Kyle Shirley has been practicing law in Autauga County for just over a decade now and has his sights set on becoming Autauga County’s next district judge.
But even though Shirley has run for office once before, he emphasized that he doesn’t see the district judgeship as a “stepping stone.”
“There have been other judicial vacancies I would have gone after if I just wanted to be a judge,” Shirley said. “You’re not going to see me on a ballot for circuit judge or some other position; the only job I want is District Judge of Autauga County.”
The only other time Shirley ran for office was at 18, coming up short of a runoff for Prattville City Council against now-mayor Bill Gillespie.
Shirley is challenging incumbent Jessica Sanders for the district judge seat, although this is the first time either candidate has actually publicly campaigned for election to the seat. Sanders was appointed in Jan. 2023 by Gov. Kay Ivey to fill the unexpired term of Judge Joy Pace Booth, who was elected to a circuit judgeship.
Shirley had interest in being appointed to the district judgeship at the time and is now trying his hand at being elected to the seat.
“I’m not going to sit here and say Judge Sanders is doing this and that wrong,” Shirley said. “I’ve had an interest in this when the appointment process was going on and had the overwhelming support of the community. We need a lawyer in that role, not just a politician.”
Shirley said it’s important to him to serve the Autauga County community as he is not only born and raised here, but his family roots go back “before Autauga County was even a county.”
“You know me and my family. I practice at the oldest law firm in Autauga County, my grandfather was the president of Gurney (Manufacturing),” Shirley said. “This is my home, not somewhere I came back to, it’s where I wanted to be the whole time.”
Although circuit judges ultimately handle felony cases, they first stop in district court.
Thanks to the recent passage of Aniah’s Law, district judges now decided whether certain individuals charged with serious violent crimes have an opportunity at bail.
“The district judge is the first line of defense to keep people in jail that need to be in jail,” Shirley said.
District judges also handle small claims court for civil suits under $20,000, as well as misdemeanors and traffic violations (outside of Prattville city limits).
“District court is going to be the court that touches the most people; that impacts me, you and your neighbor,” Shirley said “Most average people are not involved in six figure suits.”
District judges also handle juvenile court, which Shirley said can be life-changing for kids who don’t have the resources they need.
“One thing that has really touched me is juvenile court,” Shirley said. “As a district judge, you have a chance to save these kids’ lives.”
Shirley serves as an attorney for the Autauga County Commission and said his experience has mainly been in civil court, with some occasional criminal practice. That includes real estate and small claims court, representing the spectrum from “your neighbor to Alabama Power.”
The primary election is Tuesday, March 5. With no Democrats in the race, the primary will decide the next district judge for Autauga County.
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