1 League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham Decision 2018: An Election Year Discussion Leonette W. Slay, President Ida Tyree Hyche, Esq., Forum Coordinator 2 CANDIDATES’ BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION Teresa T. Pulliam For Circuit Court Place 16 Judge Teresa T. Pulliam is a Circuit Court Judge in the Criminal Division of the 10th Judicial Circuit for the State of Alabama. She grew up in Huntsville, and is a 1980 magna cum laude graduate of Birmingham Southern College. She graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1983 and began her legal career as a prosecutor in the Mobile District Attorney’s Office, moving to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office in 1986. Before appointment to the Circuit Court bench in 2005 by Governor Riley, she had her own private law practice for 14 years. She was elected in 2006 and was re- elected to the bench in 2012, unopposed. Judge Pulliam has been an instructor for the National Judicial College in the area of capital murder litigation, and is regularly called on to teach new judges in the state in this area of the law. She serves as President-Elect of the Alabama Circuit Judges Association and President of the Birmingham Bar Foundation. Judge Pulliam currently serves as one of two circuit judges statewide, appointed by the Chief Justice, working on the State’s Prison Reform Task Force. Judge Pulliam has been actively working towards prison and sentencing reform in the State of Alabama since 2008. She presently serves as a member of the Executive Council of both the state and federal work groups charged with re-entry and sentencing reform. Judge Pulliam serves by appointment of the Circuit Judges Association on the Sentencing Standards Committee and is Chairman of the Alabama Supreme Court Pattern Criminal Jury Instruction Committee. Judge Pulliam is an active member of the Alabama and Birmingham Bar Associations, serving on the Executive Board of the Women’s Section, and longtime member of the Future Leaders Forum Committee. She has been honored as a Fellow of the Bar and is a recipient of the Drayton James Award awarded by the Young Lawyers Section. She is a recipient of the NAACP’s Justice Award. Judge Pulliam is a member of the board of trustees of Children Village. She is past president of the National Alumni Association for Birmingham Southern College, a current member of the Board of Trustees of Living River, A Retreat on the Cahaba and an Elder at Independent Presbyterian Church. She is a graduate of Leadership Birmingham. Judge Pulliam is a member of the Rotary Club of Birmingham and Sustainer of the Junior League of Birmingham. She has been married for 32 years to Max Pulliam, a practicing attorney in Birmingham. She and Max are proud parents of 19 year old, Alice Jordan Pulliam, who is currently a sophomore at her parents’ alma mater. 3 Linda Hall For Circuit Court Place 16 Education: Birmingham School of Law, juris doctorate, 1992; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Bachelor’s of Science, 1983. Professional experience: Private law practice, 1997- present; legal counselor for Committee to Protect the Homes; volunteer, Birmingham Bar Association, Civil and Domestic Relations. Civic experience: Board member, Epilepsy Foundation; volunteer, Birmingham Museum of Art; former member, Homewood Rotary Club and Vulcan Kiwanis. ******** Marshell Jackson Hatcher For Circuit Court Place 8 Marshell Jackson Hatcher is a candidate for Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge, Place 8 and is a solo practitioner, practicing law in the Birmingham, Alabama area since 1997. Her practice includes civil litigation, focusing on contractual disputes, housing matters, domestic relations and personal injuries. She has worked alongside the Alabama Legislature to assist in the enactment of new legislation. She also serves as Adjunct Professor at Miles College Law School. Marshell is the former Associate Counsel for the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, having served the agency for 15 years and a former Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, with a concentration in Forensic Science from Jacksonville State University in 1988 and a Juris Doctorate degree from the Birmingham School of Law in 1996. Marshell enjoys traveling with her husband, McKinley, and volunteering with countless organizations in advancing the quality of life for citizens and making resources accessible. 