Another Take on Gil's Big Day

 

From a Lauderdale County observer:

Gil Self spends his days on expensive and private golf courses, Robert Trent Jones and Turtle Point with a couple of local attorneys and a local judge. He  can certainly afford the lavish lifestyle since he is on paid leave and draws his fat check and benefits while the taxpayers foot the bill. It would behoove him to milk his gravy train as long as he can even if he conveniently gets sick on June 3rd and can't be in court.

Will Judge Tim Jolley give a tough sentence to the guilty thief that should have certainly known the law - after all Gil Self was an attorney and judge. Says a lot about the caliber of people we have to choose from in judge's campaigns.

How many more do we have on the bench in Lauderdale County (AND Colbert County) that are pulling backroom deals like Gil did?

All eyes will be on Judge Jolley. Can the fraternal order of lawyers and judges be broken?

June 3rd will tell if there is any possibility at all. Meanwhile, Gil Self plays and drinks in style on private country club greens.

Will Gil Self Take a Plea on Tuesday...or Ever?

 

In March, a pre-trial hearing was scheduled for June 3rd for Circuit Judge Gilbert P. Self. This is hardly unusual. One of the judge's critics is not happy that the presiding judge Tim Jolley instructed the attorneys in the case to work out a settlement to be presented at this time. That's hardly unusual either. Jolley has stated that if Self doesn't take whatever settlement that has been wheedled out, he will not allow a later plea from the Lauderdale judge. In other words, it's either the June 3rd settlement or a nasty court battle over kitty litter, among other strange expenses.

If you're unfamiliar with the shenanigans involved, here's a rundown:

Judge Gilbert P. Self has been a prominent figure in Lauderdale County's legal landscape for over a decade, serving as a Circuit Judge in the 11th Judicial Circuit of Alabama. His tenure, which began with a gubernatorial appointment, has seen him preside over a range of cases. However, his career has recently been overshadowed by a significant legal challenge involving multiple felony charges.

Born and raised in Alabama, Judge Self is an alumnus of Auburn University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1985. He then pursued his legal education at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law, obtaining his Juris Doctor in 1988. Prior to his judicial career, Self was engaged in private practice with the firm Self, Smith, & Burdine.

His transition to the judiciary occurred in 2009 when then-Governor Bob Riley appointed him to fill a vacancy on the 11th Circuit Court. Judge Self subsequently won a full six-year term in the 2010 general election, running as a Democrat. He was later re-elected in 2016, this time as a Republican, and ran unopposed.

Throughout his time on the bench, Judge Self has handled a variety of civil and criminal matters that come before the Circuit Court. As Presiding Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit since April 2020, he also had administrative responsibilities for the local court system.

However, in January 2024, Judge Self faced a turning point in his career when he was indicted on multiple felony charges. The indictment, brought forth by the Alabama Attorney General's Office, includes allegations of using his office for personal gain, making false representations to state auditors, and perjury.

The charges stem from an audit of the Lauderdale County Presiding Judge's Judicial Administration Fund and the Law Library Fund. Investigators allege that between April 2020 and February 2023, Judge Self misused public funds for personal expenses, including travel, a sofa, alcoholic beverages, and eyeglasses. He is also accused of using over $50,000 of public funds to employ his son.

In response to the allegations, Judge Self has acknowledged that "honest but correctable mistakes" were made in the accounts he managed, particularly during the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic and while the court system was understaffed. He has stated that he never intended to violate any law and that Lauderdale County is not out any money, with the funds in question reportedly remaining in the accounts or having been repaid. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Alabama Supreme Court appointed retired Marshall County Circuit Judge Tim Jolley to preside over Judge Self's case to avoid any potential conflicts of interest. A pre-trial conference and a potential settlement hearing have been subjects of ongoing legal proceedings.

The developments surrounding Judge Self's indictment have sent ripples through the Alabama legal community and are being closely watched in Lauderdale County. The case highlights the scrutiny faced by public officials and the legal processes in place to address allegations of misconduct. As the legal proceedings continue, the focus remains on the resolution of these serious charges against a long-serving member of the Alabama judiciary.

