---
title: "Samuel H. Welch | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-h-welch-6167"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Samuel H. Welch

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, 2007-present
- Samuel Henry Welch is a retired judge of the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, serving from 2007 until January 13, 2019
- Sole Judge of the 35th Judicial Circuit (Monroe & Conecuh counties) (1989–2007)
- Retired colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps and a veteran of the Gulf War (1990–1991) Alabama Judicial System
- District Judge of Monroe County (1983–1989)

### Education

- J.D., University of Alabama School of Law (1976) While at law school, he was editor of the Law & Psychology Review, member of the Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society, and recipient of the American Jurisprudence Prize for Constitutional Law Alabama Judicial System.
- Birmingham-Southern College, graduating cum laude in — B.A. (1972)

### Additional information

- He has also served in the Alabama Air National Guard and Army Reserve since 1972 Alabama Judicial System.
- State (2009).
- Practitioner, 2006-2006
- Elected to the court on November 7, 2006.
- Welch was elected to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals in 2006 and served for 12 years.
- Municipal Judge of Monroeville (1981–1983)
- Date of birth: 1950-01-01
- He authored over 246 published opinions, along with 80 dissents and 34 concurrences, and was among the most cited judges on the court.
- His most cited case was Lee v.
- Civically, he has been active in the Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts, Little League, and community events Alabama Judicial System.

## 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/6167/samuel-h-welch/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6167/samuel-h-welch/)
- [Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6167/samuel-h-welch/)
- [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/6167/samuel-h-welch/)
- [Samuel Henry Welch - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Samuel_Henry_Welch)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-h-welch-6167",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-h-welch-6167",
      "name": "Samuel H. Welch | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Samuel H. Welch, Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-07",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-h-welch-6167#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-h-welch-6167#judge",
      "name": "Samuel H. Welch",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-h-welch-6167",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6167/samuel-h-welch/"
      ],
      "birthDate": "1950",
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Birmingham-Southern College, graduating cum laude in 1972"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Alabama School of Law in 1976"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "The University of Alabama"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Alabama",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/alabama"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Samuel H. Welch",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-h-welch-6167"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```