Former Alabama state senator and chief legal advisor to Governor Kay Ivey, Bryan Taylor, has declared his intention to run for chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in the upcoming election. The current chief justice, Tom Parker, is ineligible to seek re-election due to age restrictions imposed by Alabama law.
In his announcement, Taylor emphasized his diverse legal and governmental background as key qualifications for the position. He highlighted his experience as an attorney, a judge advocate general (JAG) officer in the Army, and his service in both the executive and legislative branches of Alabama's state government. He believes this broad perspective will be a valuable asset to the state's judicial system.
The chief justice of Alabama presides over the state's highest court and also holds the responsibility of administering the entire state court system.
Taylor's political career includes a term in the Alabama Senate, beginning in 2010. He is particularly recognized for his role in drafting a revised ethics law for the state, which subsequently played a significant role in the prosecution of former House Speaker Mike Hubbard. Taylor chose not to pursue re-election to the Senate in 2014.
Prior to his time in the Senate, Taylor served as a legal advisor and policy director for Governor Bob Riley. He later held the position of chief legal advisor to Governor Ivey.
Taylor's military service includes a tour of duty in Iraq as a military prosecutor and lawyer with the Army JAG Corps. A recipient of the Bronze Star Medal, he continues to serve in the Alabama National Guard. Most recently, he held the position of deputy legal counsel for legislative affairs for the Alabama Republican Party, a role he is leaving to focus on his judicial campaign.
