By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – The state House Judiciary Committee barely rejected a bill Wednesday that would have prevented the Alabama Court of the Judiciary from removing judges from office. The vote was seven to six. Representative Mark Gaines supports the bill and told committee members such power should be reserved for the Legislature. But committee chairman Representative Marcel Black opposed the bill, saying there needs to be a mechanism for removing judges. The bill would have allowed the Court to suspend judges only. The Court of the Judiciary voted to remove former Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore from office.