On Thursday, December 4, 2025, the Tuscaloosa Thread reported that Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Brad Almond retired after nearly two decades on the bench. Governor Kay Ivey is now considering three candidates to fill the vacancy. Almond, who was initially appointed by former Governor Bob Riley in 2008, presided over numerous criminal and civil cases, including several high-profile murder trials, some of which are still ongoing.

The Tuscaloosa County Judicial Commission, composed of nine members, has submitted a list of potential replacements to Governor Ivey. The chosen candidate will serve until the next circuit judge election cycle in 2028 and will be required to run for the office at that time to continue serving.

Six attorneys initially applied for the position, and the commission narrowed the field to three finalists: John Baird, Chad Hobbs, and Corey Seale. According to a press release announcing the nominations, the candidates were selected based on their experience, character, and temperament. All three candidates are seeking judicial office for the first time, work in the public service sector, and are graduates of the University of Alabama School of Law.

John Baird, 41, was admitted to the practice of law in 2010. He currently serves as a Supervising Trial Attorney in the Tuscaloosa County Public Defender’s Office, where he has spent his entire career. Baird has also held multiple leadership positions in the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association and has received several awards for his courtroom work. He is a lifelong resident of Tuscaloosa County.

Chad Hobbs, 47, entered the legal profession in 2004. He is currently a Senior Associate City Attorney with the City of Tuscaloosa, a position he has held since 2020. Prior to that, he worked with Rosen Harwood, P.A. from 2004 to 2020. Hobbs is licensed to practice law in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Although raised in Baldwin County, he has resided in Tuscaloosa since 2001.

Corey Seale, 36, began her law practice in 2016. She is currently a Senior Assistant District Attorney with the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney’s Office, where she has worked since 2018. From 2016 to 2018, she was employed at Phelps, Jenkins, Gibson, and Fowler, LLP. Seale has held leadership positions in various local and statewide legal organizations. While she was raised in Marengo County, she has lived in Tuscaloosa since 2008.

Governor Ivey has 60 days to select one of the three candidates to fill the judicial seat until 2028. If she does not choose from the submitted pool within this timeframe, the Judicial Commission will reconvene to determine the next course of action.

 

 

Source: Tuscaloosa Thread