---
title: "Scott Donaldson | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/scott-donaldson-6118"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Scott Donaldson

Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Court of Civil 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 Civil Appeals of Alabama, 2013-present
- Prior to his appointment to the Court of Civil Appeals, Donaldson served as a judge from 2003 to 2013 on Alabama's sixth judicial circuit court.

### Education

- Cumberland School of Law of Samford University, graduating cum laude in — J.D. (1984)
- Scott William Donaldson obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama in 1981

### Additional information

- Appointed to the court by Governor Robert Bentley on January 15, 2013 and served until January 17, 2021.
- prof, 2012-2012
- He also spent 18 years in private practice.
- Before joining the bench, he practiced law privately for 18 years, gaining extensive trial and appellate experience.

## 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/6118/scott-donaldson/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6118/scott-donaldson/)
- [Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6118/scott-donaldson/)
- [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/6118/scott-donaldson/)
- [Scott Donaldson (Alabama) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Scott_Donaldson_(Alabama))
- [Former Appellate Judge Scott Donaldson Joins Alabama Law to ...](https://law.ua.edu/news/former-appellate-judge-scott-donaldson-joins-alabama-law-to-lead-graduate-law-and-cle-programs)

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