Charles Randolph Butler Jr. at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
- Jurisdiction
- Alabama · Federal
- Judicial service
- October 17, 1988–present
Charles Randolph Butler Jr.
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
Available research
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Biography
Professional career
- Private practice, Mobile, AL, 1975-1988
- District attorney, Mobile County, AL, 1971-1975
- Assistant public defender, Mobile County, AL, 1969-1970
- Private practice, Mobile, AL, 1966-1969
- U.S. Army lieutenant, 1962-1964
Judicial service
- Judge, District Court, S.D. Alabama, 1988-2005
Education
- Washington and Lee University · B.A., 1962
- University of Alabama School of Law
Personal record
Born 1940 · New York, NY
Courtroom rules and guidance
Presentation Procedure
Courtwide presentation-related guidance applies to this judge.
31 IN COURTHOUSE * * * This matter is before the Court on its own motion to establish a uniform policy regarding the possession and use of laptop computers, cell phones, pagers, personal digital assistants, or other electronic devices in all courthouses in the Southern District of Alabama. Effective immediately, members of the bar, paralegals…F:\HOME\LJT\DOCS\STANDORD\stdo31.wpd ↗
Civil Remote Testimony
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1378636CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/483/charles-randolph-butler-jr/F:\HOME\LJT\DOCS\STANDORD\stdo31.wpd
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 24, 2026
https://www.alsd.uscourts.gov/sites/alsd/files/STDO31.pdfFederal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts