Emily Coody Marks

Emily Coody Marks is the chief judge on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. She was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on January 8, 2018, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 1, 2018, by a voice vote. She became chief judge of the court in 2019.^[1][2] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

At the time of her nomination, Marks was a partner at Ball, Ball, Matthews & Novak, P.A., in Montgomery, Alabama.^[3]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

Marks was nominated to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama by President Donald Trump (R) on January 8, 2018. The U.S. Senate confirmed Marks on August 1, 2018, by a voice vote.^[2] She received commission on August 3, 2018.^[1] To read more about the federal nomination process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
Name: Emily Coody Marks
Court: United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
Progress
Confirmed 328 days after nomination.
Nominated: September 7, 2017
ABA Rating: Unanimously Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
Hearing: October 17, 2017
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
Reported: November 9, 2017
Confirmed: August 1, 2018

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Marks on August 1, 2018, by voice vote.^[2]

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

Marks had her hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 18, 2018. The committee voted to advance Marks' nomination to the full Senate on January 18, 2018.^[2]

Nomination

Marks was nominated to replace Judge Myron Thompson, who assumed senior status on August 22, 2013.

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Marks qualified for the position.^[4] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Marks was initially nominated to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama by President Donald Trump (R) on September 7, 2017. Her nomination was returned to the President on January 3, 2018, with no Senate vote.^[5]

Education

Marks earned her bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, from Spring Hill College in 1995 and her J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1998. During a period of her legal studies, she served as a senior editor on the University of Alabama Law & Psychological Review. She was also the chair of the John H. Campbell Moot Court Board.^[3][6]

Professional career

• 2018-present: Judge, United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
  • 2019-present: Chief judge
• 1998-2018: Private practice, Montgomery, Ala.^[1]

About the court

Middle District of Alabama
Eleventh Circuit
Judgeships
Posts: 3
Judges: 2
Vacancies: 1
Judges
Chief: Emily Coody Marks
Active judges: R. Austin Huffaker Jr., Emily Coody Marks Senior judges: William Albritton, Myron Thompson, William Watkins

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama is one of 94 United States district courts. The district operates out of courthouses in Montgomery, Dothan, and Opelika. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit based in downtown Atlanta at the Elbert P. Tuttle Federal Courthouse.

The Middle District of Alabama has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

There are three court divisions, each covering the following counties:

The Eastern Division, covering Chambers, Lee, Macon, Randolph, Russell, and Tallapoosa counties.

The Northern Division, covering Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Chilton, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery, and Pike counties.

The Southern Division, covering Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, and Houston counties.

To read opinions published by this court, click here

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

• The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
• The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.

• As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.

• After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.

• If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
• If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.

• The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.

• If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
• If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.

See also

• United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
• United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
• Middle District of Alabama
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• White House announcement of Marks' nomination

Footnotes