Tuscaloosa Republican Announces Bid for New Circuit Judge Seat in 2026 Election

A Tuscaloosa Republican has thrown his name into consideration for a newly created and badly needed circuit judge position to be elected next year.

In 2023, Alabama lawmakers passed a Senate bill to create new positions in several regions where criminal and civil cases are piling up, with too few judges to hear them.

Under the law, one new circuit judge will be added to the Sixth Circuit - Tuscaloosa County - in elections to be held in the November 2026 midterms.

Circuit judges hold one of the most vital positions in the county, overseeing both criminal and civil cases of significant importance.

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This week, Tuscaloosa Republican Dennis Steverson announced that he will run for the new judgeship on an experience-driven platform, having spent decades in the legal profession in West Alabama.

He currently serves as a circuit court judge overseeing domestic relations cases and juvenile court matters in Tuscaloosa County. He'll be running for the new Place 7 Circuit Judgeship, which hears criminal and civil cases.

“It has been an honor to serve the people of Tuscaloosa,” he said. “I am seeking to continue that service with integrity, fairness and a commitment to justice. Every decision I make will be based upon the law and in doing what is right for children, families and our community.”

Before Governor Ivey appointed him to his current seat, Steverson also spent time as the municipal judge for Woodstock, Vance, Brookwood and Coaling. Previously, he served Tuscaloosa County as a circuit court judge from 1999 to 2002 and Special Circuit Court Judge for Tuscaloosa County Drug Court from 2009-2015.

“Experience matters, and I bring that legal experience to the bench every day, applying the law fairly to every individual who enters the courtroom,” he said.

Steverson is also a 2019 inductee into the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce Civic Hall of Fame and a 2011 honoree named a Pillar of West Alabama, which are major recognitions for those who have decicated decades to serving the community.

The judge has served on the board of directors of the Easter Seals, the United Way of West Alabama, the American Red Cross, the Boy Scouts of America, Hospice of West Alabama, the YMCA and Turning Point.

In his campaign announcement, Steverson also stated that he is an alumnus of Stillman College and the University of Alabama School of Law, and has served as an Elder for the Woodland Park Church of Christ for over 30 years.

The party primaries will be held on May 19th, 2026. The general election is set for November.

For more exclusive coverage of courts in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.