Riggs Walker, an Assistant Attorney General with more than 26 years of criminal law experience, announced his candidacy for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5 on Monday.
Walker, 57, of Shorter, is challenging incumbent Judge J. Elizabeth “Beth” Kellum, who has served on the Court of Criminal Appeals since 2008 and is seeking another term in the May 19 Republican primary.
Walker has spent the last six years representing the State of Alabama before the Court of Criminal Appeals, the Alabama Supreme Court, and federal courts. Before that, he spent roughly two decades as a Deputy District Attorney in the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.
“I am running for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals because we need judges who are experienced, principled, and committed to the rule of law,” Walker said.
“This court handles the most serious criminal matters in our state. The people of Alabama deserve a judge with extensive trial experience, who understands the law, and respects the Constitution.”
Over the course of his career, Walker has prosecuted thousands of criminal cases, including homicides, burglaries, robberies, and theft offenses. His time in the Jefferson County DA’s office gave him extensive trial experience, while his current role as Assistant Attorney General has focused on appellate work, arguing cases before Alabama’s highest courts and in federal court.
Walker graduated from Auburn University in 1991 with a degree in Speech Communication and from Jones School of Law in 1998. After law school, he clerked for Circuit Judge William A. Shashy in the 15th Judicial Circuit before moving to Birmingham to join the Jefferson County DA’s office.
Running as a conservative Republican, Walker said he believes appellate judges should apply the law as written rather than shape policy from the bench.
“The role of an appellate judge is not to create policy, but to ensure that the law has been properly and fairly applied,” Walker said. “I have spent my career standing up for the rule of law. I am ready to serve on day one.”
The Republican primary for the statewide seat is scheduled for May 19.
Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].
