Chief Justice Tom Parker retires

January 14, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – Chief Justice Tom Parker (R) retired from Alabama's highest court – he has served as Chief Justice since 2019. He was first elected to the Alabama Supreme Court in 2004 as an associate justice.

Retiring Chief Justice Parker thanked those around him for helping him achieve what he did in his career on the court.

"My wife Dottie and I thank Ben DuPré for his kind and encouraging words, we thank the Court and Staff for this Retirement Ceremony, and all of you for attending," said Parker. "And I personally thank Dottie for supporting and enabling me to serve 20 years on this Court."

"The Administrative accomplishments mentioned by Ben have been great, restorative, rebuilding and strengthening, but I want to talk about judicial philosophy and changes that have transpired on this Court," Parker continued. "Let me begin by quoting Isaiah 58:12 "You will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; You will be known as a rebuilder of broken walls, A restorer of homes."

"Prior to the first Trump Administration and his appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court, I and all of the senior justices here ran our political races against judicial activism," said Parker. "But it takes more than just saying that one is against judicia l activism and the judicial philosophy of a Living Constitution approach, which allows judges to say that the meaning of the Constitution has changed to say what it is that they want the Constitution to say. As a counter approach, I determined to "rebuild the ancient ways," to "raise up age-old foundations.""

"Sir William Blackstone is viewed as the source of the philosophy of America as set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the institutions of government in America as set forth in the Constitution," said Parker. "The books on display behind me are indicative of that. They are Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England. To my far right is the first set of law books in Alabama. It is a 1766 set of Blackstone's Commentaries owned by the Attorney General of British West Florida, who had his home on Mobile Bay. These books introduced the Common Law into 1/3 of the geographic area of present-day Alabama. You are currently in what was the territory of British West Florida. The northern boundary included Fort Toulouse, just south of Wetumpka. That set of books was eventually owned by Martin van Buren, the 8th President of the United States. Next to it is a single volume of Blackstone owned by John Adams, the man who led the push for independence in the Continental Congress, who signed the Declaration of Independence and became the 2nd

President of the United States. Next, moving to your right, is a 1771 volume of Blackstone, owned by James Madison. Madison studied that book to become the Father of the Constitution. That 1771 book was printed in Philadelphia, but Robert Bell, the printer, had people subscribe to the printing in advance. Subscribers included 16 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 9 members of the Constitutional Convention, one President, John Adams, and 2 Chief Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. James Madison was not a subscriber but bought his copy from one of the booksellers who bought and sold the additional copies printed. Madison became the 4th President of the United States. And the set to your far right is a 1783 set originally owned by John Lansing, Jr. before he served as one of the 55 Delegates in the 1787 Constitutional Convention."

"So, from those 4 examples, you can get an idea of the influence that Blackstone had on America in the Founding Era," explained Parker. "I have written opinions "raising up the age-old foundations" by quoting Blackstone, which became the basis of the law and the legal system at the beginning of this nation, enduring for at least a century and a half. As one scholar stated, "[N]o writer in the law ever has for so long a time enjoyed such supremacy as he, and no other exerted such an influence over a nation in the hour of its birth and during the years of its growth to full maturity and statehood." (David Lockmiller, p. 277)."

"Today, if you search legal databases for citations to Blackstone, you will see that the U.S. Supreme Court and the Alabama Supreme Court are the leaders in pointing back to the ancient paths," explained Parker. "In addition, rather than solely relying on the legal precedents of the Alabama justices before us, your Court has moved to Originalism in interpreting the Alabama Constitution and statutes."

"I am proud to have played a role in turning our Court back to honoring the age-old foundation of law in America and also interpreting law based upon Originalism, that is, what the words meant at the time of adoption," stated Parker. "I am pleased with the focus of my colleagues on the Bench and leave with great encouragement about the future of this Court."

"As set forth in the Preamble of the Alabama Constitution, the very first purpose for the creation of Alabama's government is "to establish justice," Parker continued. "Justice has the same primary priority with God. For Him justice is foundational. Psalm 97:2, says that, "Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of His throne." He is the One whom the Declaration of Independence calls "the Supreme Judge of the world." But the Supreme Judge of the world has also established judges among men."

"In order to be able to perform this awesome responsibility, I pray for our judges the prayer for Solomon recorded in Psalm 72:1 "Give us knowledge of Your way of judging, O God, and the spirit of Your Righteousness," said Parker. "In the words of Proverbs 8:20, I ask for Wisdom for our judges to "walk in the way of Righteousness, in the midst of the paths of Justice." As Psalm 94:15 says, that "Judgment will again be founded on justice, and those with virtuous hearts will pursue it." Zechariah 8:16 commands judges: "Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice and peace.""

Parker is being succeeded by Sarah Stewart (R) who has previously served as an associate justice on the court.

"I pray my blessings on my successor, on this Institution, and on the whole Judiciary of Alabama that I have administered as Chief Justice," Parker prayed. "And I pray the words of Amos 5:24 over the State of Alabama and the Judiciary of Alabama: "Let Justice roll down like a river, And Righteousness like a might stream.""

Parker was born and raised in Montgomery where he attended Sidney Lanier High School. He graduated cum laude from Dartmouth, and then attended Vanderbilt University Law School, where he received his law degree. He studied at the Law School of the University of São Paulo in Brazil as a Rotary International fellow.

In 1989, Parker cofo8unded the Alabama Family Alliance with Gary Palmer. It was later renamed the Alabama Policy Institute. Today API is the premier a conservative policy and government think tank in the state. Parler is a former Alabama assistant attorney general, deputy administrative director of Alabama courts, general counsel for Alabama trial courts, and director of the Alabama Judicial College. He was an assistant attorney general under both Jeff Sessions and Bill Pryor.

Parker unseated incumbent Justice Jean Brown in the Republican primary to join the court. He defeated incumbent Chief Justice Lyn Stewart (R) – who Governor Kay Ivey (R) appointed to replace Roy Moore (R) – in another Republican primary to become Chief Justice.

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