MONTGOMERY — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is set to begin his second full term as the state's top law enforcement official.
That officially began on Monday with the inauguration ceremonies for Alabama's statewide constitutional officeholders.
Under a Democrat presidential administration, Marshall has seen his workload increase, given efforts by the Biden administration to test the bounds of its executive power.
During his inaugural remarks, Marshall emphasized that role, which he deemed Alabama's "last line of defense."
"There has been no doubt in my mind that the Alabama Attorney General's office has been that last line of defense for Alabama in the biggest legal battles of its time," he said. "And we have not backed down because since I last stood here in January 2019, we have fought the fights that had to be fought for the people of Alabama."
Marshall cited his battle with pharmaceutical manufacturers and the legal fights over opioids, noting he declined an initial settlement for a much larger one. He also touched on standing with law enforcement.
"I have fought for the fundamental right of Alabamians to make a personal choice about the COVID vaccine and for religious liberty to mean something here, defeating both the Biden administration and greedy corporate interests," Marshall added. "I have fought to preserve our election laws and our congressional maps against those who would ask for us to delegate that sovereignty to a federal court. And I have fought for life alongside Mississippi in the United States Supreme Court in the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade will remain one of my proudest accomplishments. And I'm fighting the far-left gender ideology of the Biden administration to defend our law prohibiting dangerous experimentation on our children that's being challenged by the United States Department of Justice. And frankly, Merrick Garland needs to pack up and get out of here."
Marshall said that although the AG's office was poised to take on the federal leviathan, he hoped for a united frontline to advance the cause, not only defend it.
"We know that the war rages on across our nation to subvert our traditions and our values," he said. "The targets include our children, our schools, our families, our communities and our governments. If we are to win this fight and preserve everything that Alabama holds so dear, we can't sit back and rest on our defenses. We must have a united frontline that is advancing our cause, not just defending it. And that frontline is you because, in our republican government, it is the people who hold the power. The offices of our government answer to you, and they have one and only one duty, and that is to serve your will, the will of the people."
Jeff Poor is the executive editor of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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