WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump nominated Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice Greg Cook late Monday to serve as a district judge for the Northern District of Alabama.
Cook, a graduate of Duke University and Harvard Law School, was elected to the Alabama Supreme Court in 2022. He previously practiced law at Balch & Bingham LLP for three decades.
“The people of the Great State of Alabama are in good hands with Greg on the Federal Bench. Congratulations Greg!” Trump wrote on social media, highlighting that Cook also served in the U.S. Air Force.
The Florence native has close ties to the GOP, having served as general counsel for the Alabama Republican Party from 2017 to 2021. He also spent time on the Jefferson County Republican Steering Committee.
In 2000, Cook was a volunteer attorney for the Bush v. Gore legal battle in Florida, where he oversaw the hand recounting of ballots, according to his 2022 campaign website. He was also a delegate for Trump at the 2020 Republican National Convention.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., praised Cook’s nomination, calling him an “incredible pick.”
“@POTUS selected a highly-qualified, well-respected Alabamian who brings years of experience to the federal bench,” Britt, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote on social media.
Gov. Kay Ivey said she will appoint someone to fill Cook’s seat on the Alabama Supreme Court upon his U.S. Senate confirmation.
“Governor Ivey is proud President Trump has selected Justice Greg Cook to serve in a federal judgeship,” Ivey spokeswoman Gina Maiola said.
The Northern District of Alabama includes Birmingham, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa.
Cook’s nomination follows the confirmation of three other Alabamians to the federal bench. Under Trump’s second term, the Senate has confirmed Eddie LaCour and Hal Mooty for the Northern District and Bill Lewis for the Middle District of Alabama.
Earlier this month, a Senate panel advanced Sean Costello to serve as a U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama and two U.S. attorneys for Alabama have already been confirmed: Phil Williams and Thomas Govan.
The White House’s district-level judicial nominating process traditionally begins with a “blue sheet” analysis, in which the senators from the affected state offer their assessments of potential nominees. Support from a state’s senate delegation is critical for an individual’s nomination and eventual confirmation.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will now consider Cook’s nomination.