---
title: "Charles R. Montgomery | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/charles-r-montgomery-circuit-court-judge-alabama-first-judicial-circuit-court-al"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Charles R. Montgomery

Alabama First Judicial Circuit Court · Circuit Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Alabama First 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://washington.alacourt.gov/circuit-judges/)
- [Official roster](https://washington.alacourt.gov/circuit-judges/)
- [Alabama Administrative Office of Courts official judicial roster](https://washington.alacourt.gov/circuit-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)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- The Presiding Circuit Judge for the First Judicial Circuit of Alabama, serving in Clarke and Choctaw counties, and has been in office since his 2010 election
- Also the Presiding Circuit Judge for Choctaw County’s circuit court
- Listed as the Presiding Circuit Judge for the First Judicial Circuit of Alabama, which covers Clarke County and Choctaw County
- Long‐serving, unopposed Democratic judge in Alabama’s First Judicial Circuit, with a background in private legal practice and a career focused on overseeing both Clarke and Choctaw counties’ circuit court operations

### Education

- Charles Robert Montgomery earned his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law and was admitted to the Alabama Bar in 1982.

### Additional information

- Certain misdemeanors, domestic relations cases, and juvenile matters
- All felony criminal cases
- Civil cases over $10,000



## 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.