Endorsements continue to flow in the race for Alabama attorney general (AG), which has recently led to heated accusations between two of the leading candidates: former Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell and chief counsel in the AG’s Office, Katherine Robertson.
The pair will face Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey for the Republican nomination in the May 19 primary.
Things have gotten fiery between Mitchell and Robertson this week, with Mitchell criticizing Robertson’s actions in the AG’s office during her tenure.
SEE ALSO: Accusations continue to fly between Jay Mitchell and Katherine Robertson in heated AG race
Recently, the Professional Fire Fighters Association (PFFA) of Alabama backed Robertson for the seat, while simultaneously throwing shade at Mitchell for a ruling he authored in 2022 while on the Alabama Supreme Court.
“The Professional Fire Fighters of Alabama base our endorsements on one simple principle — we support those who support us,” PFFA president David Harer said. “Katherine Robertson has demonstrated a strong commitment to public safety and to the men and women who serve our communities each day, and she stands not only with firefighters across Alabama, but with law enforcement and other first responders, as well.”
Harer claimed that Michell’s ruling in a case meant that many public safety professionals would be sued and punished punitively for “simply doing the jobs they swore an oath to carry out.”
The ruling in question comes in Ex Parte Pinkard. In the opinion authored by Mitchell, the court ruled that a deputy state fire marshal, Greg Pinkard, was not entitled to state-agent immunity in claims of malicious prosecution and defamation, after Pinkard was accused of fabricating a confession from a citizen.
Harer claims Mitchell’s ruling stripped traditional qualified immunity protections that shield many first responders from lawsuits and punitive actions while carrying out their duties.
He also claimed it was the cause for a piece of 2025 legislation that changed the standard by which peace officers can be prosecuted in the state, despite massive pushback from Democratic legislators.
RELATED: Alabama Legislature passes ‘Back the Blue’ police immunity bill
“In today’s fire service, we no longer carry only fire hoses and EMS bags—we now carry ballistic vests to ensure our own safety while responding to increasingly complex and dangerous incidents — and Katherine Robertson understands these realities and the importance of supporting those on the front lines of public safety,” Harer continued. “Firefighters across our state rely on leaders who protect those who protect others, and that includes strengthening legal protections and ensuring accountability within our system. Katherine Robertson has shown she will be that advocate.”
Robertson stated she was pleased to receive the endorsement and emphasized her commitment to push for immunity protections.
“The PFFA represents professional firefighters in cities and towns across Alabama and advocates for the needs of first responders of all kinds in every corner of the state, and I am proud to carry their endorsement,” Roberston said. “Firefighters and other first responders may rest secure in the knowledge that I will always push for the immunities and protections their jobs demand.”
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