Author

Bill Britt

Bill Britt is editor-in-chief at the Alabama Political Reporter and host of The Voice of Alabama Politics. You can email him at [email protected].

Court of Criminal Appeals continues its failure to rule in Hubbard case

With the indictment, conviction and sentencing of former Republican Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, there was an expectation of change. But because the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals has failed to rule on Hubbard’s case, the once-hoped-for new dawn in Alabama politics is on hold. For 11 months, the appeals court has been in … Continued

Bill Britt

April 12, 2018

Change.org petition ties Democrat candidate for governor to Roy Moore, Jeff Sessions

A Change.org petition is calling for former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb to drop out of the governor’s race before the June 5 Democratic Primary election. The online appeal paints an unflattering picture of the Democrat gubernatorial hopeful, citing Cobb’s sudden resignation as chief justice in 2011 and a recent letter supporting … Continued

Bill Britt

April 11, 2018

Opinion

Bentley left office one year ago today. Still, rogues and scoundrels remain

Today marks one year since Alabama’s 53rd governor, Robert Bentley, left office in disgrace. In just the last two decades, two Republican and one Democrat governor of Alabama were proven crooks. Many more were no doubt rogues and scoundrels, but unlike Bentley, Guy Hunt or Don Siegelman, they never were convicted of their crimes. Of … Continued

Bill Britt

April 10, 2018

Bentley investigation not the first time Ellen Brooks cited gaps in law to let perps walk free

If the findings of a special grand jury empaneled to hear allegations of wrongdoings against former Gov. Robert Bentley and his cronies sound familiar, it should. In 2012, after an eight-month investigation, a Montgomery grand jury found that the state’s ethics and campaign finance laws were not specific enough to indict former Gov. Bob Riley … Continued

Bill Britt

April 9, 2018

Sources: Marshall appointed AG after agreeing to investigate “rogue” prosecutors

Gov. Robert Bentley appointed Steve Marshall to be Alabama attorney general after Marshall agreed to launch an investigation into Special Prosecution Division Chief Matt Hart and Acting Attorney General Van Davis, who successfully prosecuted former Speaker Mike Hubbard. According to well-placed sources, Marshall was the only district attorney that Bentley approached who promised he would … Continued

Bill Britt, Josh Moon

April 6, 2018

Feds may be least of “Bad Jack’s” worries

There are two members of the Alabama House of Representatives who go by the name Jack; one is Vestavia Hills Republican Jack “J.D.” Williams, AKA “Bad Jack” among his colleagues, and then there is Wilmer Republican lawmaker Jack W. Williams called “Good Jack.” Earlier this week, Bad Jack Williams was indicted on federal conspiracy charges. … Continued

Bill Britt

April 5, 2018

Opinion

Will Gov. Ivey unmuzzle Hart and Albritton?

Despite the Ivey Administration’s push to pass questionable ethics-busting bill HB317 or her public praise for its passage, the governor is now being counseled not to sign the legislation into law before hearing from those individuals muzzled during legislative debate. There is little doubt that Gov. Kay Ivey’s commerce secretary and the state’s attorney general, … Continued

Bill Britt

April 3, 2018

Attorney General “commutes” death sentence without authority to do so

According to lawyers for convicted murderer and death row inmate Doyle Lee Hamm, he and the state of Alabama entered into a “confidential settlement agreement…preventing any further execution attempts” by the state on March 26. The offices of Attorney General Steve Marshall handled the arrangements for Hamm’s settlement. However, there is no provision in state … Continued

Bill Britt

April 2, 2018

Unknown and unbridled by law: Economic developers set to make millions off tax incentives

A new law establishing a class of individuals known as economic development professionals opens the door for profit-driven incentives paid with taxpayer funds to vaguely described, unknown agents not registered or held accountable to state law. There are many reasons to suspect that House Bill 317 is filled with loopholes not yet fully understood by … Continued

Bill Britt

April 2, 2018

Board of Registrar member accused of taping voter information to aid candidates, harm others

An ethics complaint was filed against a county board of registrar member in February after it was allegedly discovered that he was using his personal computer to tap into voting records. According to the ethics filing obtained by APR, Autauga County Board of Registrars’ Keith Kuzma, on several occasions, was witnessed linking his laptop directly to … Continued

Bill Britt

April 2, 2018