Greene County Democrat

Tag: 17th Circuit

  • Griggers announces candidacy Circuit Court Judge, 17th Circuit

    Today I am formally announcing my intention to seek the office of Circuit Court Judge for the 17th Circuit. It has been a privilege to serve the voters of Greene, Sumter, and Marengo Counties as your District Attorney for the past 20 plus years, and I thank the voters in the 17th Circuit who have enabled me to serve in that capacity. However, with the retirement of Judge Hardaway at the end of 2024, I have decided that the time has come for me to pursue this new challenge. I am confident that with my 30 years of practicing law, my 20+ years of public service, as well as my familiarity with the Court system in the 17th Circuit, I am prepared to successfully serve on the Circuit Court bench as your Circuit Judge.

    Election Day is March 5th, 2024, almost eight months away. I realize that most of you have been dealing with high school graduations, and are busy with summer baseball/softball tournaments and summer vacation. For that reason, I have been hesitant to impose on everyone’s busy summer schedule to discuss politics. As the summer winds down, my campaign will become more active and visible. My social media pages should be up and running in the coming weeks. I hope all of you will review the content that we will put out on social media; but more importantly, I hope to get the chance to speak with as many of you as possible in person in the coming months. The Circuit Court Judgeship is an important position in the 17th Circuit, and I look forward to sharing my vision for the job with you.

    This campaign will be a positive campaign. I am asking the voters of Greene, Sumter, and Marengo Counties to support me based on my merit as a candidate and nothing more. If elected, I intend to apply the same principles of hard work, integrity, fairness, and the principles that have served me well in the District Attorney’s Office. Anyone who is willing or would like to get involved in the campaign is welcome and encouraged to contact me or message me on our social media pages.

    I hope you all have a great summer. I look forward to seeing you all over the coming months, and I hope to earn your support and vote on March 5th, 2024.

  • Barrown Lankster seeks District Attorney’s office, 17th Circuit

    My name is Barrown Douglas Lankster, Sr., and I am seeking the office of District Attorney serving Greene Sumter and Marengo Counties.
    I am the 5th of 12 children of Mrs. Velma J. Lankster and Mr. Albert Charles Lankster. I am the father of Kristina R. Brown, Dr. Nakieta M. Lankster and Barrown D. Lankster, II.
    I am a 1968 graduate of George P. Austin High School; a l970 graduate of Selma University; a 1972 graduate of Livingston University and a 1975 graduate of Howard University School of Law.
    I was on the Dean’s List at both Selma University and Livingston University. I chose Howard University Law School because it was the alma mater of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. While a student at Howard University School of Law, I was the recipient of the Herbert Lehman Scholarship, Earl Warren Scholarship and the Howard Thurman Educational Scholarship. I made the highest grade at the law school, 1OO% in Evidence, and was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in the Study of Evidence.
    Upon my graduation from Howard, I had was choice of working at law firms in Washington, DC and New York City. I chose to begin my legal career at the Legal Services Corporation in Birmingham, Alabama, where I became Senior Staff Attorney.
    Dr. Richard Arrington, Jr., who was a member of the Birmingham City Council asked me to apply for a position in the Law Department for the City of Birmingham because they had never hired an African American lawyer to work in that department. I was assigned to the courtroom of Judge Peter A. Hall, a great civil rights lawyer and Birmingham’s first Black Judge.
    The Birmingham Bar Association, in 1979, submitted my name along with 2 other individuals to Alabama Governor Fob James to become a District Judge of Jefferson County. James selected Judge Sandra Ross but in an interview with Governor James, he committed to appointing me to the next district judge vacancy.
    I chose to return to the Blackbelt in 1980 opening my practice on January15, 1981 in Demopolis, Alabama. Commissioners Claude Jackson, Obadiah Threadgill and Ben Walker hired me in 1982 to be the Commission’s attorney. I served Greene and Hale County Commissioners as their attorney, as well. Mayor Andrew Hayden and the Uniontown City Council appointed me City Judge. District Attorney Roy hired me as an Assistant District Attorney for the 4th Circuit of Alabama.
    On November 3, 1992. I was elected by the people of Greene, Sumter County and Marengo Counties as District Attorney, becoming the first African American elected district attorney in the State of Alabama and the 2nd elected in the United States.
    I am the Chairman of the Board of Deacons and Sunday School Superintendent of the Eastern Star Baptist Church, Demopolis, Alabama. I believe integrity matter. I am again seeking the office of District Attorney for Greene, Sumter and Marengo Counties. I ask for your vote and support.