Emory Anthony

Emory Anthony, Jr (born 1953 in Birmingham) is a criminal defense attorney, a former educator, prosecutor and judge. Anthony has run for Mayor of Birmingham, and is seeking to replace Larry Langford in the 2009 Birmingham mayoral election.

After graduating from college, Anthony enrolled in evening courses at the Miles College School of Law. There he was inspired by Ralph Cook and David Cromwell Johnson to pursue a career in law. After passing the bar in 1979, he took a job as a prosecutor in the office of the Jefferson County District Attorney. He served for 12 years as a municipal judge and provided legal advice to Mayor Bernard Kincaid. He was also dean of Miles Law School.

As a defender, Anthony has taken on some of the biggest criminal cases in the county. He is representing Dedrick Griham, who has been charged with kidnaping and raping Sandra Gregory in May, 2006. He has also represented murder suspects Derrol Shaw, who pleaded guilty to four murders, Freddie Powell, a 70-year-old man who was charged in the death of 2-year-old Kateria Blackburn, and Andrew Moore, a 73-year-old man charged with manslaughter in the death of a 14-year-old boy. Anthony also filed an unsuccessful motion on behalf of Eric Robert Rudolph, asking a judge to set aside the verdict in a civil suit against Rudolph won by Emily Lyons.

Anthony is known for his passionate oration, withering cross-examinations, and for his fashion sense. He has run twice for Mayor of Birmingham and once for State Senate without success. Anthony serves on the Metropolitan Development Board and on the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District. He is a deacon at Tabernacle Baptist Church and is married with two daughters.

References

• Walton, Val (August 15, 2006) "Dapper defender." Birmingham News
• Bryant, Joseph D. (November 8, 2009) "Emory Anthony to announce run for mayor Monday." Birmingham News