Alabama Supreme Court rules against Bryan
The Alabama Supreme Court today published a decision upholding a lower court’s ruling that keeps Ray Bryan’s name off the November ballot for a local judgeship.
| Documents |
Alabama Supreme Court's ruling in Ray Bryan appeal (.pdf)  |
Ray Bryan won the Republican primary June 3 against incumbent Mannon Bankson for the Calhoun-Cleburne Circuit Family Court post. Bankson then complained to state party leaders that Bryan had failed to file campaign finance reports on time. The party concurred and decertified Bryan, later choosing Anniston attorney Brenda Stedham as the GOP nominee. No Democrats filed to run.
Bryan sued in Jefferson County Circuit Court seeking to restore his status as the nominee. The court ruled against Bryan, and he appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the party had not followed proper procedure in removing him from the ballot.
The Supreme Court, in the decision published today, ruled 9-0 to uphold the circuit court’s decision. The justices also ruled 8-1 to dismiss a related appeal by George Howard.
Bryan has said he will wage a write-in campaign, running against Stedham for the judgeship. He could not immediately be reached for comment Friday afternoon.
