Lonzo Robinson Named Municipal Court Presiding Judge
Published on September 29, 2017
Mayor Tommy Battle announced today Lonzo Robinson will serve as the City’s new presiding judge for Huntsville Municipal Court. Robinson succeeds Judge Charles “Sonny” Rodenhauser who retired from the bench last year.
Robinson will be responsible for managing the administration of the court system, which includes a multi-million dollar budget, oversight of 41 employees, and handling judicial duties in the courtroom.
Judge Robinson starts work today along with newly appointed Judge Jeff Grimes. The new judges were hired after City Council voted in July to increase the strength of the court from one full-time judge and one part-time judge to three full-time positions. Council interviewed candidates and selected Robinson and Grimes, both city attorneys, to join Judge Sybil Cleveland on the bench.
Following the Council appointments and approval of the judges’ employment contracts at the Sept. 28 Council meeting, Mayor Battle was tasked with naming a presiding judge.
“I interviewed the three judges and I am pleased to report we have a strong pool of talented and committed justices,” said Mayor Battle. “While each of our judges has considerable expertise in the legal realm, it takes a different skillset to handle administrative and personnel duties. I want to thank Judge Cleveland for her hard work in keeping the courts operating and functioning during the last year. I have asked that the three judges now work as a team so that Huntsville Municipal Court becomes a model for the nation.”
Robinson has served as the City’s chief prosecutor since Feb. 2015 and previously worked in Municipal Court for13 years as a substitute judge. A U.S. Navy veteran, Robinson is a graduate of the University of Alabama in Birmingham and holds a law degree from the University of Alabama.
The new presiding judge said he is honored and pleased by the Mayor’s confidence in his ability.
“I look forward to working with Judge Cleveland and Judge Grimes,” said Robinson. “Our mission is to work together to make Huntsville Municipal Court the best in the country.”
