MONTGOMERY, Ala. – With the primary elections more than a year away, the state’s premiere agricultural association stepped out early to make it known which justices and judges farmers will back in 2024.
Alabama Farmers Federation’s FarmPAC on Monday endorsed three Supreme Court Justices and five state appeals court judges, all Republican incumbents, for reelection. The jurists are:
- Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell
- Supreme Court Justice Tommy Bryan
- Supreme Court Justice Will Sellers
- Court of Civil Appeals Judge Terry Moore
- Court of Civil Appeals Judge Chad Hanson
- Court of Civil Appeals Judge Christy Edwards
- Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Richard Minor
- Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Bill Cole
“Each of these candidates has demonstrated a respect for the law, strong work ethic and appreciation for the voters they serve,” ALFA President Jim Parnell said in a news release, noting that more than half of Alabama’s appellate judicial seats will be up for election in 2024.
“Millions of dollars will likely be spent to try and change the conservative philosophy of our courts, which has helped Alabama become a place families and businesses want to call home. We are proud to be among the first organizations to endorse justices and judges who are doing a good job for the people of Alabama.”
Five Supreme Court seats are up for election in 2024, including the open seat of Chief Justice Tom Parker, who has aged out of running again under an Alabama law that bars judges over 70 from running. Associate Justice Sarah Stewart is currently running for chief justice. No other candidate has announced for the court’s top spot, though others are expected to join the race.
Stewart’s run for chief has caused a cascade of other court candidates. Criminal Appeals Judge Chris McCool announcing a run for Supreme Court Place 7, then Circuit Judge Bill Filmore and Attorney General’s office lawyer Thomas Govan each announcing their candidacies for McCool’s seat.
Three seats each on the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Court of Civil Appeals are on the 2024 ballot, each with ALFA-backed incumbents.
The 2024 primary is March 5.