Judge Donald E. Blankenship, a Birmingham, Alabama native, is a member of the Jefferson County Circuit Court, Civil Division. He was elected to the bench in November, 2012 and assumed office on January 15, 2013.
Judge Blankenship is a 1974 graduate of Ramsay High School, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Samford University, 1978. In 1982, Judge Blankenship received a Master of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Miles Law School in 1989.
Judge Blankenship enjoyed a long and varied employment history, before embarking on a legal career. He served as Planning Administrator for the Birmingham-Jefferson Transit Authority (1979-1981), and later as City Planner, Senior City Planner, Administrative Assistant to the Mayor and finally Zoning Administrator, all for the City of Birmingham (1981-1990).
From 1990-1994, Judge Blankenship was employed as an Associate in the law firm of Waldrep, Stewart & Kendrick, and from 1994 - 2012, he was engaged in the solo practice of law. During his 23 year tenure as a lawyer, he practiced extensively in the areas of Real Property, Probate, Land Use, Zoning and General Litigation.
Judge Blankenship brings a wealth of legal and real world experience to the Circuit Court bench.