Caroleene Dobson Encourages Running For Office At Girls State

June 3, 2025 - TUSCALOOSA, AL - "Look to Girls State, And you'll find, Tomorrow's leaders of mankind", so goes one of the verses of the Girls Nation Song that over 400 delegates from high schools across Alabama were learning today at the annual convention of Girls State. A week long "God and Country" immersion into government and civics aimed at seniors in high school that is currently taking place at The University of Alabama. Indeed, the words of the Girls Nation Song ring true as Girls State counts among its alumnae U.S. Senator Katie Britt and Governor Kay Ivey. With another veteran of Girls State, Caroleene Dobson, being their featured speaker today after their morning devotional.

Having represented Monroe Academy at Girls State in 2004, Caroleen Dobson, a shareholder in the law firm Maynard Nexsen, expressed her delight in returning to Girls State as a speaker. Dobson encouraged all of the girls present "to run for office, any office" with the explanation that it is a good way to get out of one's comfort zone. As "citizenship is not just a bunch of rights, but also a responsibility" with one of those responsibilities being to serve. For according to Dobson, "Our government is only as good as we make it" and we need good people to run for office. Dobson also encouraged all of the delegates to be "gracious" winners if they are fortunate enough to win their respective offices.

A graduate of the Baylor School of Law, Caroleene Dobson also took the opportunity to expound on what the U.S. Constitution actually means, not just what it is. She explained that according to The Heritage Foundation, the average lifespan of a national constitution throughout the world is but 17 years before coup d'etats go into effect. According to Dobson, what has set the U.S. Constitution apart from these other failed national constitutions is its adaptability and the fact that the founders of the United States of America recognized that the ultimate source of our rights is God, our Creator. Something which is expressly stated in the Declaration of Independence which Caroleene Dobson often referred to throughout her speech as "our original charter".

After the conclusion of her speech, one of the delegates asked Caroleene Dobson what she thought about the current administration's disregard of the Constitution as it pertains to freedom of speech, specifically with respect to private institutions. This was a question which Dobson answered from her own personal experience. As Dobson received her bachelor's degree from Harvard College where she was captain of the women's polo team. She explained how even when she was a student at Harvard, it had a pattern of suppressing freedom of speech among its students by not promoting students for Rhodes Scholarships, etc. if they were members of single gender on-campus groups that Harvard did not approve of.

Emphasizing that the USA is a democratic republic, when another delegate asked her how democracy in America can become more stable, Dobson stated that the solution was to "recognize the underlying humanity of everyone". Dobson then took the opportunity to praise another Girls State alumnae, Senator Katie Britt, and her work in protecting young people ages 13 and under from cell phones and inappropriate Internet content.

The final question of the day came from a Tuscaloosa delegate who asked Caroleene Dobson what her thoughts were on social issues that overlap authorities. Specifically, with regards to health care in the Black Belt region and infrastructure in the rural Black Belt region. Being a member of the Federalist Society, Dobson's fiscally conservative views surfaced in her response. For she praised President Trump and his efforts to combat fraud, abuse, and waste in Medicaid. Further stating that the rural hospitals need people with private insurance from good jobs and not just patients who are dependent upon the federal government. Dobson also praised Governor Kay Ivey's interest in the Black Belt as a native of the Black Belt region.

Sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, whose mission is to "honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad", Girls State will feature Governor Kay Ivey as their main speaker on Thursday. With Governor Ivey being noted during her speech last year at Girls State for stating that "Sometimes the best man for the job is a woman."