Statement of J. Mark White and Augusta S. Dowd on Behalf of Attorneys for the Birmingham Race Course

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement of J. Mark White and Augusta S. Dowd on behalf of attorneys for the Birmingham Race Course:

"We are delighted to learn that the Georgia Committee for Ethical Judicial Campaigns supports our effort to have the U.S. Supreme Court restore fairness and integrity to the Alabama Supreme Court. Today, the Georgia Committee filed a 'Friend of the Court' brief advancing our belief that certain judges of the Alabama Supreme Court should not have participated in condemning activities to which they had previously and publicly stated their opposition. We fully agree with the Georgia Committee that the Supreme Court should 'recognize a robust due process right to recusal of judges who attained their offices by demonstrating partiality.'

Since our petition was filed we have heard from a significant number of responsible groups and individuals concerned about the important ethical issues raised in our case. A justice on any court should not be allowed to participate in a case where that judge has publicly announced his or her bias or prejudice against a party or an issue. Our only goal is to have all members of the Alabama Supreme Court honor and respect their oaths to be fair and impartial.

This is a problem of monumental significance that affects every citizen of this country. This is a matter that infects our judiciary with partisanship and special treatment for the few and erodes the founding concept of justice for all."

***End Of Statement***