District and Circuit Judge
Judge Rochester and others in George Wallace's Office
Judge Rochester Appointed
District and Circuit Judge in Clay County
Governor George Wallace appointed Rochester to become Clay County's first resident District Judge in 1985.
He was appointed again by Governor Wallace to fill the Circuit Judge's position in 1987, when Judge Kenneth Ingram vacated the position to
serve on the Court of Civil Appeals. Rochester ran for his position as a Democrat in a largely Republican Circuit, then consisting of
Clay, Coosa, and Shelby counties. He won his seat by 249 votes out of more than 40,000 votes cast.
"It was during this race that I learned the value of working with both parties. I have always been a moderate rather than an extremist,
and that quality has appealed to independent voters," said Judge Rochester.
