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: Karon O. Bowdre
http://www.alnd.uscourts.gov/

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (in case citations, N.D. Ala.) is a federal court in 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 District was established on March 10, 1824 with the division of the state into a Northern and Southern district. The circuit court itself was established on June 22, 1874.[1]

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. The current United States Attorney is Joyce White Vance, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 7, 2009.

Organization of the court

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama is one of three federal judicial districts in Alabama.[2] Court for the District is held at Anniston, Birmingham, Decatur, Florence, Gadsden, Huntsville, and Tuscaloosa.

Eastern Division comprises the following counties: Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, and Talladega.

Jasper Division comprises the following counties: Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, and Winston.

Middle Division comprises the following counties: Cherokee, DeKalb, Etowah, Marshall, and St. Clair.

Northeastern Division comprises the following counties: Cullman, Jackson, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, and Morgan.

Northwestern Division comprises the following counties: Colbert, Franklin, and Lauderdale.

Southern Division comprises the following counties: Blount, Jefferson, and Shelby.

Western Division comprises the following counties: Bibb, Greene, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa.

Current judges

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
32 Chief Judge Karon O. Bowdre Birmingham 1955 2001–present 2013–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 Madeline Hughes Haikala Birmingham 1964 2013–present — — Obama
38 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
39 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
21 Senior Judge James Hughes Hancock Birmingham 1931 1973–1996 — 1996–present Nixon
24 Senior Judge Robert Bruce Propst Anniston 1931 1980–1996 — 1996–present Carter
26 Senior Judge William Marsh Acker, Jr. Birmingham 1927 1982–1996 — 1996–present Reagan
28 Senior Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn Birmingham 1950 1991–2015 2006–2013 2015–present G.H.W. Bush
29 Senior Judge Charles Lynwood Smith, Jr. Huntsville 1943 1995–2013 — 2013–present Clinton
31 Senior Judge Inge Prytz Johnson Birmingham 1945 1998–2012 — 2012–present Clinton

Vacancies and pending nominations

# Seat last held by Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Nominee Nominated
7 Smith, Jr., Charles LynwoodCharles Lynwood Smith, Jr. Senior Status August 31, 2013 – –
10 Blackburn, Sharon LovelaceSharon Lovelace Blackburn Senior Status May 8, 2015 – –
9 Kallon, AbdulAbdul Kallon appointment to 11th Cir. To be determined[3] – –

Former judges

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Tait, CharlesCharles Tait AL 1768–1835 1824[4]–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[5]–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[6]–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[7]
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 reassignment
13 Davis, David JacksonDavid Jackson Davis AL 1878–1938 1935[8]–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[9]–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 C.Sam C. Pointer, Jr. AL 1934–2008 1970–1999 1982–1999 1999–2000 Nixon, Nixon retirement
22 Guin, Jr., Junius FoyJunius Foy Guin, Jr. AL 1924–2016 1973–1989 — 1989–2016 Nixon, Nixon death
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

Court Decisions

Lucy v. Adams (1955) - A court ruling which affirmed the right of all citizens to be accepted at the University of Alabama. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ruling.

Armstrong v. Birmingham Board of Education (1963) - The court dismissed the plaintiff's complaint. On appeal, the Fifth Circuit reversed and ordered the desegregation of Birmingham public schools.[10]

United States v. Wallace (1963) - The court exercised its ruling in Lucy v. Adams and ordered that colored students be permitted to enroll at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The court order led to the infamous Stand in the Schoolhouse Door incident with Governor George C. Wallace.[11]

Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education (2002) - A reversal of the decision rendered by the district and Eleventh Circuit. The U.S. Supreme Court held that retaliation against a person on the basis of a sexual complaint is a form of sexual discrimination under Title IX.

Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (2003) - The U.S. Supreme Court reversed the decision of the district court, stating that employers cannot be sued under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act over race or gender discrimination if the claims are based on decisions over 180 days. The decision of the court led Congress to pass the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009.

United States v. Alabama (2011) - The court upheld most parts of Alabama HB 56, an anti-illegal immigration bill signed by Governor Robert J. Bentley. The Eleventh Circuit reversed, invalidating much of Alabama HB 56.[12]

Succession of seats

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 1936–1938
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
Haikala 2013–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 1962–1973
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. 1995–2013
vacant 2013–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 1991–2015
vacant 2015–present
Seat 11
Seat established on November 2, 2002 by 116 Stat. 1758 (temporary)
Proctor 2003–present

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/courts_district_al.html U.S. District Courts of Alabama, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center
  2. ↑ 28 U.S.C. § 81
  3. ↑ Future Judicial Vacancies
  4. ↑ 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.
  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.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ http://www.leagle.com/decision/1963437220FSupp217_1398 Armstrong v. Birmingham Board of Education
  11. ↑ http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/ref/collection/voices/id/5665 United States v. Wallace
  12. ↑ http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/201114532.pdf United States v. Alabama

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