---
title: "Edward Earl Carnes | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-earl-carnes"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Edward Earl Carnes

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- State: National federal courts
- Role: U.S. Circuit Judge
- Service status: senior
- Last verified: 2026-07-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Senior Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit since June 30, 2020
- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 1992-present
- Chief Judge of the Eleventh Circuit from August 1, 2013, to June 2, 2020
- Judge of the Eleventh Circuit from October 2, 1992, to June 30, 2020
- Assistant attorney general, State of Alabama, 1975-1992
- From 1975 to 1992, Carnes held the role of Assistant Attorney General of Alabama, later becoming Chief of the Capital Punishment and Post-Conviction Litigation Division (1981–1992)
- Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

### Education

- Harvard University — J.D. (1975)
- (cum laude) in, Harvard Law School — J.D. (1975)
- in, University of Alabama — B.S. (1972)

### Additional information

- Appointed by President George H. W. Bush on January 27, 1992, to replace Frank Minis Johnson Jr..
- Senate confirmation vote: 62–36 on September 9, 1992.
- Date of birth: 1950-01-01
- Known as a leading death penalty advocate, reformed Alabama’s death penalty statute, and defended it before the U.S. Supreme Court in cases such as Beck v.
- Alabama, 447 U.S. 625.
- Opponents, including civil rights groups, cited concerns over racial disparities in Alabama’s capital prosecutions.
- held the role of Chief Judge during a period of significant appellate casework and administrative leadership.
- His judicial work has focused on criminal law, habeas corpus, and capital appeals, often emphasizing strict statutory and precedent-based interpretations.
- Birth place: Albertville, AL

## 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

### appellate oral argument

Scope: courtwide

In federal courts of appeals, oral argument is allowed unless a three-judge panel unanimously finds one of Rule 34's specified grounds for dispensing with it; the clerk provides the date, time, place, and time allocation.

Evidence excerpt: Oral argument must be allowed in every case unless a panel of three judges who have examined the briefs and record unanimously agrees that oral argument is unnecessary

[Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1378846)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1378846)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1378846)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/539/edward-earl-carnes/)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/539/edward-earl-carnes/)
- [Wikidata: Edward Earl Carnes](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5342717)

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