Charles Graddick

Charles Allen Graddick (December 10, 1944 in Mobile, Alabama) is Circuit Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit of Alabama, United States.

Graddick attended the all-male University Military School, the forerunner of UMS-Wright Preparatory School, graduating in 1963. He attended the University of Alabama where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, receiving his undergraduate degree in 1967. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1970, having the honor of being chosen class president. He was elected District Attorney for Mobile County in 1975. Graddick served in the Alabama National Guard from 1969-1992. In 1979, Mr. Graddick was elected Attorney General for the state of Alabama and was re-elected to a second term in 1983.

The 1986 Democratic primary for the gubernatorial race saw Graddick in a runoff with then Lt. Gov. Bill Baxley. Graddick won by a few thousand votes,^[1] but the state State Democratic party ruled he had violated primary regulations by encouraging Republicans to “cross over” and vote as Democrats. The court told the Democratic Party to hold another election or pick Baxley. The party picked Baxley. Alabama is a non-registration party state. At that time, the Democratic party had never enforced such a rule in any election because Alabama was a single party state. Alabamians, used to a one-party state where anybody and everybody could vote in a primary, were outraged and took out their frustrations by voting against Baxley and for H. Guy Hunt, the GOP nominee. Hunt, who had previously been considered a token candidate, won easily, giving Alabama its first Republican governor since Reconstruction.^[2]

Hunt's election surprised many Alabamians since no living person had seen a Republican win the election for Alabama governor. The press paid little attention to the Republican gubernatorial primaries, fully expecting that the nominee would be the next loser in the general election.

After the campaign for governor in 1986, he established a statewide law practice and at the request of the Governor in 1991 filled an unexpired term as District Attorney for Montgomery County, Alabama, returning to private practice in 1992. Gov. Bob Riley appointed Graddick to fill the post left vacant when 13th Judicial Circuit Circuit Court Judge William McDermott died in May 2004. He was then elected in January 2005 to serve a six year term in the same post. He also was selected by his fellow circuit judges to serve as Presiding Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit.

In 2011, Graddick declared his candidacy for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, in the election to be held in 2012. Graddick is switching parties, this time running as a Republican. ^[3] Graddick is running against current Associate Lyn Stuart. Both Graddick and Stuart had lobbied Gov. Robert Bentley for his appointment to replace then-Chieft Justice Sue Bell Cobb, who stepped down from the office before her term expired.^[4]

Graddick has been married forty years to the former Corinne Whiting and they have three grown children, Charles Allen Jr., Herndon Whiting, and Corinne.

References

1. ^ Graddick Wins Rowdy Alabama Runoff
2. ^ Republicans Celebrate Gubernatorial Gains
3. ^ Talbot, George (2011-7-28). "Charlie Graddick says he's 'running to win' in Supreme Court chief justice race". The Press-Register. http://blog.al.com/live/2011/07/graddick_launches_bid_for_supr.html. 
4. ^ "Charlie Graddick says he's Alabama chief justice candidate". Associated Press via al.com. 2011-7-28. http://blog.al.com/wire/2011/07/charlie_graddick_says_hes_alab.html. 

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Name	Graddick, Charles
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