Alabama’s Republican AG runoff is drawing sharp lines among the state’s prosecutor community, with both Jay Mitchell and Katherine Robertson adding district attorney endorsements Thursday ahead of the June 16 election.
District Attorney Andy Hamlin of the 24th Judicial Circuit, covering Pickens, Lamar, and Fayette counties, announced his support for Mitchell. Appointed by Governor Kay Ivey in November 2018, Hamlin previously spent more than 12 years as an Assistant District Attorney and Chief Assistant District Attorney under former DA Chris McCool, now an Alabama Supreme Court Justice.
“Jay Mitchell has the courtroom experience and strength of character that the office demands,” Hamlin said. “I’ve watched him in action, and I know him to be a leader who will do what’s right for the state — no matter the cost. Alabama needs an Attorney General who has the legal skill and drive necessary to make Alabama the safest state in the country, which is why I am proud to endorse Jay Mitchell in this race.”
Mitchell welcomed the support. “Andy Hamlin is a respected veteran prosecutor who understands what it takes to deliver justice for Alabama families,” Mitchell said. “I am grateful for his support and wise counsel, and I’m honored to have another proven law enforcement leader standing with us.”
Walker County District Attorney Bill Adair announced his endorsement of Robertson the same day, citing her work to keep violent criminals incarcerated and preserve the independence of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles. Adair was elected district attorney in 2010 after 14 years as the office’s chief deputy and has secured multiple capital murder convictions. He entered law after his own father was fatally shot in Lawrence County in 1981.
“I have had the privilege of working with Katherine Robertson behind the scenes over the last few years and am pleased to offer her my endorsement for attorney general,” Adair said. “What stands out to me is her relentless fight to keep our Parole Board independent and free from outside influence. She fought hard in 2019 for significant reforms to the board that have made our state safer, but she didn’t stop there.
Every year since, she has been at the tip of the spear in every fight regarding the board’s autonomy and its mission — to protect public safety. In doing so, she has performed a great service to Alabama’s crime victims, for which we owe her a debt of gratitude.”
Thursday’s announcements add to a growing list of prosecutor endorsements on both sides of the runoff. Robertson has previously secured backings from Baldwin County DA Robert Wilters, Madison County DA Rob Broussard, DeKalb and Cherokee County DA Summer Summerford, and Autauga, Elmore, and Chilton County DA CJ Robinson.
Mitchell has drawn support from former AG candidate and Blount County DA Pam Casey.
The runoff is June 16th.
Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].
