Ralph Cook

Ralph Delano Cook (born April 29, 1944) is an American judge who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama from 1993 to 2001. Governor Jim Folsom Jr. appointed Cook to finish the term of Oscar W. Adams Jr. upon Adams' retirement.

Early life, education, and career Raised in Jefferson County, Alabama, Cook was "the second of three children of Joe and Nannie Cook", who owned and operated a cleaning service in Bessemer. Cook received his B.S. from Tennessee State University and his J.D. from Howard University School of Law. He thereafter moved to California, where he taught at San Jose State University and at Cabrillo College.

After returning to Alabama, he also taught at Miles Law School, and was named the dean of the law school in September 1976, serving in that capacity until 1990. where he served for four and a half years. In his 2000 bid for reelection to the court, however, Cook was defeated by Republican challenger Lyn Stuart.

Personal life Cook married Charlsie Davis, also of Jefferson County, with whom he had two daughters and a son.