Greg Cook (judge)

Cook received a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University, magna cum laude, in 1984, while attending on an ROTC scholarship,^[3] and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, magna cum laude, in 1991, where he was an editor on the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy.^[1][3]

After graduating law school, Cook moved to Birmingham to practice law.^[3] He is also a United States Air Force veteran,^[4] reaching the rank of Captain.^[3] Cook was a partner with the law firm Balch & Bingham for 30 years.^[5] In 2000, Cook served as a volunteer attorney for the Bush v. Gore legal battle in Florida, where he supervised the hand recounting of hanging-chad ballots.^[6]

Cook served on the Jefferson County Republican Steering Committee, Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee, and as legal counsel to both the Jefferson County and Alabama Republican Party. For 15 years, Cook served the Alabama Republican Party, including four years as general counsel.^[3]

In 2021, Cook announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination to a seat on the Supreme Court of Alabama.^[6][7] Cook ran to replace retiring Justice Michael F. Bolin and faced Circuit Judge Debra Jones in the primary.^[8] Debra Jones was primarily supported by trial lawyers and Cook was primarily supported by business groups. Cook went on to win the primary with 54.3% of the vote.^[9] Cook then won the November 8, 2022, general election, receiving 67.4% of the vote.^[10] Cook's investiture ceremony, where he took his oath of office, was held on January 13, 2023.^[11] Cook formally took office on January 17, 2023.^[12]

Cook has been married to his wife Kimberly B. Cook since 1988. They have three children.^[3] He has been a member of Dawson Baptist Church since 1991, where he is an ordained deacon.^[3] Cook was also an active adult leader in the Boy Scouts of America prior to taking the bench, receiving the Silver Beaver Award, a Council's highest honor for adult volunteers, in 2021.