State Supreme Court Chief Justice

 

Tom Parker

Age: 66

Party: Republican

Residence: Montgomery

Political experience: Alabama Supreme Court, 2004 to present.

Professional experience: Justice, Alabama Supreme Court, 2004 to present; deputy administrative director of courts, Alabama Court System; general counsel, Alabama court system; assistant attorney general; partner in Parker & Kotouc, P.C.; founding executive director, Alabama Family Alliance (now the Alabama Policy Institute); founding executive director, Alabama Family Advocates.

Civic experience: member, Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church.

Education: Bachelor’s, Dartmouth College; juris doctorate, Vanderbilt University School of Law; Rotary fellow, University of Sao Paulo School of Law.

Main issues: In an interview for an article that ran in the Montgomery Advertiser, Parker said he wants to be known for adhering to the Constitution. The candidate said, “I’m running for Chief Justice because we are at a pivotal point in America today. I have taken strong stands through my writings and encouraged strong attacks from the left because of that. I have a history of providing the type of new direction, firm direction that will be needed once we get a conservative majority on the Supreme Court.” The candidate also intends to improve funding for   Alabama courts, according to the article. On his campaign site, Parker has criticized “liberal activist judges.” In an article published by ProPublica and The New Republic, he outlined “a path to dismantle Roe v. Wade.” He has also had a long-running dispute with the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has unsuccessfully filed complaints with the state Judicial Inquiry Commission over comments he made about federal court rulings on same-sex marriage.

Top contributors: Progress for Justice PAC, $500,000; Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, $19,750; Farm PAC, $18,500; BIPAC, $15,000; Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff, Brandt PAC $13,500; Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles PC, $10,000; Cunningham Bounds LLC, $10,000; David Marsh, $10,000; Southeast Wood Training LTD, $10,000; Automobile Dealers Associations of Alabama Inc. PAC, $7,500.

Campaign: https://www.parkerforjustice.com