By Johnny Mack Morrow, Former Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
Dear Editor:
Since 2015, AL.com and reporter Kyle Whitmire have referred to Alabama State Senator Larry Stutts as “The Scumbag” of the Alabama Legislature. Whitmire’s characterization arose from Stutts’ attempt to repeal Rose’s Law, legislation enacted to protect new mothers following childbirth.
I have been out of the Alabama Legislature since 2018, but recent events have compelled me to revisit that characterization and the record of a senator whose conduct deserves serious public scrutiny.
The Story Behind Rose’s Law:
Rose’s Law was named for Rose Church, a patient of Dr. Larry Stutts who experienced complications following childbirth. According to the account that led to the legislation, Rose sought medical attention at Stutts’ office and was told to return home and let nature take its course. She died soon afterward.
The late Senator Roger Bedford responded to this tragedy by sponsoring legislation known as Rose’s Law. The law provided protections intended to allow new mothers to remain in the hospital longer following childbirth, with insurance coverage for that additional care.
When Stutts ran against my friend Roger Bedford in 2014 he waged one of the dirtiest campaigns in Alabama history against Roger. The lies were endless coming from Stutts. I knew that his campaign for Senate against Senator Bedford was totally based on lies because I was involved in the political process and had first hand knowledge of what was true and what was false with the allegations Stutts was making against my senate colleague Roger Bedford.
The purpose of Rose’s Law was straightforward: to help prevent another family from experiencing the tragedy that befell Rose Church. Medical experts argued that protections of this kind could have saved her life.
Against that background, it was deeply troubling that the first legislative efforts associated with Stutts’ service in the Senate was an attempt to repeal the law named for his former patient. That effort drew sharp criticism and helped earn him Whitmire’s notorious label. AL.comsubsequently named Stutts its “Scumbag of the Year.”
I could cite other actions during Stutts’ tenure that, in my judgment, raise serious questions about his priorities and his commitment to the public interest. However; the story of Rose Church alone illustrates why the public should examine the conduct of those entrusted with legislative power.
Recent allegations raise serious questions about Stutts and how corrupt he really is. It is sad that today corruption and the abuse of public office are the major concerns for most Americans. Elected officials are entrusted with the public’s confidence, and that trust carries an obligation to put the law, the public interest, and the integrity of our institutions ahead of personal or political considerations.
Recently, several of my Alabama friends brought to my attention an AL.com article published in October 2026 concerning a sworn affidavit submitted by Senator Stutts that helped lead to the vacating of a relative’s conviction for child sexual abuse.
The article can be read here:
The circumstances described in that report raise profoundly serious questions about Stutts’ judgment, his actions, and his responsibilities as an elected official. A matter involving a child sexual abuse conviction demands particular care, transparency, and accountability. The public deserves a clear understanding of the affidavit, the circumstances in which it was submitted, and the role it played in the court’s decision.
Vacating a conviction is a judicial action, and the law and evidence must be considered carefully in each case. Nevertheless, the involvement of a sitting state senator in a matter of this gravity warrants a thorough public explanation. No elected official should be exempt from scrutiny simply because of the office he holds or the family relationships involved.
For me, this report is especially disturbing when considered alongside Stutts’ earlier attempt to repeal Rose’s Law. The two matters are different, but both raise questions about the judgment and responsibilities of someone entrusted with public power.
Accountability Must Come Before Political Ambition:
I served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1990 through 2018. During those 28 years, I witnessed firsthand the responsibilities and challenges that accompany public service. I believe that elected officials must be held to high standards, particularly when their actions raise questions about the protection of vulnerable people and the integrity of our legal system.
Since leaving the Legislature in 2018, my wife, Martha, and I have moved to Starkville, Mississippi, where we now live. I accepted a position with the Stennis Institute, Mississippi’s Think Tank, at Mississippi State University where I graduated in 1965. I have since retired from the university. Since leaving Alabama I have not closely followed Alabama politics. Many of my friends brought the article to my attention because they believed its contents demanded notice.
After reading about the matter, I believe Senator Stutts owes the people of Alabama’s District Six a full and transparent explanation.
In light of the seriousness of the reported circumstances and because of his conduct since first being elected, I call upon Larry Stutts to withdraw immediately as a candidate for reelection and resign his seat in the Alabama Senate.
Public office is a public trust, not a personal possession. Holding elected office requires more than winning an election. It requires sound judgment, respect for the law, concern for vulnerable people, and a willingness to accept responsibility when one’s actions come under legitimate scrutiny.
Alabama deserves elected officials who understand those obligations. The people of this state have every right to demand transparency and accountability from those who represent them.
I believe the recent allegations, considered alongside Stutts’ legislative record, makes this a matter that cannot simply be ignored.
The citizens of Alabama deserve answers, and Senator Stutts must be held accountable for explaining his actions.
Johnny Mack Morrow
Former Member, Alabama House of Representatives
1990–2018