Gov. Ivey Appoints Judge Borden to Alabama Court of Civil Appeals

On Wednesday, Governor Kay Ivey appointed Judge Benjamin M. Borden to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.

Borden will take over for Justice Bill Lewis, who has been appointed to the Alabama Supreme Court following Judge Jay Mitchell’s recent resignation. Mitchell stepped down earlier this week to run for Alabama Attorney General in the 2026 election.

“Judge Borden’s track record as a legal scholar aligns well with his impressive history as a lawyer, prosecutor, and judge,” Ivy remarked in a statement. “He has consistently shown his commitment to justice and fairness under the law. I truly believe he will serve with the utmost integrity.”

Borden has been a circuit judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit in Covington County since 2016 and previously held the position of probate judge in the county from 2008 to 2016.

“I’m grateful for the confidence shown in me by Governor Ivey to serve on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals,” Borden said. “Angie and I are looking forward to this new opportunity. I’ve always seen myself as a public servant at heart and can’t wait to contribute to the people of Alabama in this meaningful way.”

Borden earned both his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Alabama. He was commissioned through the US Air Force ROTC in 1992 and served as part of the Air Force Judge Advocate General, with assignments at Bitburg Air Base in Germany and Aviano Air Base in Italy.

Following his active duty termination in 1997, he joined the law firm Albritton, Clifton, Alberson, Moody & Bowden in Andalusia, where he focused on general litigation. He served as both city prosecutor and assistant district attorney for Andalusia, successfully prosecuting two capital murder cases, including what became the longest jury trial in Covington County history.

Borden continued his military involvement in the Air Force Reserve until retiring as a Colonel in 2023.

His appointment is set to last until January 2027; however, Judge Bill Lewis’s position on the Civil Appeals Court will necessitate that Borden run for a full six-year term in the November 2026 general election.

As clarified by the Alabama Supreme Court in the 1988 case Hooper v. Siegelman, appointed judges are required to face reelection in the next general election after serving at least one year in their appointed position.