---
title: "Tamara Harris Johnson | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tamara-harris-johnson-circuit-court-judge-alabama-tenth-judicial-circuit-court-al"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Tamara Harris Johnson

Alabama Tenth Judicial Circuit Court · Circuit Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Alabama Tenth Judicial Circuit Court
- State: Alabama
- Role: Circuit Court Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-29

## Summary

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

## 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://jefferson.alacourt.gov/circuit-judges/)
- [Official roster](https://jefferson.alacourt.gov/circuit-judges/)
- [Alabama Administrative Office of Courts official judicial roster](https://jefferson.alacourt.gov/circuit-judges/)
- [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)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Circuit Civil Judge for Jefferson County, Alabama, serving on the 10th Judicial Circuit, with a term ending January 15, 2029
- Notable Work: Law clerk to D.C. Superior Court Judge William S. Thompson
- Prosecutor in Los Angeles and Jefferson County

### Education


### Additional information

- 2026: Judicial Merit Award, Alabama State Bar.
- Birmingham Bar Foundation Fellow (2025) and Life Fellow (2026).
- 2025: Maud McLure Kelly Award, Women’s Section, Alabama State Bar.
- 2023: Lifetime Achievement Award, Birmingham Bar Association (first African American woman to receive it).
- Legal Career: Admitted to the bar in D.C. (1978), Michigan (1981), California (1983), and Alabama (1989).
- First female and first African American attorney to represent D.C. union members in the International Brotherhood of Police Officers and related unions.
- First In‐House Counsel for Birmingham Public Schools and first female City Attorney for Birmingham.
- Bar Examiner for Alabama; taught trial advocacy at Cumberland School of Law.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Alabama Rule of Criminal Procedure 9.4: Televising, photographing, or radio broadcasting of judicial proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-2bb56569e2cd3665169eeff4) — 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](https://judicial.alabama.gov/docs/library/rules/cr9_4.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.