Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals is one of two intermediate appellate courts in the Alabama judicial system. The court was established in 1969 when what had been one unitary state court of appeals was broken into a criminal appeals court and a civil appeals court. The unified court of appeals was operative from 1911 until 1969.

The court is composed of five judges, one of whom is elected by the members of the court to serve as presiding judge. The Court of Criminal Appeals hears appeals on cases that have been decided at the circuit court level (of which there are 40 in the state). The court has exclusive jurisdiction over:

“	[A]ll misdemeanors, including the violation of town and city ordinances, habeas corpus and all felonies, including all post conviction writs in criminal cases.	”
—Alabama Code-Section 12-3-9

Unlike the civil appellate court, the Court of Criminal Appeals can hear cases in panels. The presiding judge has the ability, if he or she chooses, to designate three judges to sit on a panel and decide cases.

 

Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
Court information
Judges:	5
Founded:	1969
Salary:	Associates: $192,036
Judicial selection
Method:	Partisan election of judges
Term:	6 years

Judges

Judge	Tenure	Appointed By
Mary Becker Windom	2008 - Present	Elected
Richard Minor	January 14, 2019 - Present	Elected
J. William Cole	January 14, 2019 - Present	Elected
J. Elizabeth Kellum	2008 - Present	Elected
Rich Anderson	January 20, 2025 - Present	Elected

Former Court of Criminal Appeals judges

• James Allen Main
• Bucky McMillan
• Greg Shaw
• Pamela Willis Baschab
• Kelli Wise

Salary

See also: Alabama court salaries and budgets

In 2025, the associate judges of the court received a salary of $192,036, according to the National Center for State Courts.

Judicial selection

Main article: Judicial selection in Alabama

The five judges on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals 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 judge

The chief judge is selected by the members of the court and serves for an indefinite term.

Vacancies

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

Elections

• 2030
• 2026
• 2024
• 2020
• 2018

See also: Alabama intermediate appellate court elections, 2030

Richard Minor's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

J. William Cole's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Rich Anderson's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

See also: Alabama intermediate appellate court elections, 2026

J. Elizabeth Kellum's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Mary Becker Windom's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

See also: Alabama intermediate appellate court elections, 2024

Place 3

General election

General election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Incumbent J. William Cole (R) won election in the general election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	J. William Cole (R)	97.9	1,547,520
		Other/Write-in votes	2.1%	32,746

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,580,266
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 5, 2024, was canceled.

Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for March 5, 2024, was canceled. Incumbent J. William Cole (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals without appearing on the ballot.

Place 2

General election

General election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Rich Anderson (R) won election in the general election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rich Anderson (R)	97.9	1,546,549
		Other/Write-in votes	2.1%	32,940

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,579,489
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 5, 2024, was canceled.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Rich Anderson (R) defeated Thomas Govan (R) in the Republican primary for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rich Anderson	55.3	260,934
	Submit photo	Thomas Govan	44.7	210,515

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 471,449
= 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.
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Place 1

General election

General election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Incumbent Richard Minor (R) won election in the general election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Richard Minor (R)	97.9	1,547,401
		Other/Write-in votes	2.1%	33,207

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,580,608
= 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.
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Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 5, 2024, was canceled.

Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for March 5, 2024, was canceled. Incumbent Richard Minor (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals without appearing on the ballot.

See also: Alabama intermediate appellate court elections, 2020

Windom's seat

General election

General election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Incumbent Mary Becker Windom (R) won election in the general election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mary Becker Windom (R)	97.8	1,541,862
		Other/Write-in votes	2.2%	34,708

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,576,570
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 3, 2020, was canceled.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Incumbent Mary Becker Windom (R) defeated Melvin Hasting (R) in the Republican primary for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mary Becker Windom	69.5	387,876
		Melvin Hasting	30.5	170,599

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 558,475
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Kellum's seat

General election

General election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Incumbent J. Elizabeth Kellum (R) won election in the general election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		J. Elizabeth Kellum (R)	97.8	1,537,451
		Other/Write-in votes	2.2%	34,128

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,571,579
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary runoff

Republican primary runoff for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Incumbent J. Elizabeth Kellum (R) defeated Will Smith (R) in the Republican primary runoff for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on July 14, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		J. Elizabeth Kellum	55.7	270,306
		Will Smith	44.3	214,764

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 485,070
= 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.
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Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 3, 2020, was canceled.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Incumbent J. Elizabeth Kellum (R) and Will Smith (R) advanced to a runoff. They defeated Jill Ganus (R) in the Republican primary for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		J. Elizabeth Kellum	43.4	232,303
✔		Will Smith	37.1	198,663
		Jill Ganus	19.5	104,680

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 535,646
= 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.
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See also: Alabama intermediate appellate court elections, 2018

Place 1

General election

General election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Richard Minor (R) won election in the general election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Richard Minor (R)	97.0	1,080,637
		Other/Write-in votes	3.0%	32,927

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,113,564
= 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.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for June 5, 2018, was canceled.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Richard Minor (R) defeated Riggs Walker (R) in the Republican primary for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Richard Minor	65.5	258,805
		Riggs Walker	34.5	136,174

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 394,979
= 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.
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Place 3

General election

General election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

J. William Cole (R) won election in the general election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	J. William Cole (R)	97.1	1,077,733
		Other/Write-in votes	2.9%	32,076

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,109,809
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for June 5, 2018, was canceled.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

J. William Cole (R) defeated Donna Beaulieu (R) in the Republican primary for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	J. William Cole	60.2	242,487
		Donna Beaulieu	39.8	160,479

