| James Edward Hill Jr. was born on February 26, 1950, in Starkville, Mississippi. He currently serves as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives for District 50, representing parts of St. Clair County. Hill was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives on November 4, 2014, and has been re-elected in subsequent elections, with his current term set to end on November 4, 2026.
Before entering politics, Hill had an extensive legal career spanning several decades. He received his undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University and later earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. His professional experience includes serving as a district judge and then as a circuit judge for the Alabama 30th Judicial Circuit. Hill was elected as a district judge in St. Clair County in 1994 and later as a circuit judge in 2004. During his time on the bench, he was instrumental in creating several important programs in St. Clair County, including a Day Program for juvenile offenders, an early warning system with schools, the St. Clair Drug Court, and the St. Clair Domestic Violence Program.
While serving as a judge, Hill was also active with the Alabama Juvenile Judges Association, a group dedicated to raising awareness of juvenile law issues affecting children within the state. Additionally, he served on the Governor's Task Force on Prison Overcrowding, which addressed one of Alabama's most pressing issues. After retiring from the bench in 2013, Hill joined the law firm of Hill, Hill & Gossett, P.C..
In 2013, Hill announced his candidacy for the House District 50 legislative seat, which was being vacated by State Rep. Jim McClendon, who was running for the State Senate. The district includes portions of St. Clair and Shelby counties. Hill ran as a Republican and was elected without opposition in both the primary and general elections in 2014. He has since been re-elected in 2018 and 2022, winning by substantial margins in both elections. In the 2022 general election, Hill received 12,720 votes, representing 98.5% of the total votes cast.
In the Alabama House of Representatives, Hill has served on several committees throughout his legislative career. Notably, in June 2017, Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon appointed Hill as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee for the remainder of the 2014 to 2018 quadrennium. Prior to this appointment, Hill had served as Vice Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. His committee assignments have also included the Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee.
As a legislator, Hill has been particularly focused on criminal justice reform. In 2021, during a special session called by Governor Kay Ivey, Hill sponsored two significant criminal justice reform bills. House Bill 1 (HB1) aimed to address inconsistencies in sentencing under Alabama's Habitual Felony Offender Act, potentially giving hundreds of people an opportunity to return to their communities. House Bill 2 (HB2) proposed providing supervised release for every person leaving Alabama prisons, a measure designed to reduce recidivism. Hill has consistently advocated for supervised release and risk assessment as crucial components for public safety.
In his personal life, Hill is married to Susan Hill and they have two grown children, James E. Hill III and Elizabeth Hill Cheney. His son, James E. Hill III, has followed in his father's footsteps and currently serves as a Circuit Judge in St. Clair County. Hill is a member of the Baptist faith.
Throughout his career, both as a judge and as a legislator, Hill has focused on improving the legal and criminal justice systems in Alabama. His background as a judge has informed his legislative work, particularly in areas related to judicial reform and criminal justice policy. |