--- title: "J Michael Joiner | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/j-michael-joiner-6149" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # J Michael Joiner Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama · Judge ## Profile - Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama - State: Alabama - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama, 2011-present - Served until January 2019, authored over 140 opinions, and was Chief Judge of the court from 2013–2018 - Circuit Judge (1992–2011): Elected to the Circuit 18 Court in 1992, he became Presiding Circuit Judge in 2005 - Prior to joining the appellate court, Joiner was a judge on Alabama's Circuit 18 Court from 1992 to 2011. - Private Practice (1982–1992): After graduating from Cumberland School of Law in 1982, Joiner practiced law in Shelby County for a decade, also serving as Secretary of the Shelby County Republican Party and President of the Alabaster/Pelham Rotary Club Alabama Judicial System. ### Education - Cumberland School of Law in — J.D. (1985) - Samford University — B.A. - Samford University — J.D. ### Additional information - Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals (2011–2019): Appointed by Governor Robert Bentley in February 2011 to replace. - Republican of the Year — Shelby County Republican Party, 2011 - Practitioner, 2010-2010 - In 2007, he co‐chaired the Alabama Drug Court Task Force, training judges and staff for implementation in 65 of 67 counties. - Drug Court Pioneer: In 2002, he created the Shelby County Drug Court, a model program now used statewide. - Before that, he was a lawyer in private practice. - Awards and associations - J. Michael Joiner is a retired judge of the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals and a former Circuit 18 Judge in Shelby County, Alabama, known for his work in criminal law, drug court reform, and judicial leadership. - Current/Former Vice President–Elect, Alabama Association of Drug Court Professionals (AADCP) - handling thousands of civil, criminal, and domestic cases Alabama Judicial System. - Former Executive Committee member, Circuit Judges Association - Recognized for leadership in drug court reform and judicial service ## 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://www.courtlistener.com/person/6149/j-michael-joiner/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6149/j-michael-joiner/) - [Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6149/j-michael-joiner/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6149/j-michael-joiner/) - [J. Michael Joiner - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/J._Michael_Joiner) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/j-michael-joiner-6149", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/j-michael-joiner-6149", "name": "J Michael Joiner | KnowJudges", "description": "J Michael Joiner, Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama. 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