---
title: "Donald N. Rizzardi, Sr | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-n-rizzardi-sr-circuit-court-judge-alabama-third-judicial-circuit-court-al"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Donald N. Rizzardi, Sr

Alabama Third Judicial Circuit Court · Circuit Court Judge

## Profile

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

- 5, 2018 23rd Judicial Circuit Elected Circuit Court Judge in 2024
- Position: Sr. Circuit Judge, 23rd Judicial Circuit (Madison County, AL)
- 6 years in business 13 months in private legal practice 27 years as Assistant District Attorney, specializing in drug crime prosecution and search & seizure law 23rd Judicial Circuit Appointed to the district court bench by Governor Kay Ivey on Dec

### Education


### Additional information

- Outside the judiciary, Rizzardi has been an official scorer for the Huntsville Stars (Southern League) from 1991–2015 and for the Rocket City Trash Pandas since 2021, a role he has held for over 30 seasons WHNT News 19.
- Born: May 6, 1959, in east Tennessee
- Courtroom: Courtroom 1, Room 251, Madison County Courthouse, 100 North Side Square, Huntsville, AL 35801
- Donald N. Rizzardi is a judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit in Madison County, Alabama, serving as a Sr. Circuit Judge and presiding over general-jurisdiction cases in the county’s trial court.



## 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.