Perry County Commission chairman Albert Turner, Jr. called recent comments by Alabama's former Fourth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Michael Jackson regarding the dismissal of his ballot fraud case "downright shameful" on Thursday.

Jackson announced an indictment of Turner for felony and misdemeanor counts of voter fraud in January in his last days in office. However, Perry County Circuit Judge Marvin Wiggins dismissed the case against Turner on April 6.

According to a court filing of the dismissal, the State of Alabama requested the case be dismissed, and Wiggins granted the motion.

Jackson told 1819 News on Tuesday, "Judge Wiggins, a good friend of Albert Turner, dismissed it, so I'm not surprised."

"I was going out of office when the indictment happened so it was passed off to the Attorney General's Office and I don't know whether they're going to appeal Judge Wiggins's decision of dismissal or not," he added. "Under Alabama law, you're not supposed to dismiss a case before the trial. The dismissal was premature, but again, Judge Wiggins and Albert Turner are pretty good friends."

Jackson retired in January after Robert Turner, Jr. defeated Jackson in the 2022 May primary.

The Alabama Attorney General's Office was prosecuting the case at the request of the current Fourth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Robert Turner, Jr. in February to "avoid any appearance of impropriety" due to him being the cousin of Albert.

On Thursday, Albert Turner, Jr. said on social media that Jackson's recent comments were "another misstatement of facts by the defeated and disgraced former District Attorney." 

"The assertion that Judge Wiggins would do something of that magnitude is down right shameful on the part of Michael Jackson," Turner said. "The facts are the State Attorney General's Office came to court and made the motion after an investigation by the Attorney General's Office. Unlike Jackson, Attorney General Steve Marshall's Office does not use the office to play politics or use it as a weapon to go after innocent people regardless of political affiliation. If the AG had found any evidence, they would not have marched into open court and asked for the case to be dismissed."

 A spokesman for Marshall declined to comment after the case was dismissed on April 6.

To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.

Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.