As the day of reckoning approaches, Self's critic has opined: Is this plea deal allowing him to walk?? He admitted to guilt and lied to grand jury. Him paying the money back is irrelevant. Lauderdale County should be aware of this happening Tuesday June 3, 2025. Judge Jolley needs to uphold the law. You agree?

Our take? Self would be extremely foolish not to take whatever plea is offered. Surely he doesn't want to risk facing a jury possibly composed of 12 individuals who feel as our reader does.

Self Says Jamy Poss Told Him It Was All Right

 

One of the most damning charges against Lauderdale County Circuit Judge Gil Self is hiring his son as a law clerk. The County paid the younger Self over 50K for the work he did with the approval of local attorney Jamy Poss who served on the law library board.

Yet according to newly released court documents, last September Self testified that he hadn't asked anyone for approval. So which is it?

As of now, there's no trial date set for Self. All his cases have been assigned to others, but Lauderdale's trial docket has to have been dramatically slowed.

Readers frequently ask us why this or that defendant hasn't come to trial. Obviously, those seeking justice will have a much longer wait.

Gil Self's Sofa Problem

 

Yesterday, we asked about a photo of a sofa. If you haven't guessed, the citizens of Lauderdale County originally paid for this item of furniture:

The item pictured above is a Southern Motion Pandora Double Reclining Console Sofa. We really love what appears to be lumbar supports; we're just not sure how this qualifies as a judicial expense. Actually, Judge Self has now repaid the taxpayers of Lauderdale County for the double recliner. If you would like one for your home, it's only 2K at Wayfair. 

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Policy on Our Reporting of Crimes: If a person is out of the system, we do not mention a past criminal action or conviction. Out of the system means not incarcerated, not on probation, or not on parole. 

However, if a person was arrested or convicted ten or 20 years ago and has a new crime, we will mention this person's past experience. This question arose concerning a county deputy who committed a misdemeanor and had a past incident on his record. We hope that clears this up for anyone questioning a recent Hidden Shoals blog.

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For Those Choosing What To Support In Life

Attorney White Attempts to Drag in Judges Graves & Powell

 

J. Mark White is a Birmingham area attorney and one of two lawyers representing Judge Gil Self, currently under indictment on 18 charges in Lauderdale County. In a public statement concerning his client, White proclaimed:

"Judge Self, along with Judge Graves and Judge Powell, implemented improvements to the accounting and recordkeeping practices for the accounts at issue to prevent reoccurrence."

You notice how White just, oh, so casually threw in the names of Will Powell and Ben Graves. No, they were not involved in the alleged activities of Gil Self. They were not responsible for Self's actions. The State Board of Examiners had nothing derogatory to say about their expense reports. Yet, White makes it seem as if the two had problems correctly listing expenses as well.

Yes, we're sure White would like prospective jurors to blame record-keeping practices for any irregularities in Judge Self's books. Yet, these same practices didn't seem to affect the records of the other two circuit judges. 

It will be an interesting trial...

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Who Knows What This Is?

Golfing His Troubles Away

 

Some of our legal eagle friends saw Judge Gil Self playing golf immediately after bonding out of the Lauderdale County Detention Center on Monday. We don't know if this denotes innocence or a fatalist attitude toward the outcome of his legal woes.

Below are two screenshots from the Examiners' report indicating county money spent in undocumented fashion:

Click to enlarge

* As noted, these undocumented expenses have been repaid.

Guns, Furniture, Eye Glasses, &...Kitty Litter!

 

According to Attorney General Steve Marshall, he bought guns, eye glasses, kitty litter, and a sofa...plus "many others." Besides illegal purchases, the Lauderdale County judge is also accused of receiving reimbursement for work trips he never took and illegally hiring his son as a law clerk. 

Yes, the AG says Judge Gilbert Porterfield Self has been a bad boy. We couldn't help but notice that this behavior seems to have started during the illness and death of his brother Hank, also a Florence attorney.

We had heard there would be 17 counts handed down by the grand jury. In actuality, there were 18. The State added one count of lying to the grand jury. Picky, weren't they? 

So what now? Judge Self, 61, faces up to 30 years in prison. Remember Limestone Judge Donald Patterson? He's currently serving a mere four years in actual confinement. We suspect Self will similarly snag a plea deal...but how many actual years?

