The Alabama Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates is honoring Circuit Judge Randall Cole as the 2015 Trial Judge of the Year.

Cole, who serves DeKalb and Cherokee counties in the 9th Judicial Circuit, was selected based on his legal knowledge, professionalism, temperament, work ethic and commitment to the jury trial system.

Having served as a judge since 1974, Cole is the longest-serving state court judge in Alabama. For the past 36 years of his judicial tenure, he has been the presiding judge of the 9th Judicial Circuit.

In addition to performing his day-to-day duties in an exemplary manner, Judge Cole was recognized for his efforts to improve the court system. He is counted among the pioneers in the creation of drug courts that deal with underlying substance abuse issues and keep people out of jail when possible.

For more than 20 years, Judge Cole has served on the Judicial Inquiry Commission, which investigates complaints about improper conduct by judges and works to uphold judicial ethics. He is regularly called on to speak on judicial ethics and professionalism, and has presented several times to the National College on Judicial Conduct and Ethics.

Judge Cole is the first recipient of what will be a yearly honor from the Alabama Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Information provided by The Fort Payne Times Journal