Judge Bob Vance has been a civil circuit judge in Jefferson County since 2002. This year he’s trying for a second time to become the head of Alabama’s court system. Vance is the Democratic nominee for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. He faces current Supreme Court Associate Justice Republican Tom Parker in November. Vance spoke with WBHM’s Andrew Yeager.
Interview Highlights
Addressing the opioid epidemic:
“The problems that we’re talking about of course extend far beyond the courts … But I do think the courts play an important role in addressing the matter to the extent that we can build upon our existing efforts such as drug court and mental health court. And the data show that these efforts work. It’s just a matter of expanding where we can and focusing more and more on actually providing treatment rather than simply convicting and incarcerating people.”
Funding of state courts:
“That funding level has been basically flat while the demands on it have grown. I make clear to folks on the campaign trail I have no magic wand. All I can do is make clear my commitment as chief justice to work with the legislature, roll my sleeves up, and really get at the hard process of getting every dime we can for the courts to make sure we can do whatever is possible in dealing with these kinds of issues.”
Partisanship and the courts:
“Yes, we have to run on a partisan basis but once we judges step into the courthouse, politics has no place … I’ve worked with judges Democrat and Republican. And I’ve got good friends in both parties. There’s never been a whiff of problem or trouble arising out of partisan politics. Not once.”
Hear the full conversation with Judge Vance:
WBHM has invited Vance’s Republican opponent, Justice Tom Parker, for an interview. His campaign has declined.
Mark Pettway begins his job as Jefferson County sheriff today. He’s the first African American to hold that post after defeating longtime Republican Sheriff Mike Hale in November. One of his priorities is to hire and promote more women and minorities in law enforcement.
Sheila Tyson and Lashunda Scales were sworn into office as Jefferson County commissioners Wednesday, along with Steve Ammons, a former Vestavia Hills City Council member. Tyson and Scales are Democrats; Ammons is a Republican. The Republican majority continues on the commission with incumbents Jimmie Stephens and Joe Knight.
Jefferson County’s first black sheriff and district attorney were swept into office Tuesday on a wave of Democratic straight-ticket voting.
Democrats across the country took the House and flipped several governorships during the midterms. It was a different story in Alabama. Democrats here lost every statewide race, and they lost five statehouse seats to Republicans. Recent news reports say the Alabama Democratic Party sat on hundreds of thousands of dollars -- money candidates say could have been used toward their campaigns. Many Alabama Democratic candidates blame their poor performance on the lack of support from the state Party.
The day after the 2018 midterms, Jeff Sessions has resigned as attorney general. In a letter to President Trump, Sessions told the president that he is stepping down “at your request.”
Republicans left no doubt about their dominance of Alabama politics Tuesday. Republican incumbent Governor Kay Ivey turned back a challenge from Democrat Walt Maddox. The Republicans kept all statewide offices and won all contested congressional races in Alabama.
