NOTE:  The Birmingham Bar Association has created this page to assist the Jefferson County Judicial Commission in its work to identify appropriate candidates for judicial vacancies.  This page is provided for the public and can be shared with anyone. The Birmingham Bar Association does not participate in the Judicial Commission's process other than as directed by Amendment 83 of the Alabama Constitution and to provide information to facilitate public awareness at the request of the Judicial Commission.

About the Jefferson County Commission

The Jefferson County Judicial Commission was created by the Alabama Legislature in the 1950s to assist the Governor in making appointments to fill judicial vacancies occurring in the Birmingham Division of Jefferson County, Alabama. The Judicial Commission solicits applications from interested candidates and nominates to the Governor of Alabama three (3) names of persons having appropriate qualifications for a judgeship.

Per Amendment 83 of the Alabama Constitution, the composition of the Judicial Commission includes one (1) Judge who serves as Chairperson and who is elected to said position by the Judges of the Birmingham Division of Jefferson County, two (2) persons who are members of the Alabama State Bar and who are elected by its members, and two (2) persons who are not members of the Alabama State Bar, who are selected by the Alabama Senate and House Delegation on a rotating basis. All members of the Judicial Commission must reside in the territorial jurisdiction of the circuit court holding in Birmingham.  Amendment 83 of the Alabama Constitution (available here) directs the Birmingham Bar Association's governing board to promulgate rules regarding the election of the two (2) members of the Commission who are members of the Alabama State Bar. The Application for Judicial Candidates is available here. 

The Current Judicial Commission members are:
Honorable Circuit Court Judge Shanta Owens, Chairperson; G. Courtney French, Esq.; John A. Smyth, III, Esq.; Mr. Bobby Humphrey; and Mr. John J. McMahon, III. 

Public Comment
The Judicial Commission actively encourages and solicits comments from the public at large concerning any candidate for judicial office and his or her respective qualifications for judicial office. The names of the applicants are made available to the public as deemed appropriate by the Judicial Commission. To contact the Judicial Commission directly, please email JeffCoNominatingCommission@gmail.com.