended Marion Institute to earn his Associate of Science degree in 1968 and the University of Alabama to earn his Bachelor of Arts in 1970. In 1973 he received his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law, Samford University.[2]
Memberships
- National Lawyers Association
- Alabama State Bar Association
- Birmingham Bar Association[2]
Court Admissions
- Alabama Supreme Court in 1973
- United States Supreme Court in 1988
- United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in 1988[2]
Supreme Court bid
- See also: Alabama judicial elections, 2010
Johnston lost in the primary election to Tom Parker.[3]
Disqualification from ballot lawsuit
Opponent Tom Parker filed a lawsuit to disqualify Johnston from the Supreme Court race. Parker alleged that Johnston was late filing a financial statement with the Alabama Ethics Commission and a campaign committee statement with Alabama's Secretary of State.[4] Johnston acknowledged that the documents were late, but says that his intention was to get them in on time.[5] A hearing was held on Thursday, May 13, at the Montgomery County Circuit Court in which Johnston's attorneys argued that the forms were, in fact, filed on time and that the lawsuit should be thrown out.[6] On Monday, May 17, Judge Shashy ruled on the case[7] and rejected Parker's claim that Johnston should be removed from the ballot. Johnston attributed the lateness to the fault of the delivery service, and in any case, Shashy delivered the ruling saying that lateness alone is not enough to warrant disqualification.[8]
Johnston said he saw the lawsuit "as a purely political attempt to remove me from the ballot because I am the most viable candidate opposing him".[9]
On May 28, the specially appointed Alabama Supreme Court ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. That means the primary election will continue as planned, though Parker can still file a challenge with the Republican Party after the election.[10]
External links
- Doc's Political Parlor "The Ballot of Tom Parker," May 5, 2010
- League of Women Voters of Alabama, Alabama Appellate Courts Voter Guide 2010, Eric Johnston
Footnotes
- ↑ Associated Press "Business Group Endorses Johnston For Alabama Court," April 17, 2010 (dead link)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Johnston Biography
- ↑ The Anniston Star, "Parker, Bolin win Ala. Supreme Court races," June 1, 2010
- ↑ Parker Lawsuit
- ↑ Associated Press "Alabama Supreme Court justice seeks to disqualify opponent in GOP primary," April 30, 2010
- ↑ Associated Press "Judge asked to remove court candidate from ballot," May 13, 2010
- ↑ WSFA "Supreme court race in court," May 13, 2010
- ↑ Associated Press "Judge rejects challenge to Ala. court candidate," May 17, 2010
- ↑ Montgomery Advertiser "State's high court rules GOP justice hopeful can remain on ballot," May 18, 2010
- ↑ Alabama Live, "Court: Ala. justice loses bid to disqualify foe," May 28, 2010
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
