Supreme Court Justice Gerry Alexander embraces Jennifer Ammons, who was his court clerk from 2006-2007 as he is greeted by an estimated 400 of his closest fans who filled the halls of the Temple of Justice Building for his retirement party Dec. 8th.He leaves office after 38.5 years as a judge, including 17 on the state's highest court and 9 as the longest serving chief justice in state history. A 1950s amendment to state Constitution setting a mandatory retirement age of 75 for supreme court justices forces Alexander to step down.STEVE BLOOM/staff photographer