Bailiff for suspended Jefferson County judge accused of impersonating deputy sheriff

James Edward Dozier, the courtroom bailiff for suspended Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard, is facing criminal charges after allegedly posing as a member of law enforcement.

The Incident

The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office issued an arrest warrant on Wednesday for the 53-year-old Hueytown resident. According to charging documents, the incident unfolded Saturday when sheriff’s deputies were called to a custody dispute on 36th Avenue N.W. in the Center Point area. Authorities allege that when they arrived on the scene, Dozier falsely identified himself as a deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Dozier was taken into custody and booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 10:38 p.m. He was released approximately one hour later after posting a $15,000 bond. As of Wednesday, Dozier remained an employee of Jefferson County.

Connection to Judge Blanchard

Dozier’s legal trouble arrives in the wake of the suspension of Judge Yashiba Blanchard, who was removed from the bench last month following a rigorous investigation by the Judicial Inquiry Commission. Under the Alabama Constitution, a judge is automatically suspended when a case is brought before the Court of the Judiciary.

The 120-page disciplinary complaint against Judge Blanchard paints a turbulent picture of her courtroom, highlighting allegations of intimidation and bullying. The filing specifically identifies Dozier as a source of tension, describing him as a figure who was "highly intimidating" to both court staff and attorneys.

Courtroom Conduct

The complaint detailed how access to Judge Blanchard's courtroom was restricted at the judge's discretion, with attendees frequently forced to wait in the hall even for matters that should have been open to the public. Witnesses alleged that Dozier would aggressively confront those who attempted to enter, with the complaint noting that he would "bite your head off" and frequently got "in the face of attorneys."

Beyond the staffing issues, the Judicial Inquiry Commission’s report cited concerns regarding unnecessary delays in case resolutions, impacting the handling of estates and access to care for mental health patients. The filing ultimately concluded that the conduct in the courtroom had "degraded the public’s confidence in the integrity of the judiciary."