A newly appointed Baldwin County District Judge is already looking ahead to next year’s ballot, announcing plans to seek election to the seat he was recently appointed to fill.
J. Clark Stankoski, appointed to the District Court judgeship on July 10, said he will seek the Republican Party nomination during the March 2016 primary. Stankoski replaced Scott Taylor, who moved up to a Circuit Court appointment, continuing a pattern of judicial reshuffling playing out across Baldwin County’s court system this year.
Stankoski plans to formally kick off his campaign with a public appearance at The Venue in Fairhope in early August. “Spending my professional legal career here, I am excited about the opportunity to seek election for the county seat,” Stankoski said in announcing his candidacy. “My legal background has given me the experience needed to handle the diverse issues that fall within the jurisdiction of this court and as your next District Judge.”
Before his appointment, Stankoski was a former senior partner at a Fairhope law firm and previously served as a Baldwin County Assistant District Attorney. During his time with the DA’s office, he specialized in criminal defense and civil litigation, prosecuting hundreds of misdemeanor cases ranging from theft to domestic violence. His broader legal background spans juvenile law, domestic relations, real estate, tort law, adoption cases, municipal planning and zoning, and contract law.
Stankoski has also held several local judicial and legal roles beyond the district bench, including serving as attorney for the town of Silverhill and as municipal judge in Summerdale. He is also a licensed mediator and arbitrator, credentials that county officials say made him a strong fit for the District Court appointment.
Notably, while serving as an Assistant District Attorney, Stankoski helped start Baldwin County’s first White Collar Prosecution Unit, a specialized effort focused on financial crimes that had not previously received dedicated prosecutorial attention in the county.
District Court judges in Baldwin County handle a wide range of day-to-day legal matters, including misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic offenses and civil disputes involving smaller claims. The seat Stankoski now holds will remain his through appointment until the 2016 primary and general election cycle determines whether he keeps it long-term.
Baldwin County voters will get their first opportunity to weigh in on the appointment when the Republican primary takes place in March 2016, with the winner likely to face limited or no opposition in the general election given the county’s political leanings.