Patrick J. Ballard is one of the Circuit Judges for the Civil Division of Jefferson County Circuit Court.  Before going to the bench in January of 2015, Judge Ballard was the owner of Ballard Law Office, with over 18 years of practice focused on general civil litigation.  

He has a B.S. degree from Texas A&M University and a J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He was a member of Alabama State Bar, the Birmingham Bar Association and the Alabama Association for Justice.  He was admitted to practice in all Alabama State Courts, all Alabama Federal Courts, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.  Prior to his legal career, Judge Ballard worked for over 15 years in the construction industry.

Judge Ballard is very active in Birmingham civic affairs.  He is the past-president of the Central City Neighborhood Association; Co-chair of the Community Affairs Committee of REV Birmingham (f/k/a Operation New Birmingham); a member of the Steering Committee of Birmingham Community Policing & Revitalization (“CPR”); and a member of the Downtown Business Association.  He carried out the restoration and renovation of the historic Taylor Carriage Building on 2nd Avenue North in downtown Birmingham; and is a past Board Member of Children's Dance Foundation.  He is also an active member of the United Fellowship Breakfast Forum.  In July 2013, he received the Wells Fargo Commitment Through Service Award from Birmingham Community Policing & Revitalization in recognition of his service to the community.