Birmingham City Attorney
The Birmingham City Attorney is the head of the Birmingham Law Department, responsible for prosecuting violations of city code, for advising the administration of the Mayor of Birmingham on legal issues, and for representing the City of Birmingham and its officials and employees in legal proceedings. The department's offices are on the 6th floor of Birmingham City Hall.
Originally the position of City Attorney was filled by election. Later the Birmingham Board of Aldermen appointed city attorneys. Under the present Mayor-Council Act the position is administrative, with Mayors hiring and firing city attorneys at will.
In addition to the office of City Attorney, city officials and City Councils have also retained outside counsel at various times. During the administration of Mayor Richard Arrington, attorney Donald Watkins famously defended him and the city in a number of high-profile cases.
Birmingham City Attorneys
- J. J. Jolly, 1873–1878
- John Terry
- Robert Pearson
- Richard Evans, 1896
- Robert Lowe, 1896–1899
- Edward D. Smith, 1907
- Robert Thach, 1907–1910
- Romaine Boyd, 1910–
- Moses Ullman, 1913–1917
- W. J. Wynn, 1922–1926
- Robert Wheeler, 1928
- J. H. Willis, 1940
- Mac Breckinridge, 1960–1963
- James K. Baker, 1978–1985
- Demetrius Newton, 1991–1999
- Tamara Johnson, 1999–2007
- Lawrence Cooper, 2007–2009
- Thomas Bentley (interim), 2009–2013
- Ralph Cook Sr, 2013–
- Nicole King
External links
- Legal Department at birminghamal.gov