READERS’ OPINIONS

Gardendale Media misconstrue new court rules News articles about the Alabama Supreme Court’s amended rules for judicial disciplinary proceedings overlooked the great need for these changes and, worse, quoted questionable sources.

In changing rules at the Court of the Judiciary, the Supreme Court recognized that disciplinary proceedings, like criminal trials, should require a unanimous verdict, not a majority vote.

Other rule changes apply to the Judicial Inquiry Commission, where complaints could formerly be made verbally and anonymously without the accused judge’s knowledge. This process was in dire need of review.

Two of the rules’ more outspoken critics were Birmingham attorneys Mark White, a JIC member, and Bill Bowen, a former JIC member. News reports don’t mention these two are partners who have trial lawyer connections. Both have represented the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association in high-profile cases. Clearly, this undisclosed information raises troubling questions about their motives and objectivity.