The Alabama Middle District has two types of judges. United States District Court judges (known as Article III Judges, or District Judges), and United States Magistrate Judges.

District Judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate, as stated in the Constitution. Article III of the Constitution also states that these judicial officers are appointed for a life term. 

Magistrate Judges are judicial officers of the district court, and upon the recommendation of a merit selection committee, are appointed by majority vote of the active district judges of the court to exercise jurisdiction over matters assigned by statute as well as those delegated by the district judges. Full-time magistrate judges serve for a renewable term of eight years and part-time magistrate judges for a renewable term of four years.

Correspondence

Under the rules governing the conduct of judges, our judges cannot respond to letters, emails, or other communications relating to cases that are pending or relating to other matters that could be the subject of future litigation.

Office Hours

The Clerk's Office office hours are:

8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday except official holidays.

District Judges

Article III of the Constitution states that these judicial officers are appointed for a life term. The Federal Judiciary, the Judicial Conference of the United States, and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts play no role in the nomination and confirmation process.

Magistrate Judges

Full-time magistrate judges serve for a renewable term of eight years and part-time magistrate judges for a renewable term of four years. Duties assigned to magistrate judges by district court judges may vary considerably from court to court.

Judicial Resources