Emory Anthony

Emory Anthony, Jr (born 1953 in Birmingham) is a criminal defense attorney, a former educator, prosecutor and judge. Anthony, who had run twice against Richard Arrington, Jr for Mayor of Birmingham, 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 later served as the dean of the MIles School of Law.

Anthony finished second in the 1991 and 1995 Birmingham mayoral elections in which Arrington won his fourth and fifth terms. In the 1999 Birmingham mayoral election he supported Bernard Kincaid (with whom he had founded People's Choice to oppose Arrington's Jefferson County Citizens Coalition) and served Mayor Kincaid as a legal advisor. He also served as president of the Jefferson County Progressive Democratic Council. In 2002 Anthony forced a runoff for Alabama Senate District 20 against incumbent Sundra Escott-Russell. During the campaign he argued the need for a new state constitution.

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