What Is 2022 Alabama Supreme Court elections

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2022 Alabama Supreme Court elections were held on November 8, 2022, to elect justices to the state's highest court. Two seats were up for election: Justice Tom Parker's re-election and a new associate justice seat, both won by Republicans.

Key Facts

Election date: November 8, 2022, concurrent with the U.S. midterm elections
Two seats were contested: Chief Justice and one Associate Justice position
Incumbent Tom Parker won re-election with approximately 57% of the vote
Sarah Stewart (D) challenged Parker but lost by a 14-point margin
Republican candidates won both Supreme Court seats on the ballot

Overview

The 2022 Alabama Supreme Court elections took place on November 8, 2022, as part of the broader midterm elections. Voters decided two key judicial positions on the state’s highest court, including the Chief Justice seat and one Associate Justice position.

These elections were significant due to the court’s influence on state law, including rulings on abortion, property rights, and election disputes. The outcomes maintained Republican control of the court, continuing a conservative judicial majority.

Two seats were up for election: Chief Justice and one Associate Justice, reflecting staggered terms on the nine-member court.
Tom Parker, the incumbent Chief Justice and a Republican, ran for re-election after being first elected in 2018.
Sarah Stewart, a Democratic Circuit Judge from Mobile, challenged Parker in the general election.
The election coincided with U.S. midterms, resulting in higher voter turnout than typical judicial races.
Republicans maintained control of both seats, preserving a 6–3 conservative majority on the court.

How It Works

Alabama uses a nonpartisan election system for judicial offices, though candidates often run with party affiliations. Justices serve six-year terms and must be re-elected to remain on the bench.

Term: Justices serve six-year terms and must run in statewide elections to retain their seats. Re-election campaigns are competitive and often highly publicized.
Partisan alignment is unofficial but influential; both major parties actively recruit and support judicial candidates.
Primary elections were held in May 2022, with runoffs in June for races where no candidate won a majority.
Nonpartisan ballots list candidates without party labels, though media and campaigns emphasize affiliations.
Qualifications include being a licensed Alabama attorney for at least five years and a state resident for at least three years.
Retention elections do not exist in Alabama; all justices must face competitive re-elections.
Chief Justice is elected separately and oversees administrative functions of the state judiciary.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2022 Alabama Supreme Court election compares to prior cycles and other states:

Category	2022 Election	2018 Election	2016 Election	Notes
Seats up	2 (Chief Justice + 1 Associate)	2 (Chief Justice + 1 Associate)	1 (Associate Justice)	Staggered terms mean not all seats are up at once.
Republican vote share	~57%	~58%	~54%	Consistent GOP performance in judicial races.
Democratic challenger	Sarah Stewart	Bob Vance	no Democrat advanced	2016 had only Republican candidates.
Turnout	~43%	~39%	~32%	Midterm years boost participation.
Advertising spending	$2.1 million	$1.8 million	$1.1 million	Spending reflects increased political interest.

The table shows that judicial elections in Alabama are becoming more competitive and expensive. While the Republican advantage has remained steady, Democratic efforts to gain ground have increased in visibility and funding, especially in urban areas like Mobile and Birmingham.

Why It Matters

The outcomes of the 2022 Alabama Supreme Court elections have long-term implications for state law and civil rights. With justices serving six-year terms, rulings on education, healthcare, and voting laws can be shaped for years.

Abortion rulings are heavily influenced by the court; Alabama’s strict ban was upheld by this court in 2022.
Property rights cases often reach the Supreme Court, impacting homeowners and businesses.
Election disputes may be reviewed by the court, especially in close statewide races.
Education funding challenges have been brought before the court in past sessions.
Judicial independence is debated, as campaigns become more politicized and expensive.
Future appointments to federal courts may be influenced by state judicial records.

Ultimately, the 2022 elections reinforced the current conservative trajectory of Alabama’s judiciary. With Republican justices likely to serve into the 2030s, legal interpretations will likely remain aligned with conservative legal principles for the foreseeable future.