MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama judge accused of violating judicial rules with her criticism of the death penalty is going before a disciplinary court on ethics charges. A complaint before the Alabama Court of the Judiciary on Monday says Jefferson County Circuit Judge Tracie Todd wrongly became embroiled in the capital punishment debate. It also says she issued erroneous…
ATHENS, Ala. (AP) – A longtime Alabama sheriff on trial on theft and ethics charges has taken the stand to deny charges that could result in his removal from office after nearly four decades. Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely testified Thursday about a series of transactions and checks. Prosecutors say they’re evidence of wrongdoing but the defense contends they show…
A north Alabama attorney has been appointed to serve on the court that’s considering judicial ethics charges that could result in the removal of suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore. Attorney W.N. “Rocky” Watson of Fort Payne will replace Opelika attorney John Denson on the Alabama Court of the Judiciary during the Moore case. Chief Judge Michael Joiner issued an…
A lawyer serving on the court that’s considering judicial ethics charges against Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore is stepping aside from the case. Opelika attorney John V. Denson II filed a notice Tuesday recusing himself. Denson writes that he shouldn’t be involved in the case since he was part of the court when it unanimously decided to remove Moore from…
Prosecutors say former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard should spend five years in a state prison for breaking the state ethics law. In a brief filed Thursday afternoon, the attorney general’s office asked a judge to give Hubbard an 18-year split sentence. Hubbard would spend five years behind bars and the remaining 13 years under supervised probation. The sentence mirrors…
Lawyers make their final remarks to jurors in the ethics trial of Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard. A prosecutor and defense lawyer will finish closing arguments Friday morning. The jury is expected to begin deliberations later in the day. Hubbard faces 23 felony ethics charges accusing him of using his political positions to obtain business and investment for his companies….
Testimony resumes in indicted Alabama House Speaker, Mike Hubbard’s ethics trial. Robert Abrams was the first person called to the stand to testify Thursday. Abrams is current owner of SiO2, which is a medical products company in Auburn. The 81-year-old Abrams has a THICK New York accent and kept things interesting with his testimony. His testimony has brought laughter to…
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley arrived at a Lee County courthouse to testify in the ethics trial of Alabama House speaker Mike Hubbard. Prosecutors asked Bentley about meetings with Hubbard and if Hubbard lobbied him on behalf of a business client. Alabama ethics law prohibits legislators from being paid to lobby executive branch offices. The governor was met at the courthouse…
Testimony resumed in the ethics trial of Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard after the long holiday weekend. Prosecutors have indicated that today they will call a number of influential lobbyists and company owners as witnesses. Prosecutors say Hubbard asked them to either make investments in his printing company or to help him find business clients. Most of the testimony this…
Jury selection is beginning in the ethics trial of the Alabama House speaker. Republican Speaker Mike Hubbard faces removal from office if convicted of felony charges that he used his current office and his past position as chairman of the Alabama Republican Party to benefit his printing and consulting companies. Hubbard says his lobbying and other transactions were both proper…
