Moore's latest campaign disclosure reveals heavy donations from plaintiff trial lawyers
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July 12, 2012
Montgomery, Alabama: Republican Chief Justice candidate for the Alabama Supreme Court, Roy Moore, is finding unlikely campaign allies in the states plaintiff trial lawyers. Campaign finance reports for June indicate that Moore received $46,000 from the group during the summer month, or around 45% of the months total income. It was the plaintiff lawyers strongest giving month, though they have donated roughly 1/6 of all of Moore's campaign funds ($55,000 of $310,000). This flood of money from a typically Democratic support could come to Moore due to the low number of Democratic candidates in the race. Charles Hall, spokesman for Justice at Stake commented on the race, stating, "Democrats, at least for now, have left the field in Alabama." Only one Democrat, Harry Lyon qualified for the Supreme Court ballot in Alabama, challenging Moore. The remaining open seats will be controlled by Republican's running unopposed.[1]
Alabama's partisan judicial elections have historically resulted in heavy flows of money into the state, garnering some of the most expensive Supreme Court elections in the country. Since 2000 $44 million has been spent on Supreme Court elections in Alabama. This money comes from not only out-of-state parties but in state business interests, plaintiffs and attorneys who may have business before the court in the six-year term for which judges are elected.[2]
See also
Footnotes
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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
