Booth secures GOP circuit judge nomination in Republican primary

A tight race for the Republican nomination for 19th Judicial Circuit's circuit judge's post came down to about a 1,000-vote difference in a three-county circuit.

According to complete, unofficial results, Autauga District Judge Joy Pace Booth took 14,892 votes, or about 52%, to challenger Jessica Kelley Sanders' 13,827 votes, or about 48%. That's a difference of 1,056 votes.

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No Democratic candidate has qualified to run for the office.

"I'm very thankful to the voters of the 19th Judicial Circuit who have given me this opportunity to continue to serve them as I move into this new role," Booth said.

Sanders also thanked her supporters, noting the closeness of the race.

"I want to thank everyone in Autauga, Chilton and Elmore counties for your tremendous showing of support in my campaign for circuit judge," she said. "I also want to congratulate Joy Booth and wish her the best as she transitions from district to circuit court."

The circuit covers Autauga, Chilton and Elmore counties, and this role is the Autauga County post. The circuit has three circuit judges, each elected from one of the counties. The judges hear cases in all three counties.

Booth has been district judge for about 12 years. Sanders is a former district attorney in the circuit  who now serves as an assistant attorney general and government relations director for the State Department of Education.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Booth wins Autauga runoff election for 19th Judicial Circuit judge