United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
Federal court of the 11th circuit
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| United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama | |
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| (N.D. Ala.) | |
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| Location | Birmingham More locations |
| Appeals to | Eleventh Circuit |
| Established | March 10, 1824 |
| Judges | 8 |
| Chief Judge | Madeline Haikala |
| Officers of the court | |
| U.S. Attorney | Phil Williams |
| U.S. Marshal | Chester Martin Keely |
| www | |
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. As of May 28, 2026, the United States attorney is Phil Williams.
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, Florence, Huntsville, and Tuscaloosa.
Northwestern Division comprises the following counties: Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, and Lawrence.
Northeastern Division comprises the following counties: Cullman, Jackson, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, and Morgan.
Southern Division comprises the following counties: Blount, Jefferson, and Shelby.
Eastern Division comprises the following counties: Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, DeKalb, Etowah, St. Clair, and Talladega.
Western Division comprises the following counties: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston.
Current judges
As of January 1, 2026[update]:
| # | Title | Judge | Duty station | Born | Term of service | Appointed by | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Chief | Senior | ||||||
| 37 | Chief Judge | Madeline Haikala | Birmingham | 1964 | 2013–present | 2026–present | — | Obama |
| 38 | District Judge | Annemarie Axon | Birmingham | 1973 | 2018–present | — | — | Trump |
| 39 | District Judge | Liles C. Burke | Huntsville | 1969 | 2018–present | — | — | Trump |
| 40 | District Judge | Corey L. Maze | Anniston | 1978 | 2019–present | — | — | Trump |
| 41 | District Judge | Anna M. Manasco | Birmingham | 1980 | 2020–present | — | — | Trump |
| 42 | District Judge | Harold Mooty | Huntsville | 1983 | 2025–present | — | — | Trump |
| 43 | District Judge | Edmund LaCour | Tuscaloosa | 1985 | 2025–present | — | — | Trump |
| 44 | District Judge | vacant | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 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 |
| 30 | Senior Judge | Inge Prytz Johnson | inactive | 1945 | 1998–2012 | — | 2012–present | Clinton |
| 32 | Senior Judge | Karon O. Bowdre | inactive | 1955 | 2001–2020 | 2013–2019 | 2020–present | G.W. Bush |
| 35 | Senior Judge | Virginia Emerson Hopkins | inactive | 1952 | 2004–2018 | — | 2018–present | G.W. Bush |
Vacancies and pending nominations
| Seat | Prior judge's duty station | Seat last held by | Vacancy reason | Date of vacancy | Nominee | Date of nomination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Birmingham | R. David Proctor | Senior status | January 1, 2026 | Greg Cook | July 14, 2026 |
Former judges
| # | Judge | Born–died | Active service | Chief Judge | Senior status | Appointed by | Reason for termination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Tait | 1768–1835 | 1824–1826[Note 1] | — | — | Monroe/Operation of law | resignation |
| 2 | William Crawford | 1784–1849 | 1826–1849[Note 2] | — | — | J.Q. Adams | death |
| 3 | John Gayle | 1792–1859 | 1849–1859[Note 3] | — | — | Taylor | death |
| 4 | William Giles Jones | 1808–1883 | 1859–1861[Note 4] | — | — | Buchanan | resignation |
| 5 | George Washington Lane | 1806–1863 | 1861–1863[Note 3] | — | — | Lincoln | death |
| 6 | Richard Busteed | 1822–1898 | 1863–1874[Note 5] | — | — | Lincoln | resignation |
| 7 | John Bruce | 1832–1901 | 1875–1901[Note 6] | — | — | Grant | death |
| 8 | Thomas G. Jones | 1844–1914 | 1901–1914[Note 7] | — | — | T. Roosevelt | death |
| 9 | Oscar Richard Hundley | 1855–1921 | 1907–1908[Note 8] 1908–1909[Note 9] 1909[Note 10] |
— | — | T. Roosevelt T. Roosevelt Taft |
not confirmed not confirmed resignation |
| 10 | William Irwin Grubb | 1862–1935 | 1909–1935 | — | — | Taft | death |
| 11 | Henry D. Clayton Jr. | 1857–1929 | 1914–1929[Note 11] | — | — | Wilson | death |
| 12 | Charles Brents Kennamer | 1874–1955 | 1931–1936[Note 11] | — | — | Hoover | reassignment |
| 13 | David Jackson Davis | 1878–1938 | 1935–1938[Note 12] | — | — | F. Roosevelt | death |
| 14 | Thomas Alexander Murphree | 1883–1945 | 1938–1945 | — | — | F. Roosevelt | death |
| 15 | Clarence H. Mullins | 1895–1957 | 1943–1953 | 1948–1953 | 1953–1957 | F. Roosevelt | death |
| 16 | Seybourn Harris Lynne | 1907–2000 | 1946–1973 | 1953–1973 | 1973–2000 | Truman | death |
| 17 | Harlan Hobart Grooms | 1900–1991 | 1953–1969 | — | 1969–1991 | Eisenhower | death |
| 18 | Clarence W. Allgood | 1902–1991 | 1961–1973[Note 13] | — | 1973–1991 | Kennedy | death |
| 19 | Frank Hampton McFadden | 1925–2020 | 1969–1982 | 1973–1982 | — | Nixon | resignation |
| 20 | Sam C. Pointer Jr. | 1934–2008 | 1970–1999 | 1982–1999 | 1999–2000 | Nixon | retirement |
| 21 | James Hughes Hancock | 1931–2020 | 1973–1996 | — | 1996–2020 | Nixon | death |
| 22 | Junius Foy Guin Jr. | 1924–2016 | 1973–1989 | — | 1989–2016 | Nixon | death |
| 23 | Elbert Bertram Haltom Jr. | 1922–2003 | 1980–1991 | — | 1991–2003 | Carter | death |
| 24 | Robert Bruce Propst | 1931–2019 | 1980–1996 | — | 1996–2019 | Carter | death |
| 25 | U. W. Clemon | 1943–present | 1980–2009 | 1999–2006 | — | Carter | retirement |
| 26 | William Acker | 1927–2018 | 1982–1996 | — | 1996–2018 | Reagan | death |
| 27 | Edwin L. Nelson | 1940–2003 | 1990–2003 | — | — | G.H.W. Bush | death |
| 31 | H. Dean Buttram Jr. | 1950–present | 1998–2002 | — | — | Clinton | resignation |
| 33 | L. Scott Coogler | 1959–present | 2003–2025 | 2020–2023 | — | G.W. Bush | retirement |
| 34 | R. David Proctor | 1960–present | 2003–2026 | 2024–2026 | 2026 | G.W. Bush | retirement |
| 36 | Abdul K. Kallon | 1969–present | 2010–2022 | — | — | Obama | resignation |
- Reassigned from the District of Alabama. Jointly appointed to the Northern and the Southern Districts of Alabama.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 23, 1860, confirmed by the United States Senate on January 30, 1860, and received commission the same day. Jointly appointed to the Middle, Northern, and Southern Districts of Alabama.
