United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama

Organization of the court

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama is one of three federal judicial districts in Alabama. 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

:

Vacancies and pending nominations

Former judges

1908–1909Received a second recess appointment and was again rejected by the Senate. 1909Received a third recess appointment but resigned prior to consideration.

not confirmed resignation

Chief judges

Succession of seats

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.

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.

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.

U.S. attorneys

Notes

References

1. [https://www.fjc.gov/history/courts/us-district-courts-districts-alabama-legislative-history U.S. District Courts of Alabama, Legislative history], ''[[Federal Judicial Center]]''
2. Barr, William P.. (2020-07-16). "Attorney General William P. Barr Announces the Appointment of Prim F. Escalona as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama".
3. {{USCode. 28. 81
4. "ARMSTRONG v. BOARD OF EDU | 220 F.Supp. 217 (1963) | supp2171398 | Leagle.com".
5. "Q48498 - Q48509".
6. "United States v. Alabama".
7. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Smith, U to Z".
8. [https://books.google.com/books?id=PNAhAAAAMAAJ&dq=William+L.+Longshore+us+attorney&pg=PA345 Official Register of the United States (1958)]
9. [https://www.amazon.com/Bold-Lions-Survival-Sense-Hobbs/dp/1545629897 Bold Lions Survival Sense Hardcover – March 21, 2018]
10. "Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress - Retro Member details".
11. [https://books.google.com/books?id=nAY6ShP8sMEC&dq=Alice+H.+Martin+us+attorney&pg=PA22 Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Resource Directory (digitized 2013)]
12. "LinkedIn Profile".
13. (December 23, 2009). "'Well-nigh unshakable' Joyce White Vance '82 is one of Obama's first U.S. attorneys".
14. "LinkedIn Profile".
15. (October 4, 2017). "U.S. Attorney Jay Town Names Robert Posey to Management Position".
16. (August 11, 2017). "Jay E. Town Sworn in as U.S. Attorney for Northern District of Alabama".
17. "Mr. John Edward Town Profile | Huntsville, AL Lawyer | Martindale.com".
18. Burkhalter, Eddie. (2020-07-10). "U.S. Attorney Jay Town announces resignation". Alabama Political Reporter.