Birmingham, Alabama -- On Monday, October 8, Jefferson County voters will have the opportunity to hear from Circuit and District Court judicial candidates vying for their vote in the November 6 general election. 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-UEO). The forum is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Gardendale Civic Center, 857 Main St., Gardendale, AL  35071. This judicial forum is a free event open to the public.

Birmingham League President Leonette Slay stated, "Judges interpret the law and these decisions can influence our daily lives. Yet many voters do not know about the candidates who would sit on the court. As has been our guiding principle for 98 years, the League of Women Voters does 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 continued, "We are honored to join with the Upsilon Eta Omega Chapter of the AKA Sorority to sponsor this forum. AKA-UEO is also committed to informing Jefferson County voters about their judicial candidates in a nonpartisan manner."

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 Canons of Judicial Ethics. This means that judicial candidates can only promise the "impartial performance of the duties of the office... [and] shall not announce in advance the candidate’s conclusions of law on pending litigation." Judicial candidates must be truthful about who they are and their qualifications for the judiciary.

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 November 6. More information about this forum is available on the LWVGB web site at www.lwvgb.org or the AKA-UEO website at www.upsilonetaomega.com 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.”
 
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jjohnson@lwvgb.org or contact the League at 205 583-5000. 

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