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 "excerpt": "Sharon L. Blackburn, also known as Sharon Lovelace Blackburn, is an American jurist and senior United States district judge for the Northern District of Alabama, appointed in 1991.",
 "snippet": "Sharon L. Blackburn, also known as Sharon Lovelace Blackburn, is an American jurist and senior United States district judge for the Northern District of Alabama, appointed in 1991.",
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 "markdown": "# Sharon L. Blackburn\n\nSharon Lovelace Blackburn (born 1950) is an American jurist and a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup> She was appointed to the court by President George H.W. Bush in 1991, served as its chief judge from 2006 to 2013, and assumed senior status in 2015.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | George H.W. Bush<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | May 24, 1991, by voice vote<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup> |\n| Senior status | May 8, 2015<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup> |\n| Born | 1950 in Pensacola, Florida<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup> |\n| Education | B.A., University of Alabama, 1973; J.D., Samford University, Cumberland School of Law, 1977<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nBlackburn was born in 1950 in [Pensacola, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/pensacola-florida).<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup> She received a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) degree from the [University of Alabama](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-alabama) in 1973 and a Juris Doctor from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1977.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nAfter law school, [Blackburn](https://www.edgepedia.org/blackburn) worked as a law clerk for J. O. Sentell at the [Supreme Court of Alabama](https://www.edgepedia.org/supreme-court-of-alabama) in 1977, and then as a law clerk for Judge Robert Varner of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup> In 1979 she served as a staff attorney for Birmingham Area Legal Services in [Birmingham, Alabama](https://www.edgepedia.org/birmingham-alabama).<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup>\n\nLater that year, Blackburn joined the [United States Attorney](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-attorney)'s Office for the Northern District of Alabama, where she remained until 1991.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup> She served in the office's Civil Division from 1979 to 1985 and in its Criminal Division from 1985 to 1991.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident George H.W. Bush nominated Blackburn to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on April 11, 1991, to a new seat authorized by 104 Stat. 5089.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup> The Senate confirmed her by voice vote on May 24, 1991, and she received her commission on May 30, 1991.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup> She served as chief judge of the district court from 2006 to 2013, and assumed senior status on May 8, 2015.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)</sup> She continues to serve on the court as a senior judge.<sup>[2](https://www.alnd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-sharon-l-blackburn)</sup>\n\n## Notable cases\n\nAs a senior judge, Blackburn presides over criminal proceedings in the Northern District of Alabama, including change-of-plea hearings. Her chambers procedures note that she does not require a written Guilty Plea Advice of Rights Certification form to be completed and filed, though counsel may electronically file one in advance of a change-of-plea hearing if they wish to make it part of the court record.<sup>[2](https://www.alnd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-sharon-l-blackburn)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Sharon Lovelace Blackburn](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377896)\n2. [Senior Judge Sharon L. Blackburn, Northern District of Alabama](https://www.alnd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-sharon-l-blackburn)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames Bl to By*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"Sharon L. Blackburn\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/sharon-l-blackburn. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
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 "speakable": "Sharon L. Blackburn, also known as Sharon Lovelace Blackburn, is an American jurist and senior United States district judge for the Northern District of Alabama, appointed in 1991."
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