Bill Lewis Named First Black GOP Supreme Court Justice

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has appointed Judge Bill Lewis to the Alabama Supreme Court, filling the vacancy created by Justice Jay Mitchell’s resignation as he considers a 2026 run for state attorney general. Lewis, previously a circuit court judge and Court of Civil Appeals member, becomes the first Black Republican and only the fourth Black justice on the Alabama Supreme Court. Judge Benjamin M. Bowden, an Air Force veteran and current circuit court judge, has been named to replace Lewis on the Court of Civil Appeals. Both appointments are effective immediately. Governor Ivey praised the appointees for their dedication to justice and fairness. The appointments mark a significant reshuffling in Alabama’s judicial leadership.