Greg Cook (judge)

Greg Cook
Associate Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 17, 2023
Preceded byMichael F. Bolin
Personal details
BornGregory Carl Cook
1962 (age 63–64)
Travis Air Force Base, California, U.S.
PartyRepublican
EducationDuke University (BA)
Harvard University (JD)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Air Force
RankCaptain

Gregory Carl Cook[1] (born 1962)[2] is an American lawyer from Alabama who has served as an associate justice of the Alabama Supreme Court since January 2023.

Early life and education

Cook was born on Travis Air Force Base in California.[3] He received a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University, magna cum laude, in 1984, while attending on an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship,[4] and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, magna cum laude, in 1991, where he was an editor on the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy.[1][4]

Career

After graduating law school, Cook moved to Birmingham to practice law.[4] He is also a United States Air Force veteran,[5] reaching the rank of Captain.[4] Cook was a partner with the law firm Balch & Bingham for 30 years.[6] In late 2000, Cook served as a volunteer attorney for the Bush v. Gore legal battle in Florida, where he supervised the hand recounting of hanging-chad ballots.[7]

Political involvement

Cook served on the Jefferson County Republican Steering Committee and the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee. For 15 years, he served as legal counsel to the Alabama GOP – including four years as General counsel – at both the county and state levels.[4]

Alabama Supreme Court

In 2021, Cook announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination to a seat on the Supreme Court of Alabama.[7][8] Cook ran to replace retiring Justice Michael F. Bolin and faced Calhoun County Circuit Court Judge Debra Jones in the primary.[9] Debra Jones was primarily supported by trial lawyers and Cook was primarily supported by business groups. Cook went on to win the primary with 54.3% of the vote.[10] Cook then won the November 8, 2022, general election, receiving 67.4% of the vote.[11] Cook's investiture ceremony, where he took his oath of office, was held on January 13, 2023.[12] Cook formally took office on January 17, 2023.[13]

Nomination to United States District Court

On June 29, 2026, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Cook to an undesignated seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.[14]

Personal life

Cook has been married to his wife Kimberly B. Cook since 1988. They have three children.[4] He has been a member of Dawson Baptist Church since 1991, where he is an ordained deacon.[4] Cook was also an active adult leader in the Boy Scouts of America prior to taking the bench, receiving the Silver Beaver Award, a Council's highest honor for adult volunteers, in 2021.

Election results

Republican primary for Alabama Supreme Court[10]
Year Republican Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2022 Debra Jones 256,227 44.6% Greg Cook 317,705 55.4%
Supreme Court - Place 5[11]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2022 Anita Kelly 451,538 32.6% Greg Cook 931,706 67.4%

References

  1. 1 2 "Gregory Carl Cook Profile". www.martindale.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  2. ↑ Embry, Neal (July 30, 2021). "Greg Cook running for Alabama Supreme Court". Vestavia Voice.
  3. ↑ "Greg Cook (Alabama)". Ballotpedia.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "About Greg". Archived from the original on November 10, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Greg Cook, Republican, Supreme Court Place 5". BirminghamWatch. May 18, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Candidate Greg Cook (R) for Alabama Supreme Court to speak at Harvey's on Noble". Sylacauga News. March 3, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Moseley, Brandon (May 26, 2021). "Greg Cook is running for Alabama Supreme Court". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  8. ↑ Cann, Beth (May 25, 2021). "Greg Cook announces his candidacy for Alabama Supreme Court". Alabama Today. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  9. ↑ Faulk, Kent (May 19, 2022). "2 in Republican Primary race for associate justice Alabama Supreme Court". al. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Anniston's Jones loses to Cook in Supreme Court race". sports.yahoo.com. May 25, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Alabama Other - Place 5 Election Results". www.jsonline.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Supreme Court Of Alabama Welcomes New Justice Greg Cook and Re-elected Justice Kelli Wise". Alabama State Bar. January 13, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Supreme Court Of Alabama Welcomes New Justice Greg Cook and Re-elected Justice Kelli Wise" (Press release). Alabama Judicial System. January 13, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  14. ↑ Everett, Grayson (June 30, 2026). "President Trump names Justice Greg Cook to federal bench in Northern District of Alabama".
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