By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Democrat Sue Bell Cobb has defeated Republican Chief Justice Drayton Nabers Jr. to become the head of Alabama's court system. A spokesman says Nabers phoned Cobb Tuesday night to concede defeat. Cobb will become the first female chief justice in the state's history. In other races, Republicans claimed nine spots on three state appeals courts. That means the GOP holds all 19 statewide judgeships expect the job of chief justice.