05/14/2026
Judicial Candidates Poll Results:
On April 28, 2026, the Birmingham Bar Association (“BBA”) hosted a Judicial Candidates Forum featuring the three candidates for District Court Judge, Place 7, a seat being vacated by Judge Ruby Davis. The candidates are Jimmy Ray Earley Jr., Tiffany Jones, and Hope Marshall.
The forum was moderated by two of our retired circuit judges, the Honorable Carole Smitherman and the Honorable Jim Hughey, who posed questions to each candidate and provided each an opportunity to introduce themselves to the community. The event was live-streamed and is currently available for public viewing here on the BBA’s page (see Reels).
Following the forum, the BBA conducted a survey of its membership regarding the qualifications of the judicial candidates ahead of the upcoming May 19, 2026 primary election. Participation in the poll was voluntary and open to the BBA’s approximately 2,800 members, and 193 BBA members responded to the poll. Respondents were asked to evaluate each candidate using four rating categories: “I don’t know this candidate,” “Not Qualified,” “Qualified,” and “Well Qualified.” The following are the results of the BBA's poll:
Jimmy Ray Earley, Jr.
· I don't know this candidate - 126/193 = 65.28%
· Not Qualified - 33/193 = 17.10%
· Qualified - 21/193 = 10.88%
· Well Qualified - 13/193 = 6.74%
Tiffany Jones
· I don't know this candidate - 104/193 = 53.88%
· Not Qualified - 18/193 = 9.33%
· Qualified - 37/193 = 19.17%
· Well Qualified - 34/193 = 17.62%
Hope Marshall
· I don't know this candidate - 34/193 = 17.61%
· Not Qualified - 5/193 = 2.59%
· Qualified - 13/193 = 6.74%
· Well Qualified - 141/193 = 73.06%
Thank you again to the candidates for their participation and to our judges who moderated the forum.
