Alabama Appellate Courts
Voter Guide 2010
Nonpartisan information about the Alabama Courts of Appeal and the
candidates running in those elections in 2010.


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Jim Main
Republican Party Candidate for
Judge,
Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

General Election
November 2, 2010

Candidate Responses to Voter Guide Questions

Candidates were asked to provide answers to seven fundamental, nonpartisan questions for this voter guide. Candidates were asked not to make comparisons with any other candidate. Candidates were advised that their answers would be limited to 250 words per question. Each candidate's answers are reprinted verbatim here up to that word limit.


1.  How have your training, professional experience, and interests prepared you to serve on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals?
 My experience as an attorney included criminal defense, criminal prosecution (city attorney) and judicial (city judge). My experience in state government gave me a different insight to the criminal justice system.                                                                                                                                               
2. What do you consider to be the three most important attributes of a judge?
 Impartial
Intelligent
Experienced                                                                                                                                               
3. What is your judicial philosophy?
 Follow the Rule of Law                                                                                                                                               
4. How do you define “judicial independence,” and how important is it to our judicial system?
 An impartial, intelligent and experienced judge following the Rule of Law even when it is not the result he would prefer - Very important.                                                                                                                                               
5. What is the greatest area of need in the Alabama criminal justice system, and how should the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals respond, if at all?
 The Court of Criminal Appeals, as an appellate court of review should not "make" law or "administer" law but rather apply the law to the facts of the case when there is a dispute presented to it.                                                                                                                                               
6. What part, if any, should public opinion play in the decision of a judge?
 Public opinion should play no part in individual cases.                                                                                                                                               
7. In a case before the Court, how should a judge handle a conflict between his/her personal beliefs and the law?
 Follow the law or recuse if your personal beliefs prevent you from following the law on a particular case.