Jackson Jambalaya

Sour grapes. He tried he best - and the best of his friends - to get the appointment to the COA. Was passed over by another good, qualified individual. Guess this just goes to show that judges, even good judges, are all about politics.

He is already a great Judge with a experience.

Glad to see him run for this office.

Didn't say he wasn't a great judge. Didn't mean at all to imply otherwise. But also is his opponent, the incumbent.

Two words: Daniel Soto

What on earth are you talking about 3:14?

Hannan would be a lot better suited for the Court of Affirms than Jack Wilson. Wilson, a Harvard Law grad, is probably smart as a whip, but he has no real experience practicing law (which is important for judges) and has NO experience in the sorts of cases which regularly come before the COA. The COA handles criminal appeals, post-conviction relief matters, domestic relations, workers comp. cases, and other dregs of the legal system. Wilson practiced briefly with Bradley Arant doing whatever it is that regional firms do and then spent several years as counsel to Governor Bryant (who appointed him) before returning to Bradley Arant. The guy's smart, but Hannan has been on the bench for years routinely adjudicating the sorts of cases heard by the COA. He would bring knowledge and practical experience to that Court, which decides the lion's share of appeals in this state.

The governor's appointment of Jack Wilson is much like the appointment of Will Longwitz, political appointments that have nothing to do with qualifications. Wilson is more qualified than Longwitz but neither was a good choice.

It has often been proven that appealate judges that did not come from a bench below were much better at that level than those that moved up the ladder. Or that judges that came from a prosecution background was better than one from a more general practice. Examples of both are numerous. For every good appealate judge you can name that moved up from a lower court, I can give you two examples of judges that did not.

Also, though, there are plenty of examples the other direction - less than good judges that didn't come up the ladder.

All this proves is that having been on the bench vs not having been on a bench is not in and of itself a determinate of which candidate would make the better appeals court judge. In the case at hand, Wilson has proven himself to be an excellent COA judge during his time on the bench. This can be attributed to many possible reasons - but probably because he has a good judicial temperment, smart as a whip, and not bringing along baggage or opinions from a lower bench. Not to say that any of this would not apply to Hannan - just that 4:53's analysis has (at least a small) degree of prejudice included.

"doing whatever it is that regional firms do..."

What a goober

Then there's always that guy popping up who fantasizes about Daniel Soto. Hell, get some chips and a tube of hand lotion.

You must be living in Gene's cubby 7:24. The prob about Soto is truth and the faulty leadership chain. NOT your fiction. PROVE OTHERWISE.

4:53 please stop. The COA handles every type of case there is. County Courts handle zero domestic relations and, outside of very limited circumstances, no felonies. County Courts handle criminal appeals of misdemeanors from lower courts, i.e. Justice Courts or municipal courts, and civil matters that have too high a threshold for Justice Court and too low for Circuit Court, and preliminary hearings on felonies. I hope he wins so he can do less damage than he does now.

Wilson is doing a very good job. When he does dissent, he writes an opinion, which is important. Not every appellate judge does that. It gives lawyers, particularly those on the losing side if they are going to take it one step further to the Supreme Court, an idea of why and to what extent he agreed with the losing side or why he departed from the majority. It helps develop the debates in case law on close issues. I wish all judges were as conscientious. Most judges dissent with no written explanation.

@4:53 - love your logic. Your guy handles, as you say, the "dredges of the legal system" so therefore he is qualified to jump to the COA. Wilson has proven himself as not only a smart Judge, but also one that handles himself on and off the bench as one should in that role. Anyone who has dealt with the COA since his appearance on George Street has nothing but positive comments on his handling of the job. And - much more intelligence needed than to work with the leftovers from Justice Court.

Read Judge Hannan's bio above. He has served as a special Circuit Judge and also an acting Circuit Judge. Jack Wilson is lacking in experience in comparison to the above.
Bottom line is, Jack Wilsons appointment was completely political! He only bought a house in the district on June 12, 2015, with the help of his father, and was appointed by the Governor on June 16, 2015. That's political payback if I've ever seen it!
It's obvious who the best man for this position is and it's not for political reasons!!
Deed info courtesy of Madison county website... madison-co.com

10:17, honestly we would all better off with appointed judges rather than elected judges. This case is a perfect illustration.

All right, get back on topic. No more Soto comments.

Hopefully Wilson is more competent than most of the Governors appointments including those where he strong armed at the county level.

@10:17 - that's when Wilson bought his house in Madison County. That's absolutely no basis for your accusation of moving in the district. Where do you think he was living before your date?