United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama

United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
(M.D. Ala.)
Appeals to Eleventh Circuit
Established February 6, 1839
Judges assigned 3
Chief judge William Keith Watkins
Official site

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama (in case citations, M.D. Ala.) is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Coffee, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery, Pike, Randolph, Russell, and Tallapoosa. It has jurisdiction over the city of Montgomery.

The District was created by the United States Congress on February 6, 1839, by 5 Stat. 315,[1][1][2][3] from parts of the existing Northern and Southern Districts.[3] The establishing legislation specified that the Middle District Court was to be held at Tuscaloosa, the Northern District Court at Huntsville, and the Southern District Court at Mobile.[1] These Districts were again reorganized on August 7, 1848.[4]

Appeals from cases brought in the Middle District of Alabama are to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Alabama represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. The current United States Attorney is George Beck.

Contents

Current judges

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
19 Chief Judge William Keith Watkins Montgomery 1951 2005–present 2011-present — G.W. Bush
18 District Judge Mark Fuller Montgomery 1958 2002–present 2004–2011 — G.W. Bush
14 District Judge Myron Herbert Thompson Montgomery 1947 1980–present 1991-1998 — Carter
13 Senior District Judge Truman McGill Hobbs Montgomery 1921 1980–1991 1984-1991 1991-present Carter
16 Senior District Judge William Harold Albritton III Montgomery 1936 1991–1996 1998-2004 2004-present G.H.W.Bush

Former judges

# Judge State Born/Died Active service Term as Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Crawford, WilliamWilliam Crawford AL 1784–1849 1826–1849 (none) (none) Adams, J.Q.J.Q. Adams death
2 Gayle, JohnJohn Gayle AL 1792–1859 1849–1859 (none) (none) Taylor, Taylor death
3 Jones, William GilesWilliam Giles Jones AL 1808–1883 1859[5]–1861 (none) (none) Buchanan, Buchanan resignation
4 Lane, George WashingtonGeorge Washington Lane AL 1806–1863 1861–1863 (none) (none) Lincoln, Lincoln death
5 Busteed, RichardRichard Busteed AL 1822–1898 1863[6]–1874 (none) (none) Lincoln, Lincoln resignation
6 Bruce, JohnJohn Bruce AL 1832–1901 1875–1901 (none) (none) Grant, Grant death
7 Jones, Thomas G.Thomas G. Jones AL 1844–1914 1901–1914 (none) (none) Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt death
8 Clayton, Jr., Henry De LamarHenry De Lamar Clayton, Jr. AL 1857–1929 1914–1929 (none) (none) Wilson, Wilson death
9 Kennamer, Charles BrentsCharles Brents Kennamer AL 1874–1955 1931–1955 (none) (none) Hoover, Hoover death
10 Johnson, Frank MinisFrank Minis Johnson AL 1918–1999 1955–1979 1966-1979 (none) Eisenhower, Eisenhower reappointment to 5th Cir.
11 Pittman, Thomas VirgilThomas Virgil Pittman AL 1916–present 1966–1970 (none) (none) Johnson, Johnson reappointment to S.D. Ala.
12 Varner, Robert EdwardRobert Edward Varner AL 1921–2006 1971–1986 1979-1984 1986-2006 Nixon, Nixon death
15 Dubina, Joel FredrickJoel Fredrick Dubina AL 1947–present 1986–1990 (none) (none) Reagan, Reagan reappointment to 11 Cir.
17 De Ment, IraIra De Ment AL 1931-2011 1992–2002 — 2002-2011 G.H.W.Bush death

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 390.
  2. ^ Alfred Conkling, A Treatise on the Organization, Jurisdiction and Practice of the Courts of the United States (1864), p. 178.
  3. ^ a b U.S. District Courts of Alabama, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  4. ^ Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 391.
  5. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 23, 1860, confirmed by the United States Senate on January 30, 1860, and received commission on January 30, 1860.
  6. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1864, confirmed by the United States Senate on January 20, 1864, and received commission on January 20, 1864.

External links

Chief Judges of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama