Governor Kay Ivey on Monday announced the appointment of Will Parker to the Alabama Supreme Court, filling the vacancy left by Bill Lewis. Lewis, whom Ivey previously appointed to the state’s high court, was recently selected by President Donald Trump for a federal judgeship.
Parker has served as Ivey’s general counsel since December 2019, joining the administration in June 2017 shortly after Ivey took office. During that time, he became a key legal adviser to the governor, her cabinet and staff on a wide range of issues.
“Will Parker is the exact kind of person you want serving on the Alabama Supreme Court. He is not only highly capable and dedicated to the rule of law, but he is a truly good man with the utmost integrity,” Ivey said. “He has been an outstanding General Counsel, easily explaining the complexities of the law and constitution in understandable verbiage. That will no doubt serve the Court well. While I will miss having him as General Counsel, I am thrilled for the people of Alabama, as well as for Will and his family, as he takes on this new role.”
As general counsel and a member of the governor’s senior staff, Parker played a significant role in shaping and implementing the administration’s legislative priorities. During the most recent legislative session, he oversaw the drafting of key measures including the ban on cell phones in schools, legislation to elevate the state’s veterans-services agency, establish paid parental leave for public school teachers, and enhance public safety through the Safe Alabama initiative.
“I am grateful to Governor Ivey for the opportunity to serve the people of Alabama in this new role, and I will do everything I can as a member of the Alabama Supreme Court to live up to the high standards set by her and embodied by all of Team Ivey,” Parker said. “Over her remarkable eight and a half years in office, Governor Ivey has provided steady leadership for our great state, always faithfully fulfilling her duties and serving the people. This is the example I hope to follow on the Court each and every day as I work to uphold the Constitution and preserve the rule of law.”
Before joining the Governor’s Office, Parker spent nearly a decade as Assistant Attorney General in the Constitutional Defense Division of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. He handled cases before both state and federal courts defending state policies in areas such as court administration, campaign finance, environmental law, immigration, and public employment. Parker has also argued multiple times before the Alabama Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
A graduate of The University of Alabama School of Law, where he earned his degree magna cum laude in 2006, Parker began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Ed Carnes of the Eleventh Circuit. Before entering law, he taught U.S. history at a Montgomery public high school after earning his undergraduate degree from Davidson College in 2002.
Parker’s appointment is effective immediately. Ivey officially swore him in Monday morning during a ceremony in her office, attended by his wife, Karen, their two sons and his parents.
