By Associated Press
Mobile, AL – Mobile attorney Robert Smith has found success by switching parties. He ran unsuccessfully for the state Supreme Court in 2004 as a Democrat. Then he switched parties this year and won the Republican nomination for the Mobile County judgeship being vacated by Circuit Judge Ferrill McRae. McRae recently decided that he would retire October first rather than waiting until the end of his term in January. Governor Riley announced today that he has appointed Smith to serve out the final two months of McRae's term. Smith is also assured of a full six-year term because he does not face any Democratic opposition in the November general election.