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 402,966
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Place 2

General election

General election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Chris McCool (R) won election in the general election for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris McCool (R)	97.1	1,079,559
		Other/Write-in votes	2.9%	32,504

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,112,063
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary runoff

Republican primary runoff for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Chris McCool (R) defeated Rich Anderson (R) in the Republican primary runoff for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on July 17, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris McCool	55.6	153,773
		Rich Anderson	44.4	122,958

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 276,731
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for June 5, 2018, was canceled.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Chris McCool (R) and Rich Anderson (R) advanced to a runoff. They defeated Dennis O'Dell (R) in the Republican primary for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris McCool	42.6	172,773
✔		Rich Anderson	34.8	141,166
		Dennis O'Dell	22.7	92,019

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 405,958
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Previous election results

2014

Unopposed	Judge Mary Windom (Seat 1)

Unopposed	Judge J. Elizabeth Kellum (Seat 2)

2012

Candidate	Incumbency	Party	Place	Primary Vote	Election Vote
JoinerJ. Michael Joiner   A	Yes	Republican	Place 3		98.24%   A
BurkeLiles Burke   A	Yes	Republican	Place 2		98.23%   A
WelchSamuel Henry Welch   A	Yes	Republican	Place 1		98.22%   A

Ethics

Judges in Alabama must follow the state's Canons of Judicial Ethics. The canons govern the judges' professional conduct.

• Canon 1 - A judge should uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
• Canon 2 - A judge should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all his activities.
• Canon 3 - A judge should perform the duties of his office impartially and diligently.
• Canon 4 - A judge may engage in activities to improve the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice.
• Canon 5 - A judge should regulate his extra-judicial activities to minimize the risk of conflict with his judicial duties.
• Canon 6 - A judge should regularly file reports of his financial interests.
• Canon 7 - A judge or a judicial candidate shall refrain from political activity inappropriate to judicial office.

Removal of judges

In Alabama, judges may be removed:

• by the Court of the Judiciary upon a complaint filed by the Judicial Inquiry Commission.
• by being impeached.

Judicial Inquiry Commission

If a canon of judicial conduct is broken, or a complaint is made suggesting that a canon was not followed, the Judicial Inquiry Commission is charged with investigating. The commission is made up of nine members. According to the Alabama Appellate Courts website, "if a majority of the members of the commission decide that a reasonable basis exists to charge a judge with a violation of any Canon of Judicial Ethics" or other professional wrongdoing, then the commission may file a complaint with the Court of the Judiciary, which will hear the matter.

Court of the Judiciary

This court hears complaints from the Judicial Inquiry Commission against judges. It is composed of nine members. One intermediate appellate court judge, two circuit court judges selected by the Circuit Judges' Association, one district court judge selected by the District Judges' Association, two members of the state bar selected by the bar's governing body, and three non-lawyers appointed by the governor of Alabama. The appointments made by the governor must be confirmed by the Alabama State Senate.

After the court investigates the complaint and holds a public hearing, the court has the ability to:

“

(1) to remove from office, suspend without pay, or censure a judge, or apply such other sanction as may be prescribed by law, for violation of a Canon of Judicial Ethics, misconduct in office, failure to perform his duties, or (2) to suspend with or without pay, or to retire a judge who is physically or mentally unable to perform his duties.

”

Noteworthy cases

• Appeals court tosses murder conviction of man who threw children off bridge	Click for summary→
The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals threw out the 2009 death sentence for Lam Luong, who was convicted of killing four small children and throwing them off a bridge. The court remanded the case for a new trial after determining that the surrounding publicity made a fair trial in Mobile, where the crime took place, impossible. Three of the children were Luong's own: Hannah, age 2; Lindsey, age 1; and Danny, who was four months old. Three-year-old Ryan, Luong's stepson, was also killed. The bodies were found along coasts in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Autopsies indicated that the children were alive when thrown off of the 80-foot Dauphin Island bridge into the Mississippi Sound. According to his wife, Luong was addicted to crack cocaine. The appeals court ruled that Luong received an improper trial since all 12 jurors had prior knowledge of the case. The court stated, “ It is clear that publicity surrounding the murders completely saturated the Mobile community in 2008...Luong was denied his constitutional right to an impartial jury." ” The court explained that Luong's attorneys should have been allowed to question the jurors about their knowledge of the case prior to the trial. Additionally, the court ruled that the trial judge should have allowed a video to be presented to the jury in which a police officer simulated the crime by dropping four sandbags off of the bridge. The trial judge also erred, the court stated, in refusing $7,500 to the defense team to travel to Vietnam, from which Luong had immigrated, to investigate his childhood.

State profile

Demographic data for Alabama
	Alabama	U.S.
Total population:	4,853,875	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	50,645	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	68.8%	73.6%
Black/African American:	26.4%	12.6%
Asian:	1.2%	5.1%
Native American:	0.5%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0.1%	0.2%
Two or more:	1.7%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	4%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	84.3%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	23.5%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$43,623	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	23.3%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Alabama. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Alabama

Alabama voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

More Alabama coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in Alabama
• United States congressional delegations from Alabama
• Public policy in Alabama
• Endorsers in Alabama
• Alabama fact checks
• More...

See also

Alabama	Judicial Selection	More Courts
Courts in Alabama Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Alabama Supreme Court	Elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 Gubernatorial appointments Judicial selection in Alabama	Federal courts State courts Local courts

External links

• Alabama Judicial System, "Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals"

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