Ernest C. Hornsby also known as Sonny Hornsby (born October 8, 1936) was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama from 1989 to 1995.

Biography

He was born on October 8, 1936, and he received his A.B.

Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

 degree from Auburn University

Auburn University

Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...

 and his J.D.

Juris Doctor

Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...

 from the University of Alabama School of Law

University of Alabama School of Law

The University of Alabama School of Law located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is a nationally ranked top-tier law school and the only public law school in the state. In total, it is one of five law schools in the state, and one of three that are ABA accredited.The diverse student body, of approximately...

 in 1960. From 1960 to 1988, He had a private law practice in Tallassee, Alabama

Tallassee, Alabama

Tallassee is a city on the Tallapoosa River, located in both Elmore and Tallapoosa counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. At the 2000 census the population was 4,934...

. He served as a State Senator for Tallapoosa County, Alabama

Tallapoosa County, Alabama

Tallapoosa County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. The name Tallapoosa is of Creek origin, and many Indian villages were along the banks of the lower river before the 19th century. As of 2010, the population was 41,616...

 and Elmore County, Alabama

Elmore County, Alabama

Elmore County is a county of the State of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General John A. Elmore. As of 2010 its population was 79,303. Its county seat is Wetumpka.This county is part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...

 from 1962 to 1966. He served as President of the Elmore County Bar Association, President of the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, and as Tallassee, Alabama

Tallassee, Alabama

Tallassee is a city on the Tallapoosa River, located in both Elmore and Tallapoosa counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. At the 2000 census the population was 4,934...

 City Judge from 1972 to 1978. From 1977 to 1978, he was President of the Alabama State Bar

Alabama State Bar

The Alabama State Bar is the integrated bar association of the U.S. state of Alabama.The Alabama State Bar was established in 1923 and is part of the 1975 Alabama Code, §§ 34-3-1 to 34-3-89....

. He served as Chief Justice

Chief Justice

The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...

 of the Supreme Court of Alabama from 1989 to 1995.
He was defeated for re-election in 1994 by Perry O. Hooper, Sr.

Perry O. Hooper, Sr.

Perry Oliver Hooper, Sr. is an American jurist who served as the twenty-seventh Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court from 1995 to 2001...

, who became the state of Alabama's first Republican Chief Justice.