Senate Confirms Edmund LaCour Jr. as Federal Judge for Northern District of Alabama

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Edmund “Eddie” LaCour Jr., Alabama’s solicitor general, as a federal judge for the Northern District of Alabama, marking a significant judicial victory for the state and the Trump administration. The confirmation vote passed narrowly 51–47 along party lines, filling the vacancy left by Chief Judge L. Scott Coogler, who retired earlier this year.

According to Yellowhammer News, LaCour’s confirmation is part of a broader wave of judicial appointments for Alabama’s federal courts. The state’s Senate delegation — led by Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville — has secured multiple confirmations in recent months, including those of Bill Lewis, a former Alabama Supreme Court justice, and Hal Mooty, a Huntsville attorney.

LaCour, who has served as Alabama’s Solicitor General since 2019, has played a pivotal role in many of the state’s major appellate cases. Among his most notable contributions was Allen v. Milligan, the landmark redistricting case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court and had national implications for voting rights and congressional maps.

A Five-Year Political Journey

LaCour’s path to the federal bench has been long and politically charged. He was first nominated in 2020, but the confirmation process stalled when then–Democratic Senator Doug Jones of Alabama withheld his support, effectively blocking the nomination.

Five years later, with both of Alabama’s Senate seats now held by Republicans, the process moved swiftly. President Donald Trump re-nominated LaCour earlier this year as part of a broader judicial strategy aimed at filling federal vacancies across Alabama and other southern states.

Praise from Alabama’s Senate Delegation

Senator Katie Britt, who played a leading role in advancing LaCour’s nomination, called him “a lawyer of exceptional intellect and integrity.”

“Eddie LaCour is licensed to argue before every circuit court of appeals in America and the U.S. Supreme Court,” Britt said. “He has filed more than 100 legal briefs and argued multiple cases before the nation’s highest court. His record is unparalleled, and I have no doubt that he will bring his deep respect for the Constitution and the rule of law to the Northern District bench.”

Senator Tommy Tuberville echoed those sentiments, describing LaCour as one of the most capable legal minds in Alabama’s history.

“Eddie has done an excellent job as our state’s solicitor general and will continue his great work as a federal judge,” Tuberville said. “This is another strong appointment for Alabama and for the nation.”

Reaction from the Alabama Attorney General’s Office

The Alabama Attorney General’s Office issued a celebratory press release following the Senate vote. Attorney General Steve Marshall praised LaCour’s confirmation as a testament to both his professional excellence and President Trump’s commitment to appointing principled jurists.

“Eddie LaCour is a brilliant and principled lawyer who has consistently upheld the Constitution and the rule of law,” Marshall stated. “Because of President Trump’s leadership, Alabama and the rest of the country will continue to benefit from Eddie’s honesty, intellect, and unwavering public service.”

Marshall added that LaCour’s work as solicitor general “left an indelible mark” on many of the state’s most consequential legal battles, earning him respect across the judiciary — even among U.S. Supreme Court justices.

“President Trump made the right choice,” Marshall continued. “Eddie’s sharp constitutional insight and calm professionalism make him an ideal addition to the federal bench.”

A Distinguished Legal Career

LaCour’s legal background reflects a blend of academic excellence and elite courtroom experience. Born and raised in Dothan, Alabama, he earned his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Birmingham-Southern College, followed by a Master of Philosophy from Trinity College Dublin and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.

After law school, LaCour clerked for Judge William H. Pryor Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, gaining early exposure to federal appellate practice.

Before joining the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, LaCour was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Washington, D.C., where he represented clients in high-profile cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, federal courts of appeals, and trial courts. He also previously worked with Bancroft PLLC in Washington and Baker Botts LLP in Houston, handling complex constitutional and commercial litigation.

Looking Ahead

With the confirmations of LaCour, Lewis, and Mooty, Alabama’s federal judiciary is set for a major reshaping by 2026, with new judges serving in both the Northern and Middle Districts.

The appointments reflect the continued influence of President Trump’s judicial philosophy, emphasizing strict constitutional interpretation and a return to what supporters call “judicial restraint.”

For LaCour, the confirmation marks both a professional milestone and the closing of a long political chapter — one that began with partisan gridlock and ended with a decisive victory for Alabama’s Republican delegation.

As he prepares to take the bench, LaCour is expected to bring to the federal judiciary the same qualities that defined his tenure as solicitor general: intellectual rigor, constitutional fidelity, and a deep respect for the rule of law.