A Jefferson County judge last week allowed a civil lawsuit filed by the family of an Alabama inmate whose organs were harvested during an autopsy by the University of Alabama at Birmingham to go forward.

The suit was filed by the family of Matthew Harrell, who was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution Talladega facility when he died unexpectedly while playing basketball in 2023. His body was sent to UAB to undergo an autopsy — UAB had a contract with the Alabama Department of Corrections to complete inmate autopsies at the time.

The Harrell family received an autopsy report from the Talladega County Coroner’s Office, following several failed attempts to obtain the report from UAB directly, according to the lawsuit. The report showed that several of Harrell’s organs were kept by UAB, though the report does not specify which organs. Harrell’s body had already been buried by the time the family received the report as well.

Lawyers representing UAB argued to have the case dismissed.

“Those organs are typically retained,” said UAB lawyer Jay Ezelle during the hearing. “That’s the standard of care.”

The Harrell family’s attorney, Lauren Faraino, argued UAB violated the rights of the deceased and the family. Faraino has represented other families in suits of other organ harvesting cases filed against UAB.

“This is nothing short of grave robbery, dressed in the guise of medical authority, and it strikes at the heart of public trust in our institutions,” Faraino wrote in a court filing.

This lawsuit goes forward as another set of lawsuits filed in the Montgomery Circuit Court against ADOC and UAB regarding organ harvesting of inmates has stalled because of an appeal filed by one of the parties involved in the suit.

Alabama top stories in brief

Federal judge leaves Alabama DEI ban in place amid lawsuit

• U.S. District Judge David Proctor on Wednesday denied a request filed by a group of University of Alabama students and professors asking for an injunction to be filed blocking an Alabama law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in public schools as well as the teaching of “divisive concepts.” 

• Proctor wrote in his ruling that the group did not meet the legal burden needed for him to file a preliminary injunction — a legal measure he called “an extraordinary and drastic remedy.”

• The civil lawsuit filed by the UA students and professors challenging the constitutionality of the law will continue to go forward, but the law will continue to remain in place while the suit progresses. 

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore announces Senate run

• U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, has announced his plan to run for the Alabama U.S. Senate seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor.

• “I’m running for U.S. Senate because the people of Alabama deserve a Senator who will always stand with Trump and defend our freedoms, our Christian values, and our constitutional rights,” Moore said in his campaign announcement posted to Facebook. 

• Moore served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2010 until 2018. He has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2021, first serving District 2 before a newly drawn congressional map drawn in 2023 placed him into District 1.

Amtrak service returns to Alabama Gulf Coast

• Amtrak trains have returned to the Alabama Gulf Coast, as Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service train route rolled out of Mobile’s Water Street train station on Saturday.

• Amtrak service has been absent from the Alabama Gulf Coast for nearly 20 years, after Hurricane Katrina ravaged much of the infrastructure on Gulf Coast rail lines in 2005. Service also returns nine years and six months after an inspection train ran along the route to determine the viability of train service returning.

• The 145-mile Mardi Gras Service route runs from Mobile to New Orleans, with stops in the Mississippi towns of Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport and Bay Saint Louis.

• Revelers in Mobile celebrated Amtrak’s return on Saturday with a Mardi Gras celebration featuring beads, a jazz band and MoonPies.

Alabama priest on leave amid allegations of relationship with woman starting when she was 17

• The Catholic Diocese of Birmingham announced last week that a priest, Robert Sullivan, is being investigated for a relationship with a woman alleged to have begun when she was 17.

• Sullivan, a priest at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Homewood, announced that he is taking a leave of absence in light of the allegations.

• Heather Jones, who is making the allegations, said she met Sullivan in 2009 when she was 17 years old and dancing at a strip club where Sullivan was a patron. Jones says Sullivan offered her $273,000 to start a sexual relationship, as well as sign a legal non-disclosure document.

• Bishop Steven Raica, the head of the Birmingham diocese, said the case is being referred to the Vatican for investigation, as well as the Alabama Department of Human Resources.

Alabama community college enrollment growing faster than national average

• The Alabama Community College System released data last week showing that community college enrollment in the state is growing at a faster rate than the national average.

• The number of students enrolled in Alabama community colleges increased by 11.8% from the fall 2024 semester to the fall 2025 semester, with 20 out the 25 schools in ACCS reporting increased enrollment this fall.

• According to Higher Ed Dive, community college enrollment increased nationwide by 5.4% from the spring 2024 to spring 2025 semester. According to ACCS Vice Chancellor for Academic Success Neil Scott, Alabama community college enrollment increased by 9.8% in the same period.

Judge orders mental evaluation on AL prisoner set for execution

• David Lee Roberts is a 59-year-old inmate who was convicted for the 1992 murder of Annetra Jones and has been on death row since 1994 after a judge overruled the jury’s recommendation for life in prison at his sentencing.

• Roberts’ defense lawyers state he “has endured psychosis and mood disorders since early adulthood,” and that, despite being medicated for over 20 years, does not grasp an understanding of his mental illness or the reasoning and consequence of his execution sentencing.

• Marion County Circuit Judge Talmage Lee Carter ordered the evaluation, which will delay his previously set Aug. 21 execution date. The state has asked for it to be expedited.

• If the evaluation reveals mental incompetency, the judge has ordered for treatment options for Roberts to be considered.

Our articles you might have missed:

• There are more than 400 species of birds scattered across Alabama. In the latest edition of The Longleaf Hiker, Hannah Irvin writes about the different types of birds that can be found in Alabama and her personal experiences working with them as an environmental educator.

Like our work? Then support it!

Want to get early access to columns, unique newsletters and help keep The Sunrise News active? Then support us on Ko-Fi!

Support our work!