State Democratic Party Investigates Complaint Filed Against Chief Justice Candidate

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By Jessica Gertler

Story Created: Aug 8, 2012 at 5:34 PM CDT

Story Updated: Aug 13, 2012 at 5:00 PM CDT

The Alabama Democratic Party is investigating a complaint that its nominee for Chief Justice, Harry Lyon, has not been filing required monthly campaign finance reports. If it's true, Lyon could be disqualified, and leaving the question: Who will challenge Republican nominee Roy Moore in November?

Democratic nominee for Chief Justice Harry Lyon tells CBS 8 News the complaint is "bogus as can be."

But Democratic Party Chairman Mark Kennedy says his attorneys are reviewing the matter, and says no matter what the outcome is, there will be a democratic candidate for Chief Justice on the ballot in November.

Lyon says he's following the rules.

"This thing is phony baloney. I think there's somebody that has an interest that wants to see me off the ticket," he says.

According to the law, candidates running for a state office are required to file monthly financial reports unless they raise or spend less than $25,000.

Lyon says he hasn't reached that amount.

But Democratic Party Chairman Mark Kennedy says they have to take the complaint seriously.

"There is a process that we go through that's governed by statue, as well as party rules. This is a party matter," Kennedy says.

Kennedy says attorneys are looking over the claims, and if they're true, it could result in Lyon's disqualification.

So, who's name could appear on the November ballot?

Kennedy tells CBS 8 he would not consider running, because he "retired from the supreme court in 1999. I have no interest in running for office again."

Republican nominee Roy Moore says he'll continue focusing on his race and is not concerned who his challenger is. But he says what's going on is wrong.

"I think he's standing up for what he believes, and that's he's fighting for what he's doing, and that there are people trying to take him out," Moore says.

As for Lyon, he says he'll continue campaigning, and if the Democratic party disqualifies him, that's something he says it may regret.

"This is bogus if they tried it, and in the end, it will be the last thing they ever did," Lyon says.

The election will be held on November 6.

Complaints were also filed against Republican Supreme Court Justices Lyn Stuart, Glenn Murdock and Jim Main for not filing reports.

Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead says the claim isn't true, and they aren't going to investigate the accusation.
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