Circuit Court

B. Chadwick Wise, 39th Judicial Circuit
Limestone County Circuit Judge (Place 1)
Chad Wise is a life-long resident of Athens and Limestone County, Alabama. He graduated from Athens High School in 1990 and attended the University of Alabama in Huntsville where he graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.  Judge Wise attended law school at the University of Alabama where he obtained his Juris Doctorate Degree in 1997. 

Judge Wise maintained a general law practice from 1997 until January of 2017 when he was sworn in for his first term as Circuit Judge for Limestone County. 

Circuit Court Jurisdiction includes all criminal felonies, certain civil actions including cases where the amount claimed exceeds $10,000.00, and domestic relations matters.

Robert M. Baker, 39th Judicial Circuit
Limestone County Circuit Judge (Place 2)
Robert M. Baker was born in Sheffield, Alabama, and grew up in Colbert County. He graduated from Sheffield High School in 1976 and acquired his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting in 1980 from the University of Alabama where he also attended the School of Law and earned his Juris Doctorate Degree in 1983.

Judge Baker practiced law in the Shoals and Birmingham area before moving to Athens as a partner in the law firm of Alexander, Corder, Plunk, Baker, and Shelly until January 2002, when he was appointed to a newly created District Judgeship. Judge Baker served three years as District Judge and was elected Circuit Judge in 2004.

Circuit Court Jurisdiction includes all criminal felony offenses, all civil actions where the amount claimed exceeds $10k, domestic relations cases, all workers compensation claims, concurrent jurisdiction with District Court Juvenile cases, concurrent jurisdiction with District Court in Civil matters between $3k and $10k.

Circuit Court Clerk

Brad Curnutt, 39th Judicial Circuit
Limestone County Circuit Clerk
Brad is a 1987 graduate of Athens High School; a 1992 graduate of Calhoun Community College, with an Associate of Science Degree; in police science. Former board member of the Athens-Limestone Child Advocacy Center, a former member of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (Child Protection Team), and deacon serving in men’s ministry. He has 18 years of involvement in law enforcement.

Warrants & Passports
Warrants are issued on Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Passports are issued on Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Absentee Voting in Limestone Circuit Court

If you have any questions regarding Absentee Voting or need to get in touch,
please call (256) 233-6406 (or) (256) 216-3865

Who may vote absentee?
Any qualified elector of Limestone County may vote an absentee ballot, provided they meet one of the following:

• Moved from Limestone County less than thirty (30) days prior to the election
• Will be absent from the county on Election Day
• Is ill or has a physical disability that prevents a trip to the polling place
• Is a registered voter living outside the county such as a member of the armed forces, a voter employed outside the United States, a college student, or a spouse or child of such a person
• Is an appointed election worker or poll watcher at a polling place other than his/her regular polling place
• Works a required shift, 10 hours or more, that coincides with polling hours

Business/Medical Emergency voting applications can be made after the absentee deadline but no later than 5:00 PM on the day before the election if the voter:

• Is required by an employer under unforeseen circumstances to be out of the county on Election Day for an emergency business trip (or) has a medical emergency requiring treatment of a licensed physician.

In addition, the business emergency application contains an affidavit acknowledging that the voter was not aware of the out-of-county business trip prior to the normal absentee ballot deadline. The medical emergency application requires that the attending physician describe and certify the circumstances as constituting an emergency.

Apply with Honorable Brad Curnutt, Circuit Court Clerk
1st Floor, Limestone County Courthouse