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Chip Brownlee

Author

Chip Brownlee

Chip Brownlee is a former political reporter, online content manager and webmaster at the Alabama Political Reporter. He is now a reporter at The Trace, a non-profit newsroom covering guns in America.

News

The end to judicial override in Alabama is imminent

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Alabama’s death penalty sentencing system, which allows judges to override a jury’s recommendation for life in prison, may soon be changing to put the Yellowhammer State in line with all other states that allow capital punishment. On Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill … Continued
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April 5, 2017

House expected to vote Tuesday on bill to end judicial override

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Alabama’s House of Representatives, on its first day back from spring break, is expected to take up a bill that would end the State’s judicial override sentencing system. On Tuesday, the House is expected to begin debate, and maybe vote, on the bill sponsored by Rep. Chris England, … Continued
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April 4, 2017

Mike Hubbard’s appeal trial may soon move forward

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter AUBURN — Former House Speaker Mike Hubbard’s criminal appeals trial may soon move forward after Lee County Circuit Clerk Mary Roberson filed a long-awaited court record last week. Roberson filed the court record, which includes all motions, orders and trial transcripts, on March 29 after several months of delays. The … Continued
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April 3, 2017

Tentative impeachment schedule would set House vote in early May

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House Judiciary Committee announced a tentative impeachment schedule Tuesday that would set a vote by the full House on impeachment articles in early May, after almost of year of back and forth over the question. In a letter to attorneys for Gov. Robert Bentley, Judiciary … Continued
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March 29, 2017

Nearly 2,000 lawyers ask for Jeff Sessions to be disbarred

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Almost 2,000 attorneys from across the US have signed on to a complaint addressed to the Alabama State Bar Disciplinary Committee asking that Attorney General Jeff Session be disbarred from the Alabama State Bar. The complaint, filed by the Lawyers for Good Government, alleges that Sessions should be … Continued
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March 28, 2017

Senator proposes bill to expand city internet service

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter OPELIKA— Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, has proposed several bills to expand allow a public municipal utility provider, Opelika Power Services, to expand its internet service outside of the municipal jurisdiction of the city of Opelika. Whatley has proposed three different bills this legislative session, one would allow the utility … Continued
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March 28, 2017

Auburn appoints new president with a tumultuous past

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter AUBURN — The Auburn University Board of Trustees has appointed the next president of the University: an experienced higher-ed administrator who was previously under a six-week criminal investigation for possible misuse of Iowa State University aircraft. On Monday, the Board appointed Steven Leath, 59, who has served as president of … Continued
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March 24, 2017