Will Self now surrender his law license and position on the bench? If he follows Patterson's lead, he won't. Hold on, we said it would be a bumpy ride.

Judge Gilbert Self Indicted & Arrested

 

Judge Gilbert Porterfield Self was first appointed to the bench in Lauderdale County in 2009, then elected. Last October, his judicial accounts were audited for the past four years. The audit didn't go well when it was determined personal items, including guns and kitty litter, were charged to public funds.

Last week, Judge Self was indicted by a Lauderdale County grand jury. This morning, Self turned himself in to the sheriff's office. Per Vinelink, the 61 year-old Self is now out of custody.

Self's record had previously been scrutinized in 2010 when he ran for the judgeship against Janice Keeton. It was widely reported that he had been arrested on a drug charge during law school in Birmingham while he was in his 20s. More recently, Self went through a divorce while in office and had married a second time, personal offenses that are often the kiss of death for many politicians in a conservative state.

This is a developing story, and we'll comment on new details if they become available. 

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Hi, I'm Eli, a seven year-old German Shepherd mix. I have a lot of years and a lot of love left to give. Come see me at the Florence animal shelter in the industrial park:

How Much to Move Tony Logan Trial?

Judge Gil Self has now ruled on a change of venue for Tony Logan's Circuit Court DUI trial; however, the site has yet to be selected. Just how much will it cost the taxpayers of Lauderdale County? Remember, this is originally a Florence Municipal case that has been appealed to circuit court. Citizens of Florence have already paid for the Tuscumbia chief's first trial, albeit a short one.

Sources with the court system indicate that for a change of venue to be effective it would require a location far away enough from the Shoals to preclude most participants from driving each day, assuming the trial lasts over one day--and it has been predicted that it will.

Lauderdale County would be responsible for travel, food, and lodging for the judge, prosecutor, investigator(s), and witnesses. It could also be responsible for providing an extra suite or similar rented facility for the prosecution to work on the case after the courthouse closes. Our source stated that if the prosecution calls enough witnesses, the charges could reach 5K a day.

One would think the trial would not last over two days, but many of those involved would also need to remain during the jury deliberations. So, just how much are we looking at? Expenses over 10K would not be unheard of for such a trial, although we hope they would be considerably less. If Logan were proclaiming his innocence, we could understand his need for vindication, but an appeal over a technicality? Tuscumbia seems intent on keeping Logan as chief no matter the outcome; does this mean Tony Logan himself is preparing to change jobs and wishes to have an unencumbered record?

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We have an addendum from Tiffany Potts Evans whom we featured yesterday:

Also let me add the vote to see if such and such is going to hell is only to see if their crime is hell-worthy and is more symbolic than anything. We do know that we can't send anyone to hell. Sorry about forgetting that but it is important because a lot of people tell us who are you to judge? We are just judging if your crime is hell-worthy or not.



Shoalanda

Gil Self - A Compassionate Judge

While we supported James Hall II in his quest to succeed retiring Lauderdale County Circuit Court Judge Mike Suttle, we certainly feel that Gilbert Self has added much to the role, especially the quality of compassion that many felt had been lacking in the office.

Now, Gil Self will face Florence attorney Janice Keeton in June as he attempts to win the Democratic nomination. How does he stack up against Keeton? Both would seem to have equal amounts of education and integrity; how should the voter choose? Since no Republicans qualified for this office, the primary will decide the winner and, perhaps, who will hold the judgeship for many years to come.

There are two fundamental differences in these opponents, one more easily quantified than the other. Gil Self has more experience in the legal realm than Keeton. If experience is all that matters to the voter, the choice would be obvious. If necessity is the mother of invention, the drive to do more and to do it better would certainly be its father.

No one can deny that the local court systems are underfunded and usually backed up. Lauderdale County has managed to hold its own until now, but every day brings new warnings of budget cuts and what the residents of this state may expect. We need someone with drive and determination to improve our court system. We believe that someone is Janice Keeton. We wholeheartedly endorse her for Lauderdale Circuit Court Judge Place 3.

