Alabama Democrats remove chief justice candidate

The Democratic candidate for chief justice was removed as his party’s nominee for reportedly making “disparaging remarks about homosexuals, his Republican opponent and party leaders.” Following a hearing, a five-member party committee voted unanimously to take this step and reopened the qualifying period for candidates. The only candidate to express interest in the nomination was circuit court judge Robert Vance, Jr. With Vance’s nomination, two candidates abandoned their write-in campaigns and promised Vance their support.