United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama

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.U.S. District Courts of Alabama, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center

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. 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

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

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 NameTerm startedTerm endedPresidents served underWilliam Crawford18201820James MonroeFrank Jones18241826James MonroeJohn Q. AdamsHarry J. Thornton18261829John Q. AdamsAndrew JacksonJoseph Scott18291830Andrew JacksonByrd Brandon18301836Andrew JacksonJohn Dennis Phelan18361836Andrew JacksonEdwin R. Wallace18361839Andrew JacksonMartin Van BurenJeremiah Clemens18391840Martin Van BurenJoseph A. S. Acklen18401850Martin Van BurenWilliam H. HarrisonJohn TylerJames K. PolkZachary TaylorMillard FillmoreJefferson F. Jackson18501853Millard FillmoreFranklin PierceGeorge S. Walden18531859Franklin PierceJames BuchananM. J. Turnley18591860James BuchananCharles E. Mayer18761880Ulysses S. GrantRutherford B. HayesWilliam H. Smith18801885Rutherford B. HayesJames A. GarfieldChester A. ArthurGrover ClevelandGeorge H. Craig18851885Grover ClevelandWilliam H. Denson18851889Grover ClevelandBenjamin HarrisonLewis E. Parsons Jr.18891893Benjamin HarrisonGrover ClevelandEmmet O'Neal18931897Grover ClevelandWilliam McKinleyWilliam Vaughn18971902William McKinleyTheodore RooseveltThomas R. Roulhac19021907Theodore RooseveltOliver D. Street19071913Theodore RooseveltWilliam H. TaftWoodrow WilsonRobert N. Bell19131919Woodrow WilsonErle Pettris or Pettus19191922Woodrow WilsonWarren G. HardingCharles B. Kennamer19221931Warren G. HardingCalvin CoolidgeHerbert HooverJim C. Smith19311931Herbert HooverJohn B. Isabell19311933Herbert HooverFranklin D. RooseveltJim C. Smith19331946Franklin D. RooseveltHarry S. TrumanJohn D. Hill19461953Harry S. TrumanDwight D. EisenhowerFrank Minis Johnson19531955Dwight D. EisenhowerAtley A. Kitchings Jr.19551956Dwight D. EisenhowerWilliam L. LongshoreOfficial Register of the United States (1958)19561961Dwight D. EisenhowerJohn F. KennedyMacon L. Weaver19611969John F. KennedyLyndon B. JohnsonRichard NixonWayman G. Sherrer19691977Richard NixonGerald FordJimmy CarterJesse R. Brooks19771981Jimmy CarterRonald ReaganFrank W. Donaldson19811992Ronald ReaganGeorge H. W. BushJack W. Selden19921993George H. W. BushBill ClintonClaude Harris Jr.19931994Bill ClintonWalter Braswell19941995Bill ClintonCaryl P. Privett19951997Bold Lions Survival Sense Hardcover – March 21, 2018Bill ClintonGordon D. Jones19972001Bill ClintonAlice H. MartinAsset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Resource Directory (digitized 2013)20012009George W. BushBarack ObamaJoyce Vance2009 2017Barack ObamaRobert O. Posey20172017Donald TrumpJohn E. Town20172020Donald TrumpPrim F. Escalona20202026Donald TrumpJoe BidenCatherine L. Crosby (Acting)20262026Donald TrumpPhil Williams2026PresentDonald Trump

See also Courts of Alabama List of current United States district judges List of United States federal courthouses in Alabama

Notes

External links United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Restoring checks and balances in the confirmation process of United States attorneys: hearing before the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, first session, on H.R. 580, March 6, 2007 (includes list of past U.S. attorneys up to about 1996)