The Senate special election is making strange bedfellows out of Roy Moore's supporters.

On one hand, the former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice has a Who's Who of conservative figures in his corner: James Dobson; Chuck Norris; "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson; and ex-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. On the other, Moore is being backed by a self-described Democrat from a Democratic-dominated industry: top Alabama trial lawyer Jere Beasley.

Jere Beasley

Beasley, chairman and founder of the Beasley Allen law firm, sent three emails to the firm's more than 300 employees urging them to vote for Moore in the Aug. 15 primary and the upcoming Sept. 26 runoff, casting the election as a "David vs. Goliath" matchup that is "important to our firm and our clients."

Moore "is the only candidate who is not owned by the special interests and who is supportive on issues that are good for consumers and victims of corporate wrongdoing and abuse," wrote Beasley 11 days before the primary.

Beasley's most recent high-profile case was a $417 million judgment this month against Johnson & Johnson by a California jury for the drug company's talcum powder products. Among his firm's other cases was a multi-billion-dollar award against Exxon Mobil in Montgomery.

A week before the Aug. 15 primary, he also wrote, "Roy Moore is the only candidate who will stand up to those interests and who will be good for our clients' interests."

In his last email before the primary - on Aug. 11 - Beasley, a former Democratic Alabama lieutenant governor, wrote that he was not forcing his employees to vote a certain way.

"This is just a request and there is nothing mandatory intended. However, the request is made in the best interest of people in Alabama who may need the courts to remain open, independent and fair," he wrote.

When asked by AL.com what he meant by Moore being beneficial to his clients and his firm, he said he meant it in the general sense.

"I believe in him. He and I share the same faith. We've supported him every time he's run," Beasley said, adding, "I really couldn't support Luther," because he was turned off by Washington's involvement in the race on behalf of Strange by injecting millions of dollars into Alabama.

Yet Beasley was initially noncommittal when asked about his plans in the general election, when either Moore or Strange will face off against Democratic formal federal prosecutor Doug Jones.

"I haven't looked that far down the road," Beasley said. "I think [Jones has] got a chance. He's got a good reputation. As far as I know he's a very good man. And I assume he'll be a viable candidate."

But the trial lawyer walked back those comments in a follow-up interview.

"If Roy wins, I'm not going to leave Roy," Beasley said.

'Philosophically, I'm a Democrat'

Beasley's support of Moore is an anomaly among trial lawyers, who typically back Democrats, including Beasley himself. Democrats are viewed as being sympathetic to plaintiffs' attorneys because they are largely against tort reform, which limits the amount of damages plaintiffs - and their lawyers in the form of legal fees - can be awarded if courts rule in their favor.

Of the 269 times Beasley has donated to congressional campaigns since 1989, he gave to Republicans only 17 times - including two contributions to Moore last month totaling $5,000, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. Beasley has donated to the last five Democratic presidential candidates, dozens of Democratic senators and the Democratic Party's campaign arms in the House and Senate. Among his donations to Republican candidates were Sens. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Rep. Martha Roby, R-Montgomery.

"I've generally voted for the person over the years," he said. "Philosophically, I'm a Democrat. I'm a Democrat, but I've voted for Republicans."

In the case of the special election, Beasley is putting his political philosophy aside.

'The Blue Slip'

While Moore may have been viewed as a judge who sided favorably with trial lawyers - including a case where he dissented against strengthening arbitration in Alabama - there is little that the Senate candidate could influence in Congress that would be beneficial to plaintiffs' attorneys. But there is one issue important to the occupation where Moore would have as much clout as the most senior senator: The selection of federal judges.

Who becomes a judicial nominee is decided through extensive negotiations between the White House and the senators from the home state where a prospective nominee resides. The president sends a list of potential nominees to the senators of that state, but if at least one senator opposes a pick, they can choose not to return what is known as a 'blue slip,' killing the nomination.

Beasley denied speaking to Moore or Strange about potential judicial vacancies in Alabama federal courts, but the trial lawyer said he has had those conversations with Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala, and did the same with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

"He doesn't always do what I say, but he listens to me," Beasley said of Shelby, adding that his interest in federal judicial appointments was not based on which judges may be favorable to his firm. About 10 percent of Beasley Allen's workload is federal cases, but the firm has raked in tens of millions of dollars in judgments in such cases.

"What every lawyer wants is a fair and independent judiciary," Beasley said of why he offers his advice on nominations. "Usually I would think that to get through the process you have to be at least an honorable guy or woman with a good record otherwise you're not going to get selected. Any lawyer who says he wants anything more than just fairness is wrong."

A $140 million payday lost

Going back to Strange's days campaigning for attorney general, Beasley has been critical of the incumbent senator. Beasley backed then-Republican Attorney General Troy King when Strange primaried King and won the race, slamming Strange for being an "oil industry lobbyist."

Under King, Beasley Allen had a lucrative contract to represent the state in its lawsuit against BP. The firm was set to receive 14 percent of any settlement with BP that was earmarked for the state's general fund, according to a media report at the time. Of the $2 billion settlement, $1 billion was appropriated for the general fund - which would have netted Beasley Allen $140 million.

Then Strange fired Beasley Allen and another Alabama firm from the case, installing himself as lead attorney. Strange argued that the attorney general's office had attorneys capable of handling the lawsuit and it was in the interest of the state to put the attorneys' fees to better use.

"I'm not going to give any law firm 15 to 20 percent of the money due the people of the state of Alabama," Strange told Reuters in a January 2011 phone interview. "Any money received will go directly to citizens, not to lawyers."

Beasley said the $140 million amount was a "fat lie," and claimed Strange fired him from the case for political reasons. Still, the firm was rehired as special attorneys general, and Beasley Allen made $6 million in attorney's fees from the case.

David vs. Goliath

As a trial lawyer, Beasley has gone up against the biggest corporations in the country. He said he sees his support for Moore in the same vein, alluding to the millions of dollars that super PACs have poured into Alabama in support of Strange.

"If I had to sit back and be objective, I see David vs. Goliath," he said. "Luther's history of lobbying for the oil industry and now taking money from folks out of Washington - [Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell obviously wants to have him in the seat."

Moore, according to Beasley, is not tainted. And the trial lawyer said Strange's appointment by then-Gov. Robert Bentley - who was being investigated by Strange's office - "smells funny."

"I have tremendous respect for somebody who stands up for who he believes," he said of Moore. "We need somebody with moral compass."