Could Alabama’s next Supreme Court chief justice be an Atmore native?

Associate Justice Lyn Stuart, who graduated from Escambia County High School, is seeking to replace Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, either by appointment or election.

Cobb, a Democrat and native of Evergreen, announced late last month that she is stepping down from the position in August to spend more time with her family.

Republican Gov. Robert Bentley must now make an appointment to fill the position for the remainder of Cobb’s term.

Stuart, a Republican who now lives in Bay Minette, told the Mobile Press-Register last week that she was already planning to run for the seat in the next election before Cobb’s announcement.

Cobb is serving her second term on the Supreme Court.

She earned her undergraduate degree at Auburn and her law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law.

After graduating from the University of Alabama, she worked as assistant attorney general under former Attorney General Charles Graddick — who also happens to be a candidate for the chief justice position.

Graddick, now the presiding circuit judge in Mobile County, also told the Press-Register that he was preparing to run for the office before Cobb’s announcement.

Last month he even filed papers with the secretary of state’s office to form a principal campaign committee for chief justice.

Stuart was first elected as district judge in 1988, then was appointed to the circuit bench in Baldwin County in 1997.

Stuart could not be reached for comment this week.