By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – House Speaker Seth Hammett says he believes the legislature is too divided to pass a bill that would change the way judges are elected. It would require Alabama's appellate, circuit and district judges to be listed in nonpartisan contests. Candidates would be elected during the party primaries in June, but their names would appear on ballots in a separate section. And, their party affiliations would not be listed. If no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two would appear on the November general election ballot, again without a listed political party. The bill passed the House Constitution and Elections Committee last week.