4 Tracey Crisan McDonald For Circuit Court Place 8 Tracey Crisan McDonald, as a 40+ year resident of Jefferson County, is seeking your support and vote for Jefferson County Civil Circuit Court Judge, Place 8. Tracey brings a lifetime of service to this endeavor. Tracey received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama – Birmingham School of Nursing and immediately put her knowledge and training to work on behalf of those most vulnerable – our children. Serving as a Pediatric ICU nurse at Children’s Hospital of Alabama and in the Neonatal ICU at St Vincent’s Hospital. Tracey embarked on a different journey of service when she entered the legal profession following graduation from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. As an attorney, Tracey has exclusively handled the same type of litigation matters that she will preside over as your Civil Circuit Court Judge. During her career, Tracey has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation. Through her handling of those cases, Tracey has gained the respect of the legal community through her strict ethics, her professionalism, her dedicated advocacy on behalf of clients and her unwavering adherence to the Golden Rule in all of her dealings – treat others as you would like to be treated. Tracey possesses the experience, wisdom and judicial temperament the citizens of Jefferson County both desire and deserve. Tracey is a member of Church of the Highlands where she has served in children’s ministry, has led small groups and currently serves faithfully in the prayer ministry. ******* Alaric May For Circuit Court Criminal Place 27 Alaric May received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama, and law degree from The University of Florida. Licensed to practice in Georgia (1995) and Alabama (1996), the majority of Alaric’s 23 years of practice has focused in the area of criminal law, handling thousands of criminal cases. Additionally, the last 18 years, Alaric has been appointed either full or part time to serve as a Special Circuit, District, and Municipal Court Judge. 5 A member of First Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, Alaric has served his church in various capacities, as well as mentoring youth throughout the city and state. As a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, his dedication to service to the community is unwavering. Professional Experience Sworn in as Full Time Interim Judge for City May Law Firm (2008 - Present) of Birmingham (Jan 2002 - March 2002) May & Green, LLC (2000 - 2008) Appointed Judge Pro Tem for the City of Law Offices of Edward E. May (1996-2000) Adamsville (2006-2008) Law Offices of Alaric May (1995-1996) Appointed Judge Pro Tem for the City of Homewood (2006-2008) Education University of Alabama -- (Bachelor of Arts - Bar Memberships 1992) Member of Alabama Democratic Executive University of Florida, College of Law (Juris Committee (2006 - 2010) Doctorate -- 1995) Member of Georgia Bar Association (1995 - Present) Civic Experiences Member Alabama Bar Association (1996 - Appointed Special Circuit Court Judge Present) (2004-Present) Member of the National Bar Association Appointed Special District Court Judge (1996 - Present) (2006-Present) Member of Birmingham Bar Association Appointed Judge Pro Tem for City of (1996 - Present) Birmingham (2000-2008) ******************* Leslie Schiffman Moore For Circuit Court Criminal Place 27 Leslie Moore is a lifelong Jefferson County resident with strong family connections throughout the county. Hardworking all of her life, she paid her own way through college and law school with the help of scholarships. Leslie has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from UAB and her law degree from the University of Alabama. Leslie has practiced for 18 years and has handled all types of cases that will be tried in this court, from the prosecution side and from the defense. In the Bessemer DA’s office Leslie worked her way up to Chief Assistant District Attorney and tried more cases in one year than any other attorney in the history of the Bessemer DA’s office. Because of her expertise in cases where women and children were victims Leslie was called on by the Attorney General to prosecute cases all over the State. 6 William Davis Lawley, Jr. For District Court, Place 3 (Family Court) SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS: 30 years of law and civil service in Alabama, the District of Columbia, and the Federal Courts of Appeal. Endorsed numerous times by the Jefferson County Police Chiefs Association. Co-Founder of the Jefferson County Association of Family Court Attorneys. Appointed numerous times to sit as judge in Family Court and the Criminal Division. Listed in the Birmingham Bar Poll as most qualified. PROVEN ABILITIES AND RESULTS: 2017-Currently Board of Advisors; Skejit Corp. (Idaho); Grid 20/20 (Toronto & Virginia) Operations and business consultant related to business and military software and solutions. 2010-2014 Assistant Attorney General, Child Welfare Division. Trial attorney in various counties out of the Birmingham Office. Specialized in child abuse and neglect cases in Family Courts. Also, headed the administrative hearings for Central Alabama. 2007-2009 Presiding Judge of the Jefferson County Drug Court (special circuit court specializing in resolving all drug and related criminal matters for the 10th Circuit of Alabama). Chosen from over 30 applicants, by the bi-partisan Jefferson County Judicial Commission, and approved by Governor, to head this very important court. Took the largest docket in the state, and in 18 months, brought it down to the lowest active docket among any district judge in that division while also improving recidivism rates and the working relationships between attorneys and prosecutors.