The following announcement was submitted through the Alabama Press Association.
Judge Bob Vance announced his campaign for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court this afternoon. The election will take place in November 2018.
Judge Vance has been a Circuit Judge in Jefferson County for 15 years. This is his second run for Chief Justice. In 2012, he narrowly lost to former Chief Justice Roy Moore.
“Earlier today,” said Judge Vance, “I filed to qualify as a Democratic candidate for the Office of Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. As a Circuit Judge for the past 15 years, I have a profound respect for our courts and for those in our judicial system who work hard to help the people of Alabama. Unfortunately, our courts face continuing and profound challenges. Funding is a significant problem and our courts struggle to deliver necessary services with uncertain and often inadequate resources. The challenges our society faces – from domestic abuse and violence, to the opioid epidemic, to the costly and ineffective revolving door that our prisons have become – loom large in the cases that come before our judges. I’m running because I want to support the integrity of our judicial system and help Alabama overcome these challenges.”
“The Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court must be a leader who can ensure we all work together as a team. As Chief Justice, I would establish partnerships with our judges across the State and with others in our court system. We must have that partnership to make certain that we obtain the resources we need to tackle these problems effectively, while always acting as good stewards of public resources.
There are no easy solutions and no quick fixes. Solving our problems will require determination, persistence and grit. As Chief Justice I will be committed to this endeavor every single day. I’m asking the people of Alabama to give me the opportunity to commit to this important work and for their support in my campaign.
Interested parties can learn more about by visiting the http://www.judgebobvance.com
Judge Vance has been married for 29 years. He and his wife, Joyce, live in Birmingham and have four children.