MONTGOMERY, Ala. — President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday his intention to nominate three judges for federal U.S. District Courts in Alabama, emphasizing their qualifications and backgrounds as he shared the news on Truth Social.
The nominees include Alabama Solicitor General Edmund LaCour Jr., newly appointed Alabama Supreme Court Justice Bill Lewis, and attorney Harold “Hal” Mooty. LaCour and Mooty have been proposed for positions in the U.S. Northern District, while Lewis is slated for the U.S. Middle District.
This marks a new attempt for LaCour, who was previously nominated during Trump’s first term but was unable to advance due to a lack of support from then-Senator Doug Jones. Under Senate custom, both home-state senators must provide a “blue slip” for a nomination to move forward. In earlier efforts, LaCour’s nomination was revitalized in the final days of Trump’s presidency, only to be withdrawn by President Joe Biden.
In 2022, LaCour represented Alabama before the U.S. Supreme Court in defense of a Congressional redistricting map that was later ruled against in court, resulting in the establishment of a second Black majority district in Alabama. Trump praised LaCour’s performance, stating he has done an excellent job representing the state.
Bill Lewis, the fourth Black justice on the Alabama Supreme Court, was appointed by Governor Kay Ivey in May. He previously served as the presiding circuit judge for the 19th Judicial Circuit in Elmore County before moving to the Court of Civil Appeals in February 2024. Trump highlighted Lewis’s commitment to upholding the law throughout his career and emphasized his dedication to the Constitution.
Mooty, who holds both undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Alabama, has been recognized as a leading commercial litigator in the state. Trump lauded his reputation for intelligence and dedication to the law, indicating that Mooty would be a strong advocate for the people of Alabama.
The nominations received bipartisan support from Alabama’s U.S. Senators, Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt. Both senators expressed their approval of Trump’s picks, underscoring the importance of conservative judges in federal court positions. Britt, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, highlighted her efforts to promote Alabama’s values in the judicial nomination process, stressing the need for judges to interpret laws faithfully rather than legislate from the bench.
Tuberville commended the nominations, stating they would restore law and order in Alabama and ensure the integrity of the judicial system. He voiced confidence that the nominees would uphold the Constitution in their rulings, rejecting any politicization of the judiciary.
As the nomination process progresses, questions arise regarding potential replacements for Lewis on the Alabama Supreme Court should his nomination be confirmed.
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