Montgomery, AL – Tuscaloosa businessman Stan Pate has asked the Alabama Supreme Court to step aside from hearing an appeal of a lawsuit Pate filed against the governor.
Pate sued Gov. Bob Riley over his decision to give the state General Fund budget $63 million in winnings from a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil. Pate's suit argued that state law requires the money to go into a state savings account called the Alabama Trust Fund.
A Montgomery circuit judge ruled with Pate in April, and the governor appeals to the state Supreme Court.
Pate said Thursday the Supreme Court justices should step aside and let a panel of retired judges hear the case. He said there is a conflict with active judges hearing the appeal because the appropriations for the state court system could be cut if the General Fund budget doesn't get the $63 million.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)