- Received a second recess appointment and was again rejected by the Senate.
- Received a third recess appointment but resigned prior to consideration.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 6, 1936, confirmed by the Senate on January 22, 1936, and received commission on January 28, 1936.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 15, 1962, confirmed by the Senate on February 5, 1962, and received commission on February 9, 1962.
Chief judges
Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.
A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.
When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.
Succession of seats
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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.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
U.S. attorneys
| Name | Term started | Term ended | Presidents served under |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Crawford | 1820 | 1820 | James Monroe |
| Frank Jones | 1824 | 1826 | James Monroe John Q. Adams |
| Harry J. Thornton | 1826 | 1829 | John Q. Adams Andrew Jackson |
| Joseph Scott | 1829 | 1830 | Andrew Jackson |
| Byrd Brandon | 1830 | 1836 | Andrew Jackson |
| John Dennis Phelan | 1836 | 1836 | Andrew Jackson |
| Edwin R. Wallace | 1836 | 1839 | Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren |
| Jeremiah Clemens | 1839 | 1840 | Martin Van Buren |
| Joseph A. S. Acklen | 1840 | 1850 | Martin Van Buren William H. Harrison John Tyler James K. Polk Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore |
| Jefferson F. Jackson | 1850 | 1853 | Millard Fillmore Franklin Pierce |
| George S. Walden | 1853 | 1859 | Franklin Pierce James Buchanan |
| M. J. Turnley | 1859 | 1860 | James Buchanan |
| Charles E. Mayer | 1876 | 1880 | Ulysses S. Grant Rutherford B. Hayes |
| William H. Smith[6] | 1880 | 1885 | Rutherford B. Hayes James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur Grover Cleveland |
| George H. Craig | 1885 | 1885 | Grover Cleveland |
| William H. Denson | 1885 | 1889 | Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison |
| Lewis E. Parsons Jr. | 1889 | 1893 | Benjamin Harrison Grover Cleveland |
| Emmet O'Neal | 1893 | 1897 | Grover Cleveland William McKinley |
| William Vaughn | 1897 | 1902 | William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt |
| Thomas R. Roulhac | 1902 | 1907 | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Oliver D. Street | 1907 | 1913 | Theodore Roosevelt William H. Taft Woodrow Wilson |
| Robert N. Bell | 1913 | 1919 | Woodrow Wilson |
| Erle Pettris or Pettus | 1919 | 1922 | Woodrow Wilson Warren G. Harding |
| Charles B. Kennamer | 1922 | 1931 | Warren G. Harding Calvin Coolidge Herbert Hoover |
| Jim C. Smith | 1931 | 1931 | Herbert Hoover |
| John B. Isabell | 1931 | 1933 | Herbert Hoover Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Jim C. Smith | 1933 | 1946 | Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman |
| John D. Hill | 1946 | 1953 | Harry S. Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Frank Minis Johnson | 1953 | 1955 | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Atley A. Kitchings Jr. | 1955 | 1956 | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| William L. Longshore[7] | 1956 | 1961 | Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy |
| Macon L. Weaver | 1961 | 1969 | John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson Richard Nixon |
| Wayman G. Sherrer | 1969 | 1977 | Richard Nixon Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter |
| Jesse R. Brooks | 1977 | 1981 | Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan |
| Frank W. Donaldson | 1981 | 1992 | Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush |
| Jack W. Selden | 1992 | 1993 | George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton |
| Claude Harris Jr. | 1993 | 1994 | Bill Clinton |
| Walter Braswell | 1994 | 1995 | Bill Clinton |
| Caryl P. Privett | 1995 | 1997[8] | Bill Clinton |
| Gordon D. Jones[9] | 1997[9] | 2001[9] | Bill Clinton |
| Alice H. Martin[10] | 2001[11][failed verification] | 2009[11] | George W. Bush Barack Obama |
| Joyce Vance[12] | 2009[13] | 2017[13] | Barack Obama |
| Robert O. Posey[14] | 2017[14] | 2017[14] | Donald Trump |
| John E. Town[15][16] | 2017[15] | 2020[17] | Donald Trump |
| Prim F. Escalona | 2020 | 2026 | Donald Trump Joe Biden |
| Catherine L. Crosby (Acting) | 2026 | 2026 | Donald Trump |
| Phil Williams | 2026 | Present | Donald Trump |
