Moore was elected chief justice in 2000, but a state judicial panel removed him three years later after he refused to obey a federal judge’s order to remove a 5,200-pound granite Ten Commandments monument from the lobby of the Alabama Judicial Building. Moore still maintains the federal judge’s order was unlawful and that he should not have followed it. But he has promised he will not return the Ten Commandments when he returns to the court.

Roy Moore, forever known as Alabama’s Ten Commandments judge, has been re-elected chief justice in a triumphant political resurrection after being ousted from that office nearly a decade ago.

Republican Moore defeated Jefferson County Circuit Judge Bob Vance, a Democrat, to win back his former office.

“It’s clear the people have voted to return me to the office of chief justice,” Moore said.

“I have no doubt this is a vindication. I look forward to being the next chief justice” Moore told a crowd of sign-waving supporters.

Moore thanked supporters at his party for sticking with him through what had been an up-and-down night that had Vance out to an early lead. Moore eventually won the race with 52 percent of the race with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

“Go home with the knowledge that we are going to stand for the acknowledgment of God,” Moore said to shouts of “Amen” from supporters

Moore was elected chief justice in 2000, but a state judicial panel removed him three years later after he refused to obey a federal judge’s order to remove a 5,200-pound granite Ten Commandments monument from the lobby of the Alabama Judicial Building.

Moore still maintains the federal judge’s order was unlawful and that he should not have followed it. But he has promised he will not return the Ten Commandments when he returns to the court. Moore said the issue was never about a monument but about the “acknowledgement of God.”

Vance, 51 said he knew it was an “uphill battle” when he entered the race. Vance, the son of slain federal Judge Robert Vance, joined the race in August after Democrats disqualified their former candidate. In doing so, Vance agreed to mount an abbreviated campaign against the nationally known Moore.

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