United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama

About This Court

Located in Mobile, Alabama, the Southern District of Alabama is one of three federal judicial districts in the state. It covers the southwestern portion of Alabama, including the Gulf Coast region, and encompasses counties such as Mobile, Baldwin, Clarke, Choctaw, Washington, Monroe, Conecuh, Escambia, and Wilcox. The district is part of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

As a coastal district, the Southern District of Alabama handles cases involving maritime and admiralty law, reflecting the significance of the Port of Mobile and the Gulf Coast economy. The district also adjudicates the full range of civil and criminal matters arising under federal law within its geographic boundaries.

The court operates within the federal courthouse in Mobile and is administered by a clerk's office that manages case filings, records, and administrative functions for the district.

Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Alabama.

Caseload

The Southern District of Alabama sees a notable volume of admiralty and maritime cases given its proximity to the Port of Mobile and the Gulf of Mexico. The docket also includes federal criminal matters, civil rights cases, and civil litigation arising from commercial and industrial activity in the region.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the Southern District of Alabama by submitting an application to the clerk's office and meeting the court's local rules requirements, including admission to the Alabama State Bar or admission pro hac vice for out-of-state counsel in specific matters.

Clerk's Office

113 St. Joseph Street, Mobile, AL 36602

(251) 690-2371

Active Judges 6

Name	Appointed By	Confirmed	Law School
Jeffrey Beaverstock	Donald J. Trump	2018	University of Alabama School of Law
Charles Butler	Ronald Reagan	1988	University of Alabama School of Law
Kristi DuBose	George W. Bush	2005	Emory University School of Law
Callie Granade	George W. Bush	2002	University of Texas School of Law
Terry Moorer	Donald J. Trump	2018	University of Alabama School of Law
William Steele	George W. Bush	2003	University of Alabama School of Law

Local Rules

68 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 32

Rule	Title
Civil L.R. 1	Scope of Rules
Civil L.R. 10	Form of Pleadings
Civil L.R. 100	Rule A – Authority, Scope, and Definitions
Civil L.R. 101	Rule B – Maritime Attachment and Garnishment
Civil L.R. 102	Rule C – Actions In Rem: Special Provisions
Civil L.R. 103	Rule D – Possessory, Petitory, and Partition Actions
Civil L.R. 104	Rule E – Actions In Rem and Quasi In Rem: General Provisions
Civil L.R. 105	Rule F – Limitation of Liability
Civil L.R. 12	Motions to Dismiss or Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings in Pro Se Litigation
Civil L.R. 15	Amended and Supplemental Pleadings
Civil L.R. 16	Pretrial Conferences; Scheduling; Management; Alternative Dispute Resolution
Civil L.R. 26	Duty to Disclose; General Provisions Governing Discovery
Civil L.R. 3	Commencing an Action
Civil L.R. 33	Interrogatories
Civil L.R. 34	Producing Documents
Civil L.R. 36	Requests for Admission
Civil L.R. 37	Discovery Motions
Civil L.R. 4	Service of Process
Civil L.R. 41	Dismissal of Actions
Civil L.R. 42	Consolidation
Civil L.R. 5	Filing Discovery Materials and Exhibits
Civil L.R. 54	Costs
Civil L.R. 56	Summary Judgment
Civil L.R. 62	Supersedeas Bonds
Civil L.R. 65.1	Sureties
Civil L.R. 65.2	Security for Costs
Civil L.R. 67	Deposit Into Court; Withdrawal of Monies; Registry Fee
Civil L.R. 67.1	Special Attorney Admission Fund
Civil L.R. 7	Form of Motions and Other Papers
Civil L.R. 7.1	Disclosure Statements
Civil L.R. 8	Pleading Jurisdiction
Civil L.R. 9	Pleading Special Matters

Criminal Rules 16

Rule	Title
Criminal L.R. 1	Scope of Rules
Criminal L.R. 12	Motions; Evidentiary Hearings
Criminal L.R. 12.4	Disclosure Statements
Criminal L.R. 12.5	Notice of Entrapment Defense
Criminal L.R. 13	Reassignment of Related Criminal Cases
Criminal L.R. 16	Discovery and Inspection
Criminal L.R. 17.1	Pretrial Conferences
Criminal L.R. 32	Sentencing and Judgment
Criminal L.R. 44	Obligations of Retained and Appointed Counsel
Criminal L.R. 46	Bonds and Other Sureties
Criminal L.R. 46.1	Appeal of Release or Detention Orders
Criminal L.R. 49.2	Sealed Hearings
Criminal L.R. 58	Misdemeanors and Other Offenses
Criminal L.R. 6	Grand Jury Materials
Criminal L.R. 7	Superseding Indictment or Information
Criminal L.R. 9	Delivery to Marshal of Warrant or Summons

General Rules 18

Rule	Title
General L.R. 1	Scope and Purpose of Rules
General L.R. 1.1	Procedures for Individual Judges
General L.R. 43	Examining Witnesses
General L.R. 47	Selecting Jurors
General L.R. 5	Serving and Filing Pleadings and Other Papers
General L.R. 51	Instructions to the Jury
General L.R. 5.2	Sealed Documents
General L.R. 7	Requests for Court Action
General L.R. 72	Duties Under 28 U.S.C. § 636(a) and (b)
General L.R. 73	Duties Under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)
General L.R. 77	Place of Trial and Other Proceedings
General L.R. 79	Custody of Files and Exhibits
General L.R. 83.1	Courthouse Decorum
General L.R. 83.2	Appearing Before the Court
General L.R. 83.5	Persons Proceeding Without Counsel
General L.R. 84	Forms
General L.R. 86	Effective Date
General L.R. 87	Reference of Bankruptcy Matters

Attorney Rules 2

Rule	Title
General L.R. 83.3	Admission to Practice
General L.R. 83.4	Attorney Discipline

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 11th Circuit

Middle District of Alabama Montgomery, Alabama Middle District of Florida Tampa, Florida Middle District of Georgia Macon, Georgia Northern District of Alabama Birmingham, Alabama Northern District of Florida Tallahassee, Florida Northern District of Georgia Atlanta, Georgia Southern District of Florida Miami, Florida Southern District of Georgia Savannah, Georgia