Who Were the Other Four?

Retired judge Leslie Johnson has announced his selection committee's choice of three applicants to replace retiring Judge Ned Suttle. The three whose names will be forwarded to Gov. Bob Riley are James Hall II, Willson Jenkins, and Gilbert Self.

The missing pieces of the puzzle are the names of the four applicants that were cast aside. It had been rumored that Billy Jackson, a former Lauderdale District Attorney and a member of the Republican Party, had offered his name for consideration. While Johnson's remarks concerning the bi-partisan selection of the applicants sound noble on the surface, we must remember that party affiliation is hardly a secret here in the Shoals.

Hall is the only one of the three finalists to have judicial experience, something he was quick to point out in a TimesDaily interview. Should Hall be selected over the other two applicants, both known for their work in civil litigation, he will not be the first to use the Florence Municipal judgeship as a stepping stone to Lauderdale Circuit Court.

Obviously one must wonder why the names of the four also-rans are shrouded in secrecy. After all, it was a fair and unbiased decision, wasn't it?


What's up with this: For those who might not remember, Willson Jenkins was one of the attorneys who represented Jimmy Neese in his quest to avoid repayment of loans owed the City of Florence.

Sixty Days without a Judge

When George Wallace appointee Judge Mike Suttle retires on January 31, it may be as long as two months before his replacement is announced. Lauderdale County already has a backlog of cases, making a prompt decision not only desirable, but necessary.

Today is the deadline for applicants to file with the selection committee, headed by retired Judge Leslie Johnson. The committee will have until March 1 to send its recommendation of three names to Gov. Bob Riley. Riley will then have an additional 30 days to pick among the three finalists, making it a distinct possibility that Lauderdale County will be minus one Circuit Judge until March 31.

The TimesDaily has reported only one applicant as of a week ago, and Judge Suttle's staff offered no comment when we contacted his office for an update. This is the first instance of Lauderdale County utilizing such a strenuous vetting process, with thorough background checks for all applicants. Perhaps this has deterred some from applying despite the lucrative salary.

Once the commission releases the names of applicants for the position, all citizens of Lauderdale County should feel not only free, but obligated to contribute to this selection process. Perhaps one impediment to citizens' participation in county government is outdated information posted on Lauderdale websites: http://lauderdalecountyonline.com/Directory/index.html

If we do not hold our elected officials accountable, no one will. Take the time to make your opinions known.


What's up with this: Judging from the Lauderdale County website referenced above, the county webmaster has been on holiday for some time.