United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama

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United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
(N.D. Ala.)
Seal of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
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 United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. Appeals from cases brought to the district 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.[citation needed]

Contents

Current judges [edit]

A vacancy occurred on October 24, 2012, when Judge Inge Prytz Johnson took senior status.[1] On May 9, 2013, President Obama nominated Madeline Hughes Haikala to the seat.[2]

# 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
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 Birmingham 1969 2010–present — — Obama
37 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
21 Senior District Judge James Hughes Hancock Birmingham 1931 1973–1996 — 1996–present Nixon
22 Senior District Judge Junius Foy Guin, Jr. Birmingham 1924 1973–1989 — 1989–present Nixon
24 Senior District Judge Robert Bruce Propst Anniston 1931 1980–1996 — 1996–present Carter
26 Senior District Judge William Marsh Acker Jr. Birmingham 1927 1982–1996 — 1996–present Reagan
31 Senior District Judge Inge Prytz Johnson Birmingham 1945 1998–2012 — 2012–present Clinton

History [edit]

[icon] This section requires expansion. (February 2013)

19th century [edit]

The District was created by the United States Congress on March 10, 1824, by 4 Stat. 9, when the District of Alabama was split into a Northern and Southern District.[3][4] 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,[3][4][5] 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.[3] These Districts were again reorganized on August 7, 1848.[6]

20th century [edit]

In 1963, the district issued the court order that led to the Stand in the Schoolhouse Door at the University of Alabama.[7]

21th century [edit]

As of August 27, 2009, the United States Attorney is Joyce Vance.[citation needed]

Former judges [edit]

# 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[8]–1826 — — Monroe, Monroe resignation
2 Crawford, WilliamWilliam Crawford AL 1784–1849 1826–1849 — — Adams, J.Q.J.Q. Adams death
3 Gayle, JohnJohn Gayle AL 1792–1859 1849–1859 — — Taylor, Taylor death
4 Jones, William GilesWilliam Giles Jones AL 1808–1883 1859[9]–1861 — — Buchanan, Buchanan resignation
5 Lane, George WashingtonGeorge Washington Lane AL 1806–1863 1861–1863 — — Lincoln, Lincoln death
6 Busteed, RichardRichard Busteed AL 1822–1898 1863[10]–1874 — — Lincoln, Lincoln resignation
7 Bruce, JohnJohn Bruce AL 1832–1901 1875–1901 — — Grant, Grant death
8 Jones, Thomas G.Thomas G. Jones AL 1844–1914 1901–1914 — — Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt death
9 Hundley, Oscar RichardOscar Richard Hundley AL 1855–1921 1907–1908
1908–1909
1909		 — — Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt
Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt
Taft, Taft		 not confirmed[11]
10 Grubb, William IrwinWilliam Irwin Grubb AL 1862–1935 1909–1935 — — Taft, Taft death
11 Clayton, Jr., Henry De LamarHenry De Lamar Clayton, Jr. AL 1857–1929 1914–1929 — — Wilson, Wilson death
12 Kennamer, Charles BrentsCharles Brents Kennamer AL 1874–1955 1931–1936 — — Hoover, Hoover assignment to M.D. Ala
13 Davis, David JacksonDavid Jackson Davis AL 1878–1938 1935[12]–1938 — — Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt death
14 Murphree, Thomas AlexanderThomas Alexander Murphree AL 1883–1945 1938–1945 — — 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 — 1969–1991 Eisenhower, Eisenhower death
18 Allgood, Clarence W.Clarence W. Allgood AL 1902–1991 1961[13]–1973 — 1973–1991 Kennedy, Kennedy death
19 McFadden, Frank HamptonFrank Hampton McFadden AL 1925–present 1969–1982 1973–1982 — 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 — 1991–2003 Carter, Carter death
25 Clemon, U. W.U. W. Clemon AL 1943–present 1980–2009 1999–2006 — Carter, Carter retirement
27 Nelson, Edwin L.Edwin L. Nelson AL 1940–2003 1990–2003 — — Bush, G.H.W.G.H.W. Bush death
30 Buttram Jr., H. DeanH. Dean Buttram Jr. AL 1950–present 1998–2002 — — Clinton, Clinton resignation

Succession of seats [edit]

Seat 1
Seat reassigned from the District of Alabama on March 10, 1824 by 4 Stat. 9 (concurrent with Southern District)
Tait 1824–1826
Crawford 1826–1849
Seat made concurrent with Middle District on February 6, 1839 by 5 Stat. 315
Gayle 1849–1859
W. Jones 1859–1861
Lane 1861–1863
Busteed 1863–1874
Seat reassigned solely to Northern and Middle Districts on August 2, 1886 by 24 Stat. 213
Bruce 1875–1901
T. Jones 1901–1914
Clayton 1914–1929
Kennamer 1931–1936
Seat reassigned solely to Middle District on June 5, 1936 by 49 Stat. 1476
Seat 2
Seat established on February 25, 1907 by 34 Stat. 931
Hundley 1907–1908
Hundley 1908–1909
Hundley 1909–1909
Grubb 1909–1935
Davis 1935–1938
Seat abolished on December 7, 1938 (Temporary judgeship expired)
Seat 3
Seat established on March 26, 1938 by 52 Stat. 120 (temporary)
Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 2 on December 7, 1938
Murphree 1938–1945
Lynne 1946–1973
Hancock 1973–1996
Johnson 1998–2012
vacant 2012–present
Seat 4
Seat established on December 24, 1942 by 56 Stat. 1092
Mullins 1943–1953
Grooms 1953–1969
McFadden 1969–1982
Acker, Jr. 1982–1996
Seat abolished on May 31, 1996 (Temporary judgeship expired)
Seat 5
Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
Allgood 1961–1973
Guin, Jr. 1973–1989
Nelson 1990–2003
Hopkins 2004–present
Seat 6
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294
Pointer, Jr. 1970–1999
Bowdre 2001–present
Seat 7
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Haltom, Jr. 1980–1991
Smith, Jr. 1995–present
Seat 8
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Propst 1980–1996
Buttram, Jr. 1998–2002
Coogler 2003–present
Seat 9
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Clemon 1980–2009
Kallon 2010–present
Seat 10
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 (temporary)
Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 4 on May 31, 1996
Blackburn 1991–present
Seat 11
Seat established on November 2, 2002 by 116 Stat. 1758 (temporary)
Proctor 2003–present

See also [edit]

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/nGetInfo?jid=2788&cid=999&ctype=na&instate=na
  2. ^ http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/09/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-united-states-district-court
  3. ^ a b c Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 390.
  4. ^ a b U.S. District Courts of Alabama, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  5. ^ Alfred Conkling, A Treatise on the Organization, Jurisdiction and Practice of the Courts of the United States (1864), p. 178.
  6. ^ Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 391.
  7. ^ "Address on Civil Rights". Miller Center of Public Affairs. June 11, 1963. Retrieved 2013-02-07. "This afternoon, following a series of threats and defiant statements, the presence of Alabama National Guardsmen was required on the University of Alabama to carry out the final and unequivocal order of the United States District Court of the Northern District of Alabama." 
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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 [edit]

Chief Judges of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
NDAla seal.gif
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