Judge orders former first lady Lisa Wallace freed, repaid $27,000 per month held at facility

by Apryl Marie Fogel

A court recently granted Lisa Taylor Wallace an emergency hearing days after 1819 News revealed that first lady Lisa Taylor Wallace, wife of former Gov. George Wallace, had been placed in an "unnecessary" court-ordered guardianship and conservatorship and was being held against her will at the Briar Glen Alzheimer's Special Care Center in Hoover.

Jefferson County probate judge Yashiba Glenn Blanchard scheduled a hearing for Wallace for Tuesday, and after an hour of testimony, immediately allowed Wallace to leave the Briar Glen facility.

In a ruling released on Wednesday, the judge delivered mixed results for Wallace, granting her immediate release and ordering, "The amount of $27,000.00, the monthly costs of the facility multiplied by the length of stay, shall be returned to Lisa T. Wallace's Estate."

Wallace's attorney, Charlie Waldrep, told 1819 News, "I'm very pleased with the order."

He explained, "We've maintained from the beginning, from the time that Lisa Wallace retained us, that she never should have been placed in that environment. She never should have been removed from the home, which she wanted to live and be around her friends."

The judge also ordered that, "The facility shall return the cellphone and all electronic devices to Ms. Wallace or her Counsel, immediately," and said, "That Ms. Wallace's Condo shall be cleaned and prepared for her stay within 5 days from the date of this order."

Wallace had been under a court order that named Greg Hawley and Ripon Britton as conservators and co-guardians. Hawley withdrew from the case on Monday evening. The judge ordered that the conservatorship and guardianship would remain in place for now, pending another examination, and appointed "The Hon. Edmond Earle, Esq." as temporary guardian and conservator.

Waldrep said, "We're not displeased with that." He cited the fact that the judge set an August 28 hearing date as a positive sign and believes that on that date, they can "hopefully conclude this matter."

For now, they see this progress as a very good sign.

"Lisa is restored to her home. She's around people who love her and care about her," Waldrep said. 

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Judge orders former first lady Lisa Wallace freed, repaid $27,000 per month held at facility