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

Robert Willson Jenkins Jr.

Today begins a three part series on the nominees to succeed Lauderdale Circuit Court Judge Mike Suttle.

Robert Willson Jenkins Jr. is a personal injury attorney practicing in downtown Florence. A partner in the firm of Jester & Jenkins P.C., Jenkins resides with his wife Bonnie in the Wildwood Park area of North Florence. Jenkins was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 31, 1962, and graduated with a bachelor's degree from Birmingham Southern College in 1985. In 1988, he received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama.

Besides his law practice, Jenkins is an adjunct at the University of North Alabama where he works with the Paralegal Program. The local attorney is also an avid sailor, serving as the Commodore of the Muscle Shoals Sailing Club and Secretary of the Dixie Inland Yacht Racing Association.

Martindale ranks Jenkins with a visibility factor of 13 out of 113 practicing attorneys in the city of Florence, making him no stranger to high profile cases. In 1994, Jenkins represented local businessman Keith Varner in his divorce from wife and business partner Ann P. Varner (for those interested in this case, it can be easily Googled for more information). In 2007, Jenkins represented real estate developer Jimmy Neese in his effort to secure forgiveness for over $600,000.00 in loans from the city of Florence.

Willson Jenkins is one of three candidates to be chosen from an initial field of seven. Retired Judge Leslie Johnson has assured the public that the vetting process was both strenuous and bipartisan. Every citizen concerned with the future of the court system in Lauderdale County needs to familiarize themselves with these candidates and make their opinions known to Gov. Bob Riley as soon as possible.


Tomorrow: Gilbert Self