Birmingham, AL -- On Monday, February 8, Jefferson County voters will have the opportunity to hear from Circuit and District Court judicial candidates vying for their vote in the March 1 party primary elections and in the general election on November 8.  The nonpartisan forum is sponsored by the Education Fund of the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham (LWVGB) and the Upsilon Eta Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA). The  forum is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Birmingham Central Library at 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL  35203.

Birmingham League President Ida Tyree-Hyche, Esq. stated, "The way in which a judge interprets the law and the decisions that they make influence our daily lives, and yet many do not know enough about these candidates. We are honored to join with the Upsilon Eta Omega Chapter of the AKA Sorority to sponsor this nonpartisan judicial candidate forum.  We do not advocate or oppose any political candidate or party. Our purpose is to increase citizen interest and involvement in judicial elections. We want the voters of Jefferson County to be informed about the candidates' experience and qualifications and to give the voters some insight on the judicial demeanor that each candidate would bring to the bench." She added, "We will ask only questions that are appropriate for judicial candidates, questions that will not violate the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics."

Statements by the candidates in this forum are expected to be fact-based and less contentious than in many election-year events because the candidates are required to abide by Alabama's Canon 7 of the Canons of Judicial EthicsI at http://judicial.alabama.gov/library/rules/can7.pdf. In summary, it requires that, "A judge or a judicial candidate shall refrain from political activity inappropriate to judicial office." This means that judicial candidates cannot promise anything except the "impartial performance of the duties of the office... [A candidate] shall not announce in advance the candidate’s conclusions of law on pending litigation." Judicial candidates are further required to be truthful about who they are and their qualifications for the judiciary. Candidates may not distribute any false information concerning themselves or an opponent. These requirements of Canon 7 apply to all candidates for judgeships in Alabama, regardless of whether the person is an incumbent or a non-incumbent candidate.

Alabama is one of eight states that selects judges through partisan elections at all trial court levels. Jefferson County is designated as the 10th Judicial Circuit  in the Alabama Unified Court System.

Citizens are invited to attend this forum to meet and listen to the candidates for Jefferson County Circuit and District Court so that they can make a better informed decision when they go to the polls on March 1 and on November 8. More information about this forum is available on the LWVGB web site at www.lwvgb.org or by calling 205 583-5000.


League of Women Voters Education Fund Mission Statement: “The League of Women Voters, a
nonpartisan political organization, is to provide funding for projects designed to inform and educate citizens on issues of government and public policy in order to facilitate their active and informed participation in government.”
 
If you do not wish to receive LWVGB press releases or announcements, please notify Jean Johnson at
jjohnson@lwvgb.org or contact the League at 205 583-5000. 

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