--- title: "Benjamin M. Bowden | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/benjamin-m-bowden-circuit-court-judge-alabama-second-judicial-circuit-court-al" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Benjamin M. Bowden Alabama Second Judicial Circuit Court · Circuit Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Alabama Second Judicial Circuit Court - State: Alabama - Role: Circuit Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-29 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### media recording photography broadcasting Scope: statewide Alabama Rule of Criminal Procedure 9.4 permits televising, photographing, or radio broadcasting of judicial proceedings only as provided by Alabama judicial ethics canons, law, or another court rule. Evidence excerpt: The taking of television pictures or other photographs in or of the courtroom during the progress of judicial proceedings or the radio broadcasting of judicial proceedings may be permitted as provided in Canon 3(A)(7) and (7B), Canons of Judicial Ethics, promulgated by the Alabama Supreme Court, or as otherwise may be permitted by law or other rule of court. [Alabama Rule of Criminal Procedure 9.4: Televising, photographing, or radio broadcasting of judicial proceedings](https://judicial.alabama.gov/docs/library/rules/cr9_4.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://covington.alacourt.gov/judges) - [Official roster](https://covington.alacourt.gov/judges) - [Alabama Administrative Office of Courts official judicial roster](https://covington.alacourt.gov/judges) - [Alabama Rule of Criminal Procedure 9.4: Televising, photographing, or radio broadcasting of judicial proceedings](https://judicial.alabama.gov/docs/library/rules/cr9_4.pdf) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/benjamin-m-bowden-circuit-court-judge-alabama-second-judicial-circuit-court-al", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/benjamin-m-bowden-circuit-court-judge-alabama-second-judicial-circuit-court-al", "name": "Benjamin M. 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Bowden", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/benjamin-m-bowden-circuit-court-judge-alabama-second-judicial-circuit-court-al" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - Before his appellate role, Bowden was Circuit Judge, Place 2, for the 22nd Judicial Circuit in Covington County, Alabama, since his 2016 election Office of the Governor of Alabama. - Republican‐party judge of the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, appointed May 21, 2025, to replace Judge Bill Lewis, with a term ending January 18, 2027 - He previously held the role of Covington County Probate Judge from 2008 to 2016 ### Education - University of Alabama School of Law in, graduating in the top 10% of his class Alabama Judicial System — J.D. (1992) ### Additional information - Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, an intermediate appellate court, and is running for re‐election in the November 3, 2026 general election. - Retirement from the Air Force Reserves in 2023 with the rank. - U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps service (1992–1997) at Bitburg AB, Germany, and Aviano AB, Italy Alabama Judicial System. - Appointed by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey after Lewis’s resignation and subsequent appointment to the Alabama Supreme Court Office of the Governor of Alabama. - Private practice at Albrittons, Clifton, Alverson, Moody & Bowden, P.C. in Andalusia, AL, where he also held the role. - Prosecution of two capital murder cases, one of which was the longest jury trial in Covington County’s history. - He also holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama, where he was Varsity Tennis Team Manager, President of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, and Air Force ROTC officer Alabama Judicial System. - Official contact: Supreme Court of Alabama, Court of Civil Appeals, 334‐229‐0733 Alabama Judicial System. - He has held numerous community leadership roles, including Chairman of the Covington County Republican Party, President of the Covington County Bar Association, and President of the Andalusia Rotary Club Alabama Judicial System. - In his own words, Bowden describes himself as “a public servant at heart” and expresses enthusiasm for serving Alabama in this appellate role Office of the Governor of Alabama. ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Alabama Rule of Criminal Procedure 9.4: Televising, photographing, or radio broadcasting of judicial proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-2bb56569e2cd3665169eeff4) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Criminal proceedings only. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://judicial.alabama.gov/docs/library/rules/cr9_4.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.