United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama

United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
(N.D. Ala.)
Appeals to Eleventh Circuit
Established March 10, 1824
Judges assigned 8
Chief judge Sharon Blackburn
Official site

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (in case citations, N.D. Ala.) is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Cullman, De Kalb, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Pickens, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston. It has jurisdiction over the cities of Birmingham, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, and Decatur.

The District was created by the United States Congress on March 10, 1824, by 4 Stat. 9, when the United States District Court for the District of Alabama was subdivided into a Northern and Southern District.[1][2] Presiding judge Charles Tait continued to serve as the sole judge for both districts. Parts of these two districts were subsequently removed to form the Middle District on February 6, 1839, by 5 Stat. 315,[1][2][3] with legislation specifying 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 Northern 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 Northern District of Alabama represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court.

As of August 27, 2009, the United States Attorney is Joyce Vance.

Contents

Current judges

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
28 Chief Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn Birmingham 1950 1991–present 2006–present — G.H.W. Bush
29 District Judge Charles Lynwood Smith, Jr. Huntsville 1943 1995–present — — Clinton
31 District Judge Inge Prytz Johnson Birmingham 1945 1998–present — — Clinton
32 District Judge Karon O. Bowdre Birmingham 1955 2001–present — — G.W. Bush
33 District Judge L. Scott Coogler Tuscaloosa 1959 2003–present — — G.W. Bush
34 District Judge R. David Proctor Birmingham 1960 2003–present — — G.W. Bush
35 District Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins Birmingham 1952 2004–present — — G.W. Bush
36 District Judge Abdul Kallon (n/a) 1969 2010–present — — Obama
21 Senior District Judge James Hughes Hancock Birmingham 1931 1973–1996 (none) 1996–present Nixon
22 Senior District Judge Junius Foy Guin, Jr. Birmingham 1924 1973–1989 (none) 1989–present Nixon
24 Senior District Judge Robert Bruce Propst Anniston 1931 1980–1996 (none) 1996–present Carter
26 Senior District Judge William Marsh Acker Jr. Birmingham 1927 1982–1996 (none) 1996–present Reagan

Former judges

# Judge State Born/Died Active service Term as Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Tait, CharlesCharles Tait AL 1768–1835 1824[5]–1826 (none) (none) Monroe, Monroe resignation
2 Crawford, WilliamWilliam Crawford AL 1784–1849 1826–1849 (none) (none) Adams, J.Q.J.Q. Adams death
3 Gayle, JohnJohn Gayle AL 1792–1859 1849–1859 (none) (none) Taylor, Taylor death
4 Jones, William GilesWilliam Giles Jones AL 1808–1883 1859[6]–1861 (none) (none) Buchanan, Buchanan resignation
5 Lane, George WashingtonGeorge Washington Lane AL 1806–1863 1861–1863 (none) (none) Lincoln, Lincoln death
6 Busteed, RichardRichard Busteed AL 1822–1898 1863[7]–1874 (none) (none) Lincoln, Lincoln resignation
7 Bruce, JohnJohn Bruce AL 1832–1901 1875–1901 (none) (none) Grant, Grant death
8 Jones, Thomas G.Thomas G. Jones AL 1844–1914 1901–1914 (none) (none) Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt death
9 Hundley, Oscar RichardOscar Richard Hundley AL 1855–1921 1907–1908
1908–1909
1909		 (none) (none) Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt
Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt
Taft, Taft		 not confirmed[8]
10 Grubb, William IrwinWilliam Irwin Grubb AL 1862–1935 1909–1935 (none) (none) Taft, Taft death
11 Clayton, Jr., Henry De LamarHenry De Lamar Clayton, Jr. AL 1857–1929 1914–1929 (none) (none) Wilson, Wilson death
12 Kennamer, Charles BrentsCharles Brents Kennamer AL 1874–1955 1931–1936 (none) (none) Hoover, Hoover assignment to M.D. Ala
13 Davis, David JacksonDavid Jackson Davis AL 1878–1938 1935[9]–1938 (none) (none) Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt death
14 Murphree, Thomas AlexanderThomas Alexander Murphree AL 1883–1945 1938–1945 (none) (none) Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt death
15 Mullins, Clarence H.Clarence H. Mullins AL 1895–1957 1943–1953 1948–1953 1953–1957 Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt death
16 Lynne, Seybourn HarrisSeybourn Harris Lynne AL 1907–2000 1946–1973 1953–1973 1973–2000 Truman, Truman death
17 Grooms, Harlan HobartHarlan Hobart Grooms AL 1900–1991 1953–1969 (none) 1969–1991 Eisenhower, Eisenhower death
18 Allgood, Clarence W.Clarence W. Allgood AL 1902–1991 1961[10]–1973 (none) 1973–1991 Kennedy, Kennedy death
19 McFadden, Frank HamptonFrank Hampton McFadden AL 1925–present 1969–1982 1973–1982 (none) Nixon, Nixon resignation
20 Pointer Jr., Sam ClydeSam Clyde Pointer Jr. AL 1934–2008 1970–1999 1982–1999 1999–2000 Nixon, Nixon retirement
23 Haltom, Jr., Elbert BertramElbert Bertram Haltom, Jr. AL 1922–2003 1980–1991 (none) 1991–2003 Carter, Carter death
25 Clemon, U. W.U. W. Clemon AL 1943–present 1980–2009 1999–2006 (none) Carter, Carter retirement
27 Nelson, Edwin L.Edwin L. Nelson AL 1940–2003 1990–2003 (none) (none) Bush, G.H.W.G.H.W. Bush death
30 Buttram Jr., H. DeanH. Dean Buttram Jr. AL 1950–present 1998–2002 (none) (none) Clinton, Clinton resignation

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. ^ a b U.S. District Courts of Alabama, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  3. ^ Alfred Conkling, A Treatise on the Organization, Jurisdiction and Practice of the Courts of the United States (1864), p. 178.
  4. ^ Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 391.
  5. ^ Initially appointed to the District of Alabama in 1820 by James Monroe; reassigned to both the Northern District of Alabama and the Southern District of Alabama in 1824.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Recess appointment; the United States Senate later rejected the appointment; received a second recess appointment and was again rejected by the Senate; received a third recess appointment but resigned prior to consideration.
  9. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 6, 1936, confirmed by the United States Senate on January 22, 1936, and received commission on January 28, 1936.
  10. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 15, 1962, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 5, 1962, and received commission on February 9, 1962.

External links

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