Alabama voters will visit the polls on Tuesday to vote in the primary election.
Harold W. Morris, Clay Thomas and Samantha Burt Copelan are running for Lee County district judge, Place 2.
Primary elections allow voters to determine which candidates compete in the general election and can be nonpartisan or partisan. In partisan primaries, voters choose the candidates they prefer for a political party to nominate in the general election.
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In many cases, there are races that will not appear on the primary ballot, because candidates are running uncontested. That includes Jere Colley Jr., who is running for the Lee County probate judge position. Since there is no Republican opposition, Colley is not on the Republican primary Ballot.
There are no local races on the Democratic Primary ballot in Lee County, and that ballot only features one race U.S. President Joe Biden against Dean Phillips in selecting the democratic candidate. There is also a portion of the ballot for selecting the delegates to send to 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Learn about the candidates running for Lee County district judge, Place 2. Candidate responses may have been edited for length and clarity:
Samantha Burt Copelan, Republican
Samantha Copelan, Republican candidate for Lee County District Judge Place 2
Copelan, 39, of Auburn was born and raised in Lee County. She’s a wife to Edward Copelan and the mother of two children. Copelan attends athletic events and other local events with her family, including church. She is a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Opelika.
Copelan graduated from Beaureguard High School and earned her Bachelor of Science at Auburn University. According to her campaign site, she interned for Honorable Jacob Walker, III. She attained a law degree from the Thomas G. Jones School of Law.
In September 2022, Copelan decided she wanted to open her law practice Copelan Law Firm in Opelika after working at many of Lee County’s law firms. She established the Lee County Drug Court and served as felony contract defense attorney, prosecutor for the City of Auburn and defense attorney for Lee County Child Support Court. Copelan is a certified guardian ad litem as well.
Why are you running for office?
“I am running to be the next district judge, because I’ve had a very broad range of legal experience. I tried every type of case that came before the district court judge. I’ve tried it on both sides, which is unique to me.
“For instance, half of what a judge does or the district court judge is civil and that includes evictions, small claims, divorces and child custody. I’ve represented both parties on both sides. I’ve also prosecuted cases and then criminal defense work, because the other half of what a district court judge does is criminal matters.
“I think it’s important to have a judge that has a broad range of legal experience and has represented people, saying how the decisions of the court affect every both sides. The other reason is because I love this community. I was born and raised here in Lake County. My mom was involved heavily in community service organizations when I was little and found a love for that and serving with her. I’ve continued to do that throughout my life. I want to be able to serve the community in this manner. I think that this would be a unique opportunity to really give back to the community that I love so much, and it’s given so much to me,” Copelan said.
Why should Lee County residents vote for you?
“I think I am the most qualified candidate. From here, I have this broad range of experience. I believe that the district court judge is sort of the face of the judicial system.
“They interact with more people on a daily basis than any of the other positions. I think it’s important to have a judge who has a broad range of legal experience, but also that’s compassionate but firm. I think I bring those aspects to the table. I’ll hear cases and decide based on the law that’s been provided,” Copelan said.
To learn more about Copelan, visit Samanthacopelan.com.
Clay Thomas, Republican
Clay Thomas, Republican candidate for Lee County District Judge Place 2
Thomas calls Camden his hometown. He is married with two young boys, ages 11 and 13. Thomas enjoys being outdoors with his boys, listening to music with his wife and pulling for the Auburn Tigers with his whole family, according to his campaign website.
The 43-year-old candidate is a 1999 graduate of Wilcox Academy. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Auburn in 2004. In 2007, Thomas earned a Juris Doctorate from Thomas Goode Jones School of Law.
From 2008 to 2011, Thomas served as an Assistant District Attorney in Morgan County. He later prosecuted felonies in both Wilcox and Dallas Counties in 2011.
In 2021, Thomas became the Chief Assistant District Attorney in Lee County where he currently serves. He has been serving in Lee County for over a decade and tried approximately 75 jury trials consisting of mostly sex offenses and violent crimes. He is a member of Opelika Kiwanis and a lifelong Methodist.
Why are you running for office?
“I believe good qualified people need to run for office. It’s a very important position here in Lee County.
“That position touches more of the population than any other judicial position in the court system. I have spent my career in public service.
“I just believe I would be an excellent fit for that position with my personality and my experience of dealing with a wide variety of people that come through the court system. I’ve dealt with victims of crime my whole career as a prosecutor and law enforcement and the general public.
“I believe that those experiences would serve me well on the bench,” Thomas said.
Why should Lee County residents vote for you?
“I believe I’m the most experienced candidate for that position when you boil it down to what that position is because you don’t have jury trials.
“As a district court judge, you’re there making decisions from the bench, whether it be evictions, a traffic court, misdemeanor court, when law enforcement presents a search warrant, whether they have probable cause to allow you to search someone’s home or property or vehicle.
“The point being that when you boil down that position to what it is— in it’s simplest form— it is about making decisions and sometimes making hard decisions.
“I would say as a prosecutor, particularly as the chief assistant DA, and as an assistant DA my whole career, I have made and we make decisions that are as consequential to people’s lives as anybody in the court system, and that is something I’m well equipped to do. I have tried my best throughout my career to seek justice and make good, informed, and wise decisions under the law.
“I believe that those experiences that I’ve had in making hard decisions, making tough calls, trying difficult cases, and being in the courtroom, having to make decisions in the courtroom make me the best and most qualified candidate for that position,” Thomas said.
To learn more about Thomas, visit electclaythomas.org.
Harold W. Morris, Republican
Harold W. Morris, Republican candidate for Lee County District Judge Place 2
Morris, 61, is from Ashland. He is the husband of Jennifer Lynn Justice. They are the parents of two adult children, Charlton Brock Morris and Harrison Brooks Morris.
Morris’s business is Harold W. Morris Attorney at Law in Opelika. He has worked as a court-appointed criminal defense attorney. Morris has lived in Lee County for 33 years with 15 years being a public defender.
To learn more about Morris, visit his Facebook Page.
—The Opelika-Auburn News made multiple attempts to reach Morris for comment before our deadline, but those attempts were unsuccessful.
