The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (in case citations, N.D. Ala.) is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Cullman, De Kalb, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Pickens, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston. It has jurisdiction over the cities of Birmingham, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, and Decatur.
The District was created by the United States Congress on March 10, 1824, by 4 Stat. 9, when the United States District Court for the District of Alabama was subdivided into a Northern and Southern District. Presiding judge Charles Tait continued to serve as the sole judge for both districts. Parts of these two districts were subsequently removed to form the Middle District on February 6, 1839, by 5 Stat. 315, with legislation specifying that the Middle District Court was to be held at Tuscaloosa, the Northern District Court at Huntsville, and the Southern District Court at Mobile. These Districts were again reorganized on August 7, 1848.
Appeals from cases brought in the Northern District of Alabama are to the United States Court of Appeals for 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 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 August 27, 2009, the United States Attorney is Joyce Vance.
Read more about United States District Court For The Northern District Of Alabama: Current Judges, Former Judges
Famous quotes containing the words united states, united, states, district, court, northern and/or alabama:
“Ethnic life in the United States has become a sort of contest like baseball in which the blacks are always the Chicago Cubs.”
—Ishmael Reed (b. 1938)
“Toil and pleasure, dissimilar in nature, are nevertheless united by a certain natural bond.”
—Titus Livius (Livy)
“[Urging the national government] to eradicate local prejudices and mistaken rivalships to consolidate the affairs of the states into one harmonious interest.”
—James Madison (1751–1836)
“Most works of art, like most wines, ought to be consumed in the district of their fabrication.”
—Rebecca West (1892–1983)
“At court I met it, in clothes brave enough
To be a courtier, and looks grave enough
To seem a statesman.”
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637)
“‘What is the world, O soldiers?
It is I,
I, this incessant snow,
This northern sky;”
—Walter De La Mare (1873–1956)
“While over Alabama earth
These words are gently spoken:
Serve—and hate will die unborn.
Love—and chains are broken.”
—Langston Hughes (20th century)