John L. Carroll

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John L. Carroll (born c. 1943 in Washington D.C.; died August 14, 2023) was a Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of Alabama from 1987 to 2001, and dean of the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University until 2013.

Carroll graduated from Gonzaga College High School in Washington D.C. and earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts in 1965. He then joined the U.S. Marines and was commissioned as a Flight Officer during the Vietnam War, serving as bombardier/navigator on more than 200 combat missions. He held the rank of Captain when he received his discharge on December 31, 1969.

Carroll graduated with high honors from Cumberland Law School in 1974, having served as member of the Cumberland Law Review, on national moot court team and as student bar president. He also has a master of laws from Harvard University (1975). After graduating Carroll was named Legal Director of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery where he served for 10 years. He practiced civil and criminal law for another 10 years, arguing twice before the United States Supreme Court, before his judicial appointment.

Carroll served as a federal trial judge for 14 years in the position of Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of Alabama. Carroll was also appointed by Chief Justice William Rehnquist to serve on the Judicial Conference's Advisory Committee on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, one of seven federal judges to do so.

Carroll taught for two years at Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law beginning in 1985 and has also served on the adjunct faculty of the University of Alabama School of Law. At Samford he was the Ethel P. Malugen Professor of Law as well as dean of the school. Under his leadership the school excelled in its trial advocacy program, reaching a #4 ranking from U.S. News and World Report in 2012.

He retired from the dean's office in June 2013 to resume full-time teaching.

Preceded by:
Barry Currier
Dean, Cumberland School of Law
2001-2013
Succeeded by:
Corky Strickland

References