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Yesterday's blog referenced misconceptions concerning Mrs. Keeton. Apparently these misconceptions, some perhaps more properly deemed something more sinister, also include her relationship to Christopher Rich. Keeton is not Rich's aunt as widely reported on the TimesDaily and another local forum. Rich is a first cousin once-removed to Mrs. Keeton's husband. We regret this confusion and hope this correction demonstrates even more clearly why she in no way should be held responsible for the actions of another individual.

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A reader has sent us a link to one other reference to the American Cancer Assistance organization. The group was chartered in Tennessee this past March. We look forward to bringing you more information about this charity in the future.


Shoalanda

Janice Keeton Has a Fan Club...

Janice A. Keeton wants to become the first woman elected to the position of Circuit Court Judge in Lauderdale County. If the amount of e-mail we have received concerning the Florence attorney is any indication, she will certainly garner a large share of the votes in the Democratic primary.

Keeton, a 1974 graduate of Muscle Shoals High School, worked for 16 years as a legal secretary before obtaining her juris doctorate degree in 2003. She is also a graduate of Faulkner University and the Birmingham School of Law. After passing the bar exam, Keeton went to work as an associate in the office of her former boss, Florence attorney Cliff Wright. She and her husband Jimmy reside in the Zip City community in northern Lauderdale County.

Recently, Keeton applied to succeed Circuit Court Judge Mike Suttle, but failed to make the selection committee's short list. She will face Gov. Bob Riley's appointee Gil Self in the June 2010 primary. We wish Mrs. Keeton well in her race; however, we have been told by those in the know that Mr. Wright's law practice may very well implode without his junior partner's wit, wisdom, and organizational skills.

Good luck, Janice. We hope to hear more good things from you before the primary.


What's up with this: The ShoalsInsider weekly poll is now featuring candidates in Colbert County's District Court race. Tina Miller Parker is currently in the lead, with Polly Ruggles trailing the pack. We encourage everyone to visit this site and vote for the individual whom you believe will best serve Colbert County.

Shoalanda

You Said What on MySpace?

You may remember our January 17, 2009, blog featuring North Alabama photographer Mark Davis. Davis has been campaigning for his custodial rights in Lauderdale Circuit Judge Mike Suttle's court for some time. Suttle recently retired, succeeded by Gilbert P. Self; however, Davis still maintains his website, Why, Judge Suttle?, linked at the left of this column.

Mark frequently forwards items of interest to us, and this one is sure to strike a cord with many. Has your ex dissed you in his/her social networking site? If so, now you can have your say. It seems that Time Magazine wants to hear your horror stories:

"I need to talk to anyone who had been burned by something they wrote or their spouse put on a social networking site by Wednesday. (May 27) Or, if they worked out a social networking policy with their exes in advance that would also be interesting. Have them email me at Belinda_Luscombe@timemagazine.com"

Should Time not use your war stories for its article, send them to us. What's romance if not politics with more than a touch of emotion added?


Reminder: Tomorrow is Memorial Day. Fly your flag. Remember those who have paid the supreme price for our freedom.

Gilbert Porterfield Self

This is part two of a three part series on the nominees to succeed Lauderdale Circuit Court Judge Mike Suttle.

Gilbert P. Self is a Florence attorney and senior partner in the firm of Self, Smith, and Burdine. Born in Florence on January 25, 1963, Self is the younger brother of Florence attorney Henry Self Jr. and the son of the late Henry Harold Self, former UNA athletic director and one-time member of the Florence City Commission, and his wife Shirley.

Self graduated from Auburn with a B.S. in 1985 and obtained his Juris Doctorate in 1988 from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham. Self specializes in personal injury and other civil cases and is noted as a long distance runner. He and his wife Cheri live in Florence.

It's been reported that Gil Self was the first attorney to actively seek this appointment. Martindale ranks him 18 out of 113 in its visibility rankings.

Correction: Willson Jenkins represented Ann P. Varner, not Keith, in their 1994 divorce trial.

Addendum: We have received an extremely cordial e-mail from Mr. Jenkins. He would like for us to add that he did not actually represent Jimmy Neese in a law suit concerning the non-payment of loans to the City of Florence, since these loans were non-recourse in type and a lawsuit could not have been filed legally. I will also inject that Mr. Jenkins both lives and practices within the city limits of Florence, so he is also a victim of this default.


Tomorrow: James Hall II