Jeffrey Todd Stearns at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Alabama · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Jeffrey Todd Stearns
Circuit Court Judge · Alabama Twenty-First Judicial Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- The presiding circuit judge for Alabama’s Twenty‐First Judicial Circuit, serving in Escambia County, and has been on the bench since 2020 after being appointed by Governor Kay Ivey.
- Public Service: Stearns has stated that becoming a circuit judge was a long‐term goal, and he sought a full six‐year term in the 2022 election Tri-City Ledger
- Escambia County Public Defender (1997–2007), Assistant District Attorney, partner at Otts, Moore, Coale & Godwin, and Atmore City Attorney (2016) Tri-City Ledger
Education
- Cumberland School of Law Tri-City Ledger — J.D. (1992)
Additional information
- Appointed: July 31, 2020, to fill the unexpired term of retiring Judge Dave Jordan Tri-City Ledger.
- Licensed with the Alabama Bar in 1992 Tri-City Ledger.
- Ceremonies: Has presided over judicial investitures and oath‐taking events, such as the swearing‐in of new judges in Escambia County Tri-City Ledger.
- Public Records: No disclosed Brady material is currently on record for Judge Stearns Brady List.
- Contact & Court Info: Official court records and procedural rules for the Twenty‐First Judicial Circuit are available through the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts.
- Judicial Duties: Presides over criminal, civil, and family cases in the Twenty‐First Judicial Circuit.
- Professional Recognition: Listed in official Alabama judicial rosters and legal directories.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Alabama Rule of Criminal Procedure 9.4: Televising, photographing, or radio broadcasting of judicial proceedings
Alabama Twenty-First Judicial Circuit Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 29, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 29, 2026.
Alabama Administrative Office of Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 29, 2026
View Alabama Administrative Office of Courts official judicial roster ↗Alabama Rule of Criminal Procedure 9.4: Televising, photographing, or radio broadcasting of judicial proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Alabama Rule of Criminal Procedure 9.4: Televising, photographing, or radio broadcasting of judicial proceedings ↗