J.R. Brooks, RETIRED

Upon graduation from the University of Alabama School of Law, Mr. Brooks served as law clerk for United States District Judge Frank McFadden.  Thereafter, he has had an illustrious career, highlighted by his numerous awards and accolades, some of which are listed here.  He has zealously represented  boards of education and others covering a wide breadth of diversity of practice areas, from Title IX, EEOC, First Amendment  to employee handbook,  personnel policies, and many other issues arising in school systems on a daily basis.  Mr. Brooks was appointed at age 31 United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama by President Jimmy Carter, confirmed by the Senate and served as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Northern District of Alabama from 1977 to 1981.  After he left the Department of Justice, he developed a practice representing school systems in North Alabama.  Shortly after the Alabama Council of School Board Attorneys was formed, he served as one of its early presidents.  He was appointed by the Governor to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, serving as its Chair for 3 years, He served as President of the Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association.  His practice is based in large measure on representing and advising numerous school boards and school board attorneys, speaking in seminars to school board members, administrators and attorneys, assisting in writing and negotiating statutes and rules favorable to students, parents, boards, and administrators and writing publications helpful to boards and administrators in navigating applicable statutes.  In 2023, Mr. Brooks was awarded The Legacy Award by the AASB for his career accomplishments in education law.  He continues to assist Bishop Brooks in its legacy in the education field.   Mr. Brooks has been recognized as a Best Lawyer and a Super Lawyer in litigation and in education law for over 15 years 

• University of Alabama School of Law, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Juris Doctorate, 1971;  Editorial Board, Alabama Law Review
• University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Bachelor of Arts, 1968

• Alabama (1971)
• U. S. Supreme Court
• U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• U. S. Tax Court
• Supreme Court of Alabama
• United States District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama