---
title: "Wade Leon Hartley | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/wade-leon-hartley-circuit-court-judge-alabama-twenty-first-judicial-circuit-court-al"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Wade Leon Hartley

Alabama Twenty-First Judicial Circuit Court · Circuit Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Alabama Twenty-First 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://escambia.alacourt.gov/judges)
- [Official roster](https://escambia.alacourt.gov/judges)
- [Alabama Administrative Office of Courts official judicial roster](https://escambia.alacourt.gov/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

- The newly appointed Circuit Judge for the 21st Judicial Circuit in Escambia County, Alabama, serving under Governor Kay Ivey’s March 2026 appointment
- Sworn in on March 4, 2026, by Presiding Circuit Judge Todd Stearns, following his official notification on March 2
- Governor Kay Ivey named Hartley of Brewton to replace retiring Circuit Judge Jeffrey Alan White, who stepped down on February 16, 2026, after nearly 12 years on the Escambia County District and Circuit Court
- Indigent Defense Counsel in the 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Court
- Public Defender in the 21st Judicial Circuit

### Education



### Additional information

- He was born in Conecuh County, grew up in Alabama, and graduated from T.R. Miller High School in 1987



## 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.