Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice and Atmore native Lyn Stuart announced Wednesday she plans to run for re-election in 2012 and will not join the race for Chief Justice of Alabama’s highest court.

According to published reports Stuart’s decision came on the heels of the announcement by current chief justice Chuck Malone that he will seek the republican nomination for another term in 2012 after being appointed to the office by Gov. Robert Bentley following the resignation of former chief justice Sue Bell Cobb in August.

Charlie Graddick, the presiding circuit judge in Mobile County, has also announced his intent to run for the republican nomination in 2012.

Stuart, who is in her second term on the court, had expressed interest in the office of chief justice in the past but said she now intends to run for a third term as associate justice.

A Republican from Bay Minette, and former assistant attorney general under Graddick, Stuart was first elected to the court in 2000. She was re-elected for a second term in 2006.

During Wednesday’s announcement Stuart was quoted as saying Malone “is the governor’s choice to be chief justice. He deserves his opportunity to do the job and stand for election by the people.”

Stuart said, while she has no plans to formally endorse a candidate for the republican nomination, she will make an official announcement about her own campaign later this fall.