Alabama judicial oversight called ‘toothless’

MONTGOMERY | A national judicial watchdog group gives Alabama a D-plus grade for its system of handling ethics complaints related to state judges and other issues.

Help Abolish Legal Tyranny said in a report on all 50 states that Alabama ranks 38th in holding state judges accountable. The nonprofit public interest group, founded in 1978, claims to be the country’s largest legal reform organization, with more than 50,000 members.

“Alabama’s system of judicial oversight is incredibly toothless, holding a gag rule over officials and consumers about ethics complaints and failing to place meaningful limitations on gift restrictions,” the report said.

HALT media coordinator Rachel Decker said last week that Alabama’s grade was based on a variety of factors, including the secretive system of not releasing information on complaints against judges until a charge is made to the Court of the Judiciary.

tuscaloosanews.com