---
title: "Chris Connolly | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/chris-connolly-circuit-court-judge-alabama-eleventh-judicial-circuit-court-al"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Chris Connolly

Alabama Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court · Circuit Court Judge

## Profile

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

- Prosecutorial Service: District Attorney for the 11th Judicial Circuit (including Lauderdale County) from 2005 to the present.
- Christopher E. Connolly has been appointed by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey as a Circuit Judge in the 11th Judicial Circuit, covering Lauderdale County, effective January 2026
- Early Career: held the role of a law clerk in Lauderdale County Circuit Court in 1987 WHNT News 19
- Connolly will now preside over cases in the Lauderdale County Circuit Court, marking a “full-circle” moment for him, as he began his legal career as a law clerk in the same courthouse WHNT News 19
- He will initially focus on civil cases, as many criminal cases he oversaw as District Attorney are still pending WHNT News 19

### Education



### Additional information

- Governor Ivey announced the appointment on January 30, 2026, to fill a vacancy on the court Office of the Governor of Alabama.
- Private Practice: Partner at O’Bannon, O’Bannon and Connolly from 1988 to 2004
- handling civil litigation and criminal defense.



## 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.