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Hon. L. Scott Coogler (Ret.)
Download Bio Contact Case ManagerHon. L. Scott Coogler (Ret.) was appointed as a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama in 2003 and served as Chief Judge from January 2020 until January 2024. Prior to his federal appointment, Judge Coogler was elected Circuit Court Judge for Alabama’s Sixth Judicial Circuit in 1998 and served as Chief Judge of that court from January 2001 until his appointment to the federal bench in 2003.
Judge Coogler has taught federal jurisdiction and complex litigation at the University of Alabama School of Law for more than 15 years and now serves as a Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law. He has a robust background in complex litigation as well as environmental law, tort law, employment law, libel, and contract law, and also has extensive experience mediating cases for both federal and state courts.
Representative Matters:
Environmental:
- Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Inc. v. Warrior Met Coal Mining LLC: Clean Water Act dispute.
- Defenders of Wildlife v. U.S. Department of the Navy: Environmental law dispute; 733 F.3d 1106.
- Otwell v. Alabama Power Company: Property rights and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations.
Employment and Fair Labor Standards Act Claims:
- Richter v. Dolgencorp, Inc.: FLSA class action.
- Mike Price v. University of Alabama: Wrongful termination action by former head football coach.
- Waters v. Cooks’ Pest Control, Inc.: Employment discrimination class action.
Libel:
- Spears v. New York Times Company: Libel claim involving members of the University of Alabama’s basketball program.
Contract Law:
- Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. v. Cobasys, LLC: Action seeking an injunction regarding battery plant construction and operation. Ultimately mediated to settlement by Judge Coogler.
- Tuscaloosa Hyundai v. Hyundai Motor America: Dispute under Alabama Motor Vehicle Franchise Act. Ultimately mediated to settlement by Judge Coogler.
False Claims Act / Qui Tam:
- United States v. Exactech, Inc.: Qui tam action. Ultimately mediated to settlement by Judge Coogler.
Judicial Leadership Positions:
- Judicial Conference of the United States Courts – Eleventh Circuit’s District Judge Member, October 2019 to September 2024
- Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States Courts – Member, October 2019 to September 2024
- Judicial Planning Coordinator for the Judicial Conference of the United States Courts – January 2023 to September 2024
- Chairman of the Virtual Judiciary Operations Subgroup of the National COVID-19 Task Force for the Federal Judiciary – 2020 to 2022
- Judicial Conference of the United States Courts Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction – Executive Committee Member Liaison, November 2019 to 2022
- Judicial Conference of the United States Courts Committee on the Budget – Member, March 2018 to October 2019
- Judicial Council of the Eleventh Circuit – Member, January 2020 to January 2024
- Executive Committee of the Judicial Council of the Eleventh Circuit – Member, January 2020 to January 2024
- Federal Public Defender Committee of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals – Member, 2010 to 2024
- Equal Employment Opportunity Committee of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals – Member, January 2016 to 2024
Admitted to Practice:
- Alabama
Education:
- J.D., University of Alabama School of Law
- B.A., Cum Laude, University of Alabama
- Honor Graduate, University of Alabama Law Enforcement Academy
Honors and Awards:
- Fellow, Alabama Law Foundation (2010-present)
- Inductee, Alabama Lawyer Hall of Honor, University of Alabama Law School Alumni Association (2023)
- Dean Thomas W. Christopher Award, University of Alabama School of Law (2018)