Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2

Chris McCool

Party: Republican

Age: 50

Residence: Gordo

Political experience: District Attorney, 24^th Judicial Circuit, 2001-present after successful races in 2004, 2010 and 2016.

Professional experience:  Attorney in the law office of C.O. Burkhalter in Gordo, 1993-1995; assistant district attorney, 24^th Judicial Circuit, 1995-2001; district attorney, 24^th Judicial Circuit, 2001-present; municipal court judge, Reform, (part-time), 1996-2001; municipal court judge, Pickensville, (part-time), 1998-2001; adjunct professor, Trial Advocacy Program, University of Alabama School of Law, 1998-2000; member and former officer, Alabama District Attorneys Association; named Prosecutor of the Year in 2007 by Victims of Crime and Leniency; named Alabama District Attorneys Association District Attorney of the Year in 2007; named Prosecutor of the Year in 2012 by Alabama Forest Owners Association; member, Alabama Supreme Court’s Standing Committee on the Alabama Rules of Evidence, 2010-present; member, Alabama Sentencing Commission, 2012-2013; member, Northern District U.S. Attorney’s Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee; member, Alabama Criminal Warrant and Indictment Committee, 2011-2012.

Civic experience: Pastor, Zion Primitive Baptist Church near Gordo, 2011-present.

Education: Bachelor of arts in history and classics with a concentration in Greek from the University of Alabama, in 1990, summa cum laude; juris doctorate, University of Alabama School of Law in 1993.

Main issues: McCool pointed to his practical trial experience, which he said is a necessity for an appellate judge.

“I am the only candidate in this race who has tried over 50 jury trials as a prosecutor, and hundreds of other cases without a jury.  For over 23 years, I have prosecuted every kind of criminal case, from public corruption to property and drug crimes, and more capital murders than I can count,” McCool said.

McCool promised to bring common sense to the bench.

“I grew up on and now manage my family farm, where I learned the value of hard work and common sense.  Judges need common sense and the ability to fairly judge cases,” he said.

He added, “(A) judge must apply the law and not try to legislate from the bench.  My commitment to the voters it that I will uphold the law, and not be a legislator in a robe.”

Top Contributors: Progress for Justice PAC, $20,000; CANPAC $12,500; Farm PAC, $11,400; Beasley Allen, $10,400; Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, $10,250; Progress PAC $6,000; Cunningham Bound LLC, $9,000; Clatus Junkin PC, $6,000; BIPAC, $5,000; EDPAC, $5,000.

Campaign: https://www.facebook.com/Chris-McCool-for-Court-of-Criminal-Appeals-1292609817533185/