Montgomery County Circuit Judge Greg Griffin accepted the resignation of Tom Albritton, the executive director of the Alabama Ethics Commission, from the Mabel Amos Trust Fund board on Thursday.
The final order filed by Griffin on Thursday was part of a lawsuit alleging wrongdoings by Regions Bank and the fund's board members.
The long-running lawsuit alleged that board members engaged in self-dealing with scholarship funds meant for needy children, created by former Alabama Secretary of State Mabel Amos.
The Mabel Amos Trust Fund was estimated to be worth about $8.2 million in 2024, mostly due to oil and gas wells being on its property in South Alabama. Amos was Alabama Secretary of State from 1967 to 1975 and died in 1999.
Griffin accepted Albritton's resignation from the board and noted that former board member Drew McNees had previously resigned. Former board member James R. "Rick Clifton is deceased.
"The appointment of qualified Board members is both necessary and appropriate to restore effective governance," Griffin said in the order. "Consequently, no duly constituted Board currently exists, thereby rendering the Trust incapable of fulfilling its essential purpose. The lack of a functioning Board constitutes a failure of administration, necessitating judicial action to preserve the Trust and effectuate the settlor's intent."
Griffin appointed Cathy Wright, Jayne Harrell Williams and Leigh Gulley Manning as representatives of the Amos family to the Mabel Amos Trust Fund board on Thursday.
Wright will serve as board chair, according to Griffin's order.
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