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Alabama Supreme Court announces retirement of Clerk of Court Julia Weller

The court has selected Margaret “Megan” Byrne Rhodebeck to be the next clerk of court.

The Heflin-Torbert Judicial Building in Montgomery.
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The Supreme Court of Alabama is pleased to announce that it has selected Mrs. Margaret “Megan” Byrne Rhodebeck to be the next Clerk of Court, effective August 1, 2022. Mrs. Rhodebeck will succeed Mrs. Julia Jordan Weller, who is retiring on August 1 after nine (9) years as Clerk.

The Court’s order of appointment may be found here.

The Supreme Court thanked Mrs. Weller for her loyal service to the Court, and for the notable advancements that she introduced throughout her 9-year tenure.

“It’s not easy to serve a Court of nine justices, even one as collegial and unified as our Court,” said Chief Justice Tom Parker, “but Julia has set the bar high with her years of innovation, diligence, and grit. From day one of her appointment in 2013, her effective leadership and drive to improve the Clerk’s office was evident and transformative. From modernizing our appellate IT systems and programs, to serving the public with efficiency and professionalism, Julia Weller has been a great blessing to this Court and to our goal of establishing justice in Alabama.”

“More than just our Clerk, Julia has been a great friend to me,” Chief Justice Parker added. “She will be greatly missed.”

Megan Rhodebeck was selected to be Weller’s successor after an application process that ended in early July, and the Court’s decision was notably unanimous.

Megan Rhodebeck

“Megan steps easily into the Clerk position because she has a track record of proven leadership at the Supreme Court, and has earned the trust and respect of all of the Justices,” noted Chief Justice Parker.

Rhodebeck served for years on the Court of Civil Appeals (2009-2013) before serving nearly ten years on the Supreme Court as Senior Staff Attorney to Associate Justice Tommy Bryan.

Most recently, Rhodebeck demonstrated her leadership abilities and dedication to the Judicial Branch as a key leader in the daunting implementation of the new appellate case management and e-filing system (C-Track), a process that remains ongoing and demanding. 

Justice Tommy Bryan thanked Megan for her faithful service in his chambers, and added that “Megan is a natural fit to be our new Clerk: she has an intimate knowledge of the new C-Track system, the Court’s internal processes and traditions, and all of the Court’s personnel. Above and beyond her legal and technical skills is Megan’s wonderful personality. She has the ability to navigate challenging work situations with grace and kindness. As a result, our Court expects this to be a smooth transition to build upon the strong foundation left by her predecessor.”

Rhodebeck is from Mobile, Alabama, where she graduated from McGill-Toolen Catholic High School. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Auburn University and her Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law.  Rhodebeck and her husband, Seth, reside in Montgomery and attend Gateway Baptist Church.

The Alabama Political Reporter is a daily political news site devoted to Alabama politics. We provide accurate, reliable coverage of policy, elections and government.

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