Jefferson County District Court Judge, Place 9

Debra Weston-Pickens

Party: Democrat

Age: 56

Residence: Birmingham

Political experience: First campaign for office.

Professional experience: Managing attorney, Weston-Pickens, LLC, 2007-present; Alabama Regional Managing Counsel, a Chicago-based employment law firm, 2006-2007; Southern Company Services/Alabama Power Company, 1990-2006.

Education: Miles Law School, juris doctorate, 2001; Birmingham Southern College, bachelor’s in human resources management & marketing, 1992; A.H. Parker High School.

Civic experience: Board of directors, Focus on Recovery; past vice president, Jefferson County Department of Human Resources board of directors, appointed by the Birmingham City Council; trained collegiate adviser, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; The Links Inc.; Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, member for over 40 years; former member, Coalition of 100 Black Women.

Main Issues: Weston-Pickens described the attributes she would bring to the bench if elected: “My goal if elected is to follow the letter of the law on crime and sentencing but rule with a firm hand, compassionate heart and common sense,” she said. “I want to make this court more efficient as it relates to docket management and how it affects everyday people having to continue to take off work for such things as traffic violations. Use current pretrial diversion programs to assist with driver’s license restoration, drug and domestic violence cases. Create and implement more court-managed programs and community service programs that can assist citizens and not place them in compromising financial positions but allow them to work toward being productive citizens.”

She also wants to “prioritize DHR elder cases to ensure our elderly citizens are properly cared for and protected from abuse and neglect and ensure that select local municipalities are not unfairly taxing citizens,” she said.

Total campaign contributions: $34,489.

Campaign: Facebook: Debra Weston-Pickens For Judge; http://www.westonpickensforjudge.com/