Teresa Tanner Pulliam, a distinguished former judge of Jefferson County and a respected leader in Birmingham’s legal community, passed away on Friday at the age of 67. Throughout her career, Pulliam was celebrated for her dedication to justice, unwavering integrity, and commitment to public service. At the time of her passing, she served as the executive director of Redemption Earned, a nonprofit organization focused on assisting elderly and ill inmates in Alabama’s prisons to secure parole—an endeavor that reflected her enduring passion for justice and reform.
Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, now president of Redemption Earned’s board, honored Pulliam’s legacy. “Judge Pulliam’s years on the Jefferson County trial court sharpened her sense of justice,” Cobb said. “She worked tirelessly to protect public safety while ensuring fairness for those who appeared before her. Her work exemplified true integrity.” Cobb added, “She believed deeply in Redemption Earned’s mission: to address past and present injustices. Her relentless efforts to help ‘the least of these’ will be remembered and cherished.”
Barry Ragsdale, a fellow attorney and friend of over fifty years, reflected on Pulliam’s profound impact. “The state of Alabama has lost a true hero—someone who leaves behind a legacy of justice, honor, and unwavering dedication to the rule of law,” Ragsdale remarked. “I will greatly miss her, and our state has lost an exceptional champion of justice.”
Pulliam’s legal journey began in Huntsville, where she graduated from Huntsville High School in 1976 alongside Ragsdale. She attended Birmingham Southern College and later earned her law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. Her early career included roles as a prosecutor in the Mobile District Attorney’s Office and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. Among her notable cases was the prosecution of Tracey Diane Schoettlin, a young woman murdered in Birmingham’s Five Points South in 1986 after being attacked and stabbed 19 times. Pulliam was part of the team that secured the conviction of Thomas Paul Bradley, who was sentenced to life in prison.
Pulliam also led efforts to prosecute Leon Albert Prince, a former Sunday school teacher convicted of rape and accused of multiple other assaults. The case drew national attention, and Prince served 15 years behind bars. In 2020, Pulliam publicly opposed a pardon for Prince, reaffirming her steadfast commitment to justice. She wrote to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, emphasizing her dedication to ensuring accountability and fairness.
