SENIORS GIVING BACK

After Retirement, the Law Remains in Former Federal Judge’s Wheelhouse

By Anne Ruisi

Retired U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge John E. Ott last week found himself on jury duty in Jefferson County Circuit Court for the first time.

“It’s nice to be on the other side of the rail for a change,” said Ott, 67, who hadn’t been called for jury duty in years. The last time he reported for jury duty he was excused because he was a federal prosecutor at the time.

Ott, who served on the bench in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama from 1998 until he retired about three years ago, remains involved in federal

Staying fit is also important. In his younger days Ott participated in triathlons and still enjoys its components of running, biking and swimming.

legal cases on a recall basis.

“It basically means I can do whatever I choose to do,” the Vestavia Hills resident said. “They’ll call and say, do you want to do this?”

Since he gets to pick and choose what he wants to work on, he can work as much or as little as he wants. Ott said recall cases or pro bono mediations average about one day a week, although sometimes it’s two.

“I’m a very fortunate individual who had a wonderful career,” and his goal in retirement is to give something back, Ott said.

Ott’s pro bono work is one way he achieves this.

Ott’s cases usually involve complex litigation, he said. Employment disputes, business disputes, class actions and civil rights litiga-

Over the Mountain Band Headliner at Hoover New Horizons Monthly Meeting

Over the Mountain band, formed in 2012, plays a diverse genre of music, including oldies, country light rock, bluegrass and gospel. The upbeat Birmingham-based music group is the featured monthly event at the Hoover Senior Center on Tues., March 28

The 11:30 a.m. event is just about at capacity and registration ended March 22. Due to building occupation limits, the facility will not be able to accommodate walk-ins to the event, said Dana Henson, manager of the Hoover Senior Center.

Over the Mountain band has performed extensively at a variety of venues, such as churches and festivals.

Ott, tion are among the types of cases he’ll work on, Ott said.

Since he was a prosecutor in the federal court system before he became a federal judge, Ott’s background is strong in federal litigation.

“So, I stay in that world for the most part” in Birmingham or Montgomery, he said, add- ing that occasionally he’ll do some work for state court judges.

Ott remains an active member of the Birmingham Bar Association, where he is a member of several committees and boards. He’s also involved in the bar association’s charitable arm, the Birmingham Bar Foundation.

The foundation and Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law, where Ott received his legal education and was an adjunct faculty member, regularly hosted the Alabama Supreme Court for oral arguments once a year until COVID hit. The justices returned to Samford’s campus in November to resume hearing live oral arguments. Law students and interested high schoolers are among those who attend. About 800 to 1,000 on average have attended each event, he said.

Ott just finished compiling an updated listing of about 200 of the most significant published opinions from the past year in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. The court’s jurisdiction covers Alabama, Georgia and Florida. The information was presented to solo practitioners and small law firms in Birmingham.

Outside the Federal Life

Ott’s life in retirement isn’t monopolized by the legal world. It also affords him and his wife, Karen, a nurse, the opportunity to volunteer a few times a year through their church to assist at a mobile dental clinic in west Montgomery. It’s organized by Send Relief, a Southern Baptist compassion ministry, and Strong Tower Church at Washington Park in Montgomery.

Staying fit is also important. In his younger days Ott participated in triathlons and still enjoys its components of running, biking and swimming.

“I just don’t do it all on the same day anymore,” he chuckled.

Volunteer Opportunity

Friends of Homewood Library Seeks Volunteers

The Friends of the Homewood Library is seeking volunteers to join the organization, library officials said. The group offers support for the library, such as supporting the library’s annual book sale. Membership dues to join the group are $10 for an individual and $15 for a family. Membership dues and sales from the Friends Bookstore fund library programs and projects.

If you are interested in becoming a member and volunteering in the bookstore, you can find the application form at homewoodpubliclibrary.org/folmembership.