James R. “Jim” Kramer (R)
Name: James R. “Jim” Kramer
Date of birth: Nov. 12, 1959; age 56
Residence: Alabaster
Political experience: Won election to the district court in 2004 and 2010; ran unsuccessfully for Alabaster mayor, 2000, and Alabaster City Council, 1992.
Professional experience: Shelby County District Court judge, 2004-present; president, Alabama Juvenile Judge’s Association, 2007-2008; child support referee for Shelby County, 2000-2005; contract attorney and guardian ad litem for the Juvenile Court of Shelby County, 1984-2005; prosecutor, city of Calera, 1992-2005; part-time municipal judge, city of Alabaster, 1999-2004; member and past president, Shelby County Bar Association; member, Alabama Bar Association; member, National Association of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; member, National Association of Drug Court Professionals; member, state Joint Committee of Juvenile Judges and Probate Judges; past member, state Committee to Expedite Appeals in Juvenile Court Cases.
Civic experience: Member, Buck Creek Masonic Lodge; member, Scottish Rite; past member, The Shriners; member and two-time trustee, First Baptist Church of Alabaster; chairman, county Children’s Policy Council; chairman, Shelby County Drug-Free Coalition.
Education: University of Montevallo, bachelor’s, 1981; Cumberland School of Law, juris doctorate, 1984.
Top Contributors: Phillip Bahakel, $500; J. Welborn and Associates, $500; Kenneth Varley, $500.
Qualifications: Kramer, the incumbent judge, said he found his life’s “calling and passion” in his first case as a member of the Alabama Bar – a juvenile court case. He now has 31 years of service in juvenile court, more than a decade as juvenile court judge. Kramer also pointed to his hundreds of hours of continuing education and training in juvenile and family law, including teaching continuing legal education courses in state and federal juvenile and family law and procedures. He said he invests the time and effort necessary to ensure a just result in his cases.
Campaign: http://KeepJudgeKramer2016.com/
