Here at Weld, we know that politicians have the right to free speech and we believe in their right to exercise it. In Election Connection, we offer local politicians the chance to explain to their constituents what makes them unique. The first submission is from GOP judicial candidate Pat Thetford.
Pat Thetford, a candidate for Circuit Court Judge, Place 13, has practiced civil law for over 23 years. He has resided in Jefferson County for 27 years and is a native of Montgomery where his father was a Circuit Court Judge for 15 years. Thetford earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and his law degree from Cumberland School of Law. He also has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (M.B.A.) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Thetford has served on the Medical-Legal Liaison Committee and the Public Service Committee of the Birmingham Bar Association. He practiced law with the firms of Crosby, Saad, Beebe, Cavender and Crump P.C., in both their Mobile and Birmingham offices. For the past 18 years, he has practiced law with Wade Anderson and Associates, and its predecessor firm, which represents the insureds of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. He is an experienced lawyer, having tried over 70 jury trials to verdict, most of which were in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County. His career has spanned a broad variety of civil cases including but not limited to complex product liability actions, motor vehicle cases and premises liability actions. In January 2011, Pat was selected by the Jefferson County Judicial Commission as a top three judicial candidate for appointment by the Governor. He won the Republican primary nomination for Place 13 and was endorsed by The Birmingham News which cited Thetford’s “extensive trial experience.” On August 28, 2012, Presiding Judge J. Scott Vowell publicly endorsed Pat as “an experienced lawyer” and noted that “Pat’s background and courtroom experience make him the better candidate.”
Pat is married to Mary Frances Thetford and has two sons, Peyton, age 18, and Tommy, age 16. He is an active member of Canterbury United Methodist Church where he plays the mandolin and guitar in the contemporary band.
