Associate Justice Sarah Stewart, the Republican candidate for Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice, received new support today from a group of conservative sheriffs and law enforcement leaders in the state.

One such leader, Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego, said he hopes the endorsement will show the public that Stewart is first and foremost a law-abiding candidate.

“These endorsements solidify Judge Sarah Stewart as a true 'tough on crime' judge and should send a message to voters that she truly believes in 'law and order,'” Samaniego said. ” he said. “Judge Stewart has the confidence of her law enforcement officers and our community stands by her.”

RELATED: Sarah Stewart gets support from 23 district attorneys across Alabama

Ms Stewart said she was honored to receive the new support.

“Our county sheriff’s deputies and municipal police officers are the first line of defense for our communities and our property. They fight illegal immigration, the growing drug trade, and the illegal pandemic across our country. Every day we face the challenges posed by…

“I appreciate their support, and they have certainly always had my back.”

The list of law enforcement leaders who expressed support for Mr. Stewart today includes:

• Sheriff John Samaniego, Shelby
• Sheriff Billy Murray, St. Clair
• Sheriff Kevin Turner, Madison
• Sheriff Hoss Mack, Baldwin
• Sheriff Paul Birch, Mobile
• Sheriff Sam Cochran (Ret.), Mobile
• Sheriff Ron Abernathy, Tuscaloosa
• Sheriff Scott Byrd, Coffee
• Sheriff Joe Hamilton, Lauderdale
• Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore, Talladega
• Sheriff Rocky Hanen, Jackson
• Sheriff Richard Stringer, Washington State
• Sheriff Dwayne Smith, Clark
• Sheriff Matthew Wade, Calhoun
• Sheriff Jordan Powell, Pickens
• Sheriff Marty Gottwald, Lamar
• Sheriff Brian Yarby, Fayette
• Sheriff Heath Jackson, Escambia
• Sheriff Phil Simms, Marshal
• Sheriff Mason Bynum, Dale
• Sheriff Tony Helms, Geneva
• Sheriff Eric Valentine, Colbert
• Sheriff Jeff Shaver, Cherokee
• Josh Summerford Cherokee Chief Deputy Sheriff
• Sheriff Blake Turman, Covington
• Sheriff Terry Mears, Crenshaw
• Florence Police Chief Ron Tyler
• Chief of Police Bill Partridge, Oxford
• Chatom Police Chief Aaron Carpenter
• Former ALEA Director, current Director of Public Safety for Charles Ward, Ozark.

Last week, Stewart's campaign also received support from 26 Republican district attorneys from around the state. Alabama's Republican primary election will be held on March 5, 2024.

Austin Shipley is a staff writer at Yellowhammer News.