New Circuit Court Judge Corey Seale Celebrated At Investiture Reception

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Judge Corey Seale was surrounded by colleagues and mentors as she formally celebrated her appointment to the bench Thursday during an investiture reception at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse.

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The reception featured opening remarks from legal legend, retired Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court judge and former Alabama Supreme Court Justice John England, who reflected on Judge Seale’s time as a prosecutor and her preparation in the courtroom.

“In order for our system of justice to work, we need to have competent lawyers representing the state and representing the defense,” Judge England told those gathered. “That way you don't have to worry about, did they really do that? All you need to do is worry about whether or not you conducted the trial in the manner in which it was supposed to be conducted.”

Judge England, who previously presided over cases prosecuted by Seale during her time in the District Attorney's Office, credited her for thorough preparation in court.

He referred to the newly minted judge as "my DA."

“In all the cases we tried, I never saw her lost,” he said. “She always knew where she was going with her case.”

He also injected humor into his remarks, joking about a recent visit to her office.

“I walked in her office and I said, ‘This is a judge’s office?’ … Judge Seale’s office looks that good,” England said. “So I’ve got one good thing I can say: she keeps a clean office.”

Judge Seale, who was recently sworn in as Tuscaloosa County’s newest circuit judge replacing Judge Brad Almond following his retirement, used her remarks to reflect on her legal career and the mentors who shaped it, including Judge England and Judge Almond.

ALSO READ: Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Brad Almond Reflects On Career, Legacy After Final Trial

“Judge England always had a way of taking a very serious case and getting very serious work done, but then also sort of cutting on the light for everyone,” Judge Seale said. “He just radiates light and joy, and that was the experience I had in his courtroom.”

Judge Seale said she strives to carry forward the respect and fairness she observed in England’s courtroom.

“No matter what side of the case you were on or who you were, you felt listened to and respected,” she said.

She also credited Judge Almond's leadership and mentorship, noting she has “very big shoes to fill” but is committed to continuing his work on the bench.

Judge Seale reflected on her path to the legal profession, describing uncertainty during law school before finding direction through mentors like the late Bob Prince — one of Tuscaloosa's most storied courtroom titans who helped spark her passion for trial work.

“I loved being in the courtroom. I loved being a prosecutor,” she said, adding that she values the adversarial system and the role of juries in resolving disputes.

“The system still works," she said. "We bring people in from our community with different backgrounds and different experiences and ask them to come together and make a decision."

She also emphasized professionalism among attorneys, noting that even after contentious courtroom arguments, lawyers often leave with mutual respect.

“Where in today’s world does that type of thing happen?” she said. “That you can completely disagree with someone and then walk outside and have the humanity to care about that person.”

Seale closed by thanking her family and underscoring her priorities as a judge, particularly public safety.

She went on to say that every decision she will make from the bench will be done with community safety in mind.

“I want Tuscaloosa to be as safe as it can be," she said. "I want this city to be safe to live, to work, and to raise our family. And I am thinking of that at all times, with my own family and my own child in mind.

"I'm so thankful for the life lessons that my family instilled in me growing up," Judge Seale added. "I thought a lot about those and how can I boil some of those down and just show them how grateful I am to them and everything that they've done for me in my life. I really got it down to five and it felt like this is what they told me and modeled me all throughout my life and what I plan to carry on: that's to pray first, to work hard, to be prepared, to help others, and to leave things better than you found them. And that is exactly what I plan to do in this role."

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