Sue Bell Cobb (D)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline)-Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb says she will remain on the state's high court rather than run for governor in 2010.
Cobb, the only Democrat on the nine-member court, was elected in 2006 to a six-year term as chief justice. To run for governor, she would have had to resign from the bench.
"I will continue to work tirelessly to improve the court system of this state and will continue to devote my time and energy to programs and projects that improve the lives of all citizens of Alabama," she said in a statement Wednesday.
Already in the Democratic race to succeed Republican Gov. Bob Riley, who is barred from running for a third consecutive term, is: U.S. Rep. Artur Davis of Birmingham and state Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks.
On the Republican side, state Rep. Robert Bentley of Tuscaloosa, former state Sen. Bradley Byrne, state Treasurer Kay Ivey, businessman Tim James, former Birmingham city councilman Bill Johnson and former state Chief Justice Roy Moore are running.
From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.