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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

Bill to end judicial override in Alabama clears Senate

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A bill that would end Alabama’s judicial override sentencing system, which allows judges to override juries and impose the death penalty, passed the State Senate Thursday with a near-unanimous vote. Sen. Dick Brewbaker (R-Montgomery), sponsored the bill, which would prohibit a judge from overriding a jury’s sentence. Under … Continued
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February 24, 2017

Rep. Micky Hammon steps down as House Majority Leader

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — After more than six years in the post, Rep. Micky Hammon, R-Decatur, has stepped down as House Majority Leader, he confirmed in a press release Wednesday. “After much thought and careful consideration, I have decided to step down from my position as House Majority Leader once an election … Continued
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February 23, 2017

Suspended Chief Justice Roy Moore asks to cancel oral arguments

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore has asked the Special Supreme Court tasked with hearing his appeal to expedite his case and decide his appeal on previously filed briefs. In a motion filed Wednesday, Moore’s attorneys asked the Court to waive oral arguments and consider the appeal on … Continued
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February 23, 2017

Impeachment committee chair will wait to resume Bentley investigation

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — House Judiciary Committee Chairman Mike Jones, R-Andalusia, said Wednesday that he will wait to meet with Supernumerary District Attorney Ellen Brooks, the prosecutor responsible for overseeing a criminal investigation of Gov. Robert Bentley, before deciding the course of impeachment hearings in the House. “I have spoken briefly with … Continued
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February 23, 2017

Legislators float an alternative to Bentley’s $800 million prison construction plan

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A bipartisan group of North Alabama legislators want an alternate considered to Gov. Robert Bentley’s plan to build four new “mega” prisons with an $800 million bond issue. Rep. Johhny Mack Morrow, D-Rebay, Rep. Ed Henry, R-Decatur, and Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, on Tuesday discussed a tentative plan … Continued
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February 22, 2017

Senate committee to begin considering impeachment trial rules

MONTGOMERY — The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin considering procedures for a possible Senate impeachment trial of Gov. Robert Bentley, the committee’s chairman said Tuesday. Sen. Cam Ward, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, said he was looking to start a subcommittee to gather information on what rules would need to be established for a Senate impeachment trial, … Continued
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February 22, 2017

Prison construction bill to be considered by Senate Committee in March

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — The Senate version of the bill authorizing the Alabama Prison Transformation Initiative will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 1, the bill’s sponsor said Thursday. The plan would authorize the Department of Corrections to issue an $800 million bond to construct three new 4,000-bed men’s … Continued
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February 17, 2017