Stearns appointed as new circuit judge

Brewton attorney and assistant District Attorney Todd Stearns took the oath of office July 31 and officially became Circuit Judge Todd Stearns on Aug. 1 after Gov. Kay Ivey appointed him to fill the unexpired term of retiring Circuit Judge Dave Jordan, who stepped down on July 31.

Stearns, 55, will fill Jordan's unexpired term on the bench. The circuit judge position will be on the 2022 ballot and Stearns said he will seek a full six-year term on the Republican ticket at that time.

"It's an honor to serve the people of Escambia County," Stearns said. "This is something I've wanted to do for several years."

A native of Montgomery, Stearns graduated from the University of Alabama in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. He then attended Northeast Louisiana University (now known as Louisiana Monroe).

Stearns began law school in 1989 at the Cumberland School of Law in Montgomery and graduated in 1992. He was admitted to the Alabama Bar Association in September, 1992, and opened a private law practice in Brewton.

In 1997, Stearns was appointed as Escambia County's public defender and held that position until January, 2007, when he was hired as an assistant district attorney. In addition to his duties in the district attorney's office, Stearns joined the law firm of Otts, Moore, Coale and Godwin and later became a partner.

"I've always thought I wanted to be a judge," Stearns said.

That thought turned to a goal when he was appointed as Atmore's city attorney in November, 2016.

"That really made me think about becoming a circuit judge," Stearns said.

Stearns and his wife Sharon have two children, Jeremy Todd 'J.T.' Stearns and Spencer Jay and Spencer's wife Mandy.

The Escambia County Bar Association will hold a retirement party for Dave Jordan at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, in courtroom one on the second floor of the courthouse in Brewton.

The investiture of Judge Stearns will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, also in courtroom one at the courthouse.