The duties of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama are set forth in the Code of Alabama. They include the obligations to see that (1.) the business of the several courts of the state is attended to with proper dispatch; (2.) cases, civil and criminal, are not permitted to become congested or delayed; and (3.) prisoners are not allowed to remain in jails without a proper trial.

There is no duty to use the position to further the personal, political and religious beliefs of the chief justice.

I had the privilege of serving as a law clerk to one of the Supreme Court justices after law school and had the benefit of seeing a qualified chief justice, Howell Heflin, manage the affairs of the Supreme Court and carry out the duties enumerated above.

The people of Alabama need a qualified chief justice dedicated to carrying out these duties so that all residents have equal and fair access to our courts and a properly functioning court system. I submit to you, regardless of your political party affiliation, that Bob Vance clearly fits the mold of such a chief justice, and his opponent clearly does not.

W. Lee Thuston
Birmingham