Exclusive: DAs Association pushing bills on gun crime, retail theft and fentanyl
One bill would add additional penalties for individuals convicted of a violent crime caught in possession of a firearm.
Alabama District Attorney’s Association
Legislature passes bill to reform civil asset forfeiture
The legislation reforms the procedures through which the state can seize assets because the owner is accused of criminal wrongdoing.
House to address civil asset forfeiture reform on last day of session
The House Rules Committee has made civil asset forfeiture reform a high priority for the last day of the session.
Alabama Senate passed civil asset forfeiture legislation
The legislation would exempt funds of less than $250 and vehicles worth less than $5,000 from civil asset forfeiture.
Opinion
Opinion
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See recent posts“The things you see as a prosecutor, you can’t un-see”
ADAA Chaplain Walt Merrell reflects on a year of tragedies and helping prosecutors cope with the stress of their job. When fellow District Attorney Greg Griggers was injured in an ambush shooting outside his Demopolis office in November 2018, Walt Merrell knew it was time. Before the shooting, Merrell, the district attorney for Covington County, … Continued
Alabama takes step to create civil asset forfeiture database
The Alabama District Attorneys Association is taking steps to create a reporting system to keep track of the use of civil asset forfeiture in Alabama. The ADAA, Rep. Arnold Mooney, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and other public policy groups announced the creation of the Alabama Forfeiture Accountability System. The new database system will track … Continued
Former district attorney and judge Jimmy Fry dies at 68
The Alabama District Attorneys Association announced Tuesday that former District Attorney Jimmy Fry, who also served on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals and was the former executive director of Legal Services Alabama, died Monday night following heart surgery. He was 68. Fry was a native of Athens, was district attorney for Limestone County from … Continued
Alabama District Attorneys Association elects Tom Anderson new president
The Alabama District Attorneys Association has elected a new president, Tom Anderson of Enterprise. The ADAA chose Anderson as the new president at the 2018-2019 summer ADAA meeting and training conference. Jill Lee of Columbiana was elected vice president, and Chris Connolly of Florence was selected as secretary-treasurer.Brian McVeigh of Anniston, who was last year’s … Continued
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See recent postsAlabama’s civil forfeiture laws aren’t just unfair, they’re un-American
By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter Last week, Barry Matson, the executive director of the Alabama District Attorneys Association, stood before a Senate committee and said flatly that “rumors” of improper civil asset forfeitures in this state were just not true. He should try telling that line of bull to Jamey Vibbert. If you’re unfamiliar … Continued
Chris McCool Switches To Republican Party
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Since the demise of the Whig Party the Alabama Democratic Party has dominated politics in rural Alabama. Alabama Democrats controlled the Court Houses and the Sheriffs’ offices even when those counties were voting for Goldwater, Nixon, Reagan, and two Bushes. That legacy appears to be fading into history. Alabama … Continued