MONTGOMERY - Alabama Supreme Court Justice Champ Lyons informed Governor Bob Riley on Friday that he resigned from the states highest court effectively immediately and he strongly recommended that the Governor appoint Judge James Allen Main of the Court of Criminal Appeals to the vacancy. On Friday afternoon, Governor Riley appointed Judge Main to serve out the remainder of Justice Lyons term.
No one is better qualified to serve on the Supreme Court than Judge Main. His commitment to public service, his work ethic, and his tremendous legal background will be a benefit to all the people of our state, said Governor Riley.
I thank Justice Champ Lyons for his outstanding service on the Supreme Court and for his honorable service to the people of Alabama, said Governor Riley.
Justice Lyons was appointed by then-Governor Fob James to the Supreme Court in 1998.
Justice Main said, It is a great honor to serve on the Alabama Supreme Court and I look forward to continuing my service in the judicial system in this new position.
Below is background information on Justice Main:
James Allen (Jim) Main was appointed as a Judge on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeal by Governor Bob Riley in May 2009. He previously served as Director of Finance for the State of Alabama. The Finance Director is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the state, as well as policy advisor to the Governor.
Prior to becoming Finance Director in 2004, Main served as Senior Counsel to Gov. Riley and Chief of Staff and Legal Advisor to Gov. Fob James. Other public service includes terms as Anniston City Attorney, Lineville City Judge and City Attorney for Oxford, Alabama.
Main was in private law practice in Anniston (beginning in 1972) and Montgomery (beginning in 1989). During the active practice of law, he handled numerous precedent-setting cases before the Alabama Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court.
Judge Main is a member of a number of professional organizations including the Alabama Bar Association, presently serves as a founding Fellow of the Alabama Law Foundation, past-President of the American Pharmacists Association, past-Chairman of the Deans Counsel for the Auburn School of Pharmacy and a past member of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. He is actively involved in his local church and has served as Sunday school teacher, deacon and short-term missionary.
Judge Main has received numerous awards, including the Parke Davis Leadership Award; the Bowl of Hygeia (pronounced Hi-jé-a), the most widely recognized international symbol for the profession of pharmacy today; the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Auburn University School of Pharmacy; and the President?s Award from the American Society of Pharmacy and Law. He has long served on various local and state boards and commissions and was named Outstanding Young Man of Anniston in 1975 for his contribution to the community.
He has been married to Gale for 43 years, is the father of Jay Main, Saxon Main and Ashley Parker and the proud grandfather of Mary Katherine, Mac, McLeod and Tom.
Judge Main received a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree in pharmacy from Auburn University and a juris doctorate (JD) degree from the University of Alabama.