Trial lawyers continue to bankroll Tom Parker’s campaign for chief justice

The Alabama Association for Justice, the state’s advocacy group for trial lawyers, donated $100,000 to Associate Justice Tom Parker’s campaign for state Supreme Court Chief Justice on Friday through its “Progress for Justice PAC.”

With this new contribution, the association’s PAC has now donated $500,000 to Parker’s campaign. With another $5,000 from a Tuscaloosa personal injury firm, trial lawyers have contributed $505,000, which is 95 percent of Parker’s total amount raised besides the $32,400 he loaned to himself.

Parker won the Republican nomination in June over current Chief Justice Lyn Stuart and is now running against Democratic nominee Judge Bob Vance in the November 6 General Election.

Parker had $17,508.59 cash on hand as of September 5, compared to Vance’s $420,197.48. While updated fundraising reports due October 2 will provide the best financial barometer yet, the race for chief justice has been the only statewide contest in which the Democrat has had the financial advantage.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn