Luxury trips, bird hunting, football tickets: Here are gifts Alabama’s federal judges accepted

From luxury yacht excursions and hunting trips to Alabama football tickets and even firearms, the financial disclosures of federal judges in Alabama reveal a complex web of gift-giving that often flies under the public radar. A first-time analysis by 205focus.com of ethics records dating back to 2003 sheds light on these relationships, raising questions about transparency and judicial conduct.

The Most Gifted Judge

Retiring after 22 years on the bench in Tuscaloosa, Judge L. Scott Coogler reported accepting nearly 50 gifts, making him the most frequent recipient among Alabama federal judges over the last two decades. His disclosures include a vintage pickup truck, two horses, and at least 23 bird-hunting trips. Coogler also previously served on the Judicial Conference, the national body responsible for overseeing court ethics.

"While I was on the bench, I always complied with the ethical guidelines and reporting requirements applicable to federal judges and maintained a recusal list as required," Coogler stated in an email to 205focus.com.

Luxury Travel Under Scrutiny

While high-profile reporting has focused on the Supreme Court, the practices of lower federal court judges—who preside over the majority of constitutional and federal legal matters—have remained largely unexamined. Records analyzed by 205focus.com show that Judge Staci Cornelius of Birmingham reported two high-value trips: a $50,000 Caribbean yacht excursion in 2017 and a $75,000 Alaska trip five years later, both gifted by a Birmingham executive.

Though court spokespersons maintain these gifts were accepted in accordance with the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, ethics experts like Gabe Roth of Fix the Courts suggest a cultural shift is needed. "I just would like to see the federal judiciary in all districts and circuits, not just in Alabama, rededicate itself to creating a stronger culture of ethics," Roth said.

Trends in Alabama Courts

Of the roughly 45 active federal district judges in Alabama, nearly 80% reported receiving zero gifts between 2003 and 2023. However, a small subset, primarily in district courts, has reported consistent gift receipts. Notable examples include:

• Judge R. Austin Huffaker in Montgomery, who reported $9,000 in travel-related gifts, including a Caribbean cruise.
• Judges Annemarie Axon and Emily Marks, who both reported "hunt fees" paid by Matrix LLC founder Joe Perkins.

For many observers, the issue is about public confidence. Former U.S. attorney Joyce White Vance emphasized that the judiciary must remain beyond reproach. "There should be no question. That’s what you owe as a judge or a prosecutor or any kind of lawyer to the people that you serve," Vance said.

Transparency and Reform

As federal judges currently earn salaries ranging from roughly $249,900 for district judges to over $300,000 for the Supreme Court, some advocates argue that the acceptance of luxury gifts is unnecessary. With nearly 1,700 federal judges nationwide, the debate over whether to implement a total ban on gift acceptance continues to grow, with critics like Roth urging judges to pay their own way for vacations and sports tickets.

Mark Friesen of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed data reporting to this story.