Why Judge Shanta Owens
Prior to being elected to the bench, Judge Shanta Owens worked as a deputy district attorney with the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office, where she rose to the position of Senior Trial Attorney. Judge Owens knows the law, having successfully prosecuted hundreds of felony offenses in Jefferson County, including several for Capital Murder.
Aside from her felony jury trial experience, she has also successfully prosecuted dozens of Driving Under the Influcence (DUI) jury trials and handled hundreds of cases in Jefferson County where Defendants have been charged with Rape, Sodomy, Robbery, Burglary, Kidnapping, Theft, and Drug Offenses that include Drug Trafficking, Drug Posession, Drug Distribution, and Unlawful Manufacture of Methamphetemine.
As a prosecutor, Judge Owens was respected for her knowledge of the law and conducted several legal training classes for the police cadets at the Birmingham Police Academy. During this time, she also completed extensive Training and received Certificates in the following courses:
- Trial Advocacy
- Cross-Examination
- Evidence
- Prosecution of Sexual Assaults & Related Violent Crimes
- Prosecuting Homicides
Judicial Experience
In 2008, Judge Shanta Owens was elected to the bench to serve as a District Judge in the Criminal Division for the 10th Judicial Circuit of Alabama. In this position, she hears criminal cases where defendants are charged with misdemeanor and felony cases. In addition to this, she is the Presiding Judge for Alabama's largest Felony Adult Drug Court Program, a rehabilitation program for nonviolent drug offenders who want to live drug free lives.
Since serving on the bench, Judge Owens has presided over more than 25,000 criminal cases ranging from shoplifting to capital murder.
In 2013, Judge Owens was recognized at the Alabama Judicial Conference for running one of the most efficient courtrooms in the state of Alabama, having e-filed the most orders of any judge in Jefferson County. On average, she disposes of over 4,000 cases annually. Since serving on the bench, Judge Owens has presided over more than 25,000 criminal cases ranging from shoplifting to capital murder. She is committed to strictly interpreting the law and treating all parties who enter her courtroom with the utmost respect. She has the respect of judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and law enforcement and has earned a reputation of being a fair and impartial judge who will consistently uphold the law.
Drug Court
Initiated in 1996, the Jefferson County Adult Drug Court Program, operates under the leadership of Judge Shanta Owens. This is the largest Drug Court Program in the state of Alabama. Drug Court is a rehabilitation program for nonviolent drug offenders who want to live drug free lives. Drug Court turns drug addicts into responsible taxpayers. Participants understand that they must remain drug and alochol free or risk going to prison!
Defendants charged with selling or trafficking drugs are NOT eligible to participate in the Drug Court Program. Defendants with a history of violence are NOT eligible to participate in the Drug Court Program.
Judge Owens takes great pride in the success of the Jefferson County Adult Drug Court Program , where she is proud to say she has had a hand in changing thousands of lives...
Drug Courts have been proven to reduce crime, save taxpayers money, ensure compliance with abstinence from drug and alcohol use, and restore families. Judge Owens takes great pride in the success of the Jefferson County Adult Drug Court Program , where she is proud to say she has had a hand in changing thousands of lives by helping drug addicts live drug free lives, getting educated, and obtaining employment. The value of drug court is two fold: (1) the participant's life is forever changed for the better and (2) taxpayers do not bear the burden of paying for the incarceration of a non-violent addict in the penal system. Since its inception, over 4600 participants have completed the Drug Court Program. Those numbers indicate real lives that have been changed and real savings to taxpayers.
Judge Owens orders all Drug Court participants to submit to frequent and random drug testing, remain drug and alcohol free, maintain a job, obtain a high school diploma, GED, skill or trade, perform community service, and complete payment of their Drug Court fees before they can graduate from the Drug Court program. In addition, partipants must routinely return to court for judicial reviews. Judge Owens frequently orders participants to inpatient and outpatient substance abuse programs.
Professional/Community Involvement
Judge Shanta Owens regularly hosts middle and high school classes in her courtroom to watch court proceedings. After court is adjourned, she takes the time to speak with the students concerning the judicial system, consequences of criminal behavior, and drug awareness in hopes of preventing them from entering the criminal justice system and making bad choices. In addition to hosting these students, she regularly speaks at area middle and high schools in Jefferson County, educating parents and students about drug use and crime.
Judge Owens has always been an active member of her community, giving her time and effort to various organizations and people in need. Below is a listing of her involvement and commitment to the legal profession and to the community:
- 2014-2015 Participant of Momentum Leadership Class
- Children's Village Board of Directors
- National Association of Drug Court Professionals
- Alabama Association of Drug Court Professionals
- Alabama District Judges Association
- Alabama State Bar Association
- Birmingham Bar Association, Entertainment Section, Women Lawyers Section & Criminal Justice Section Member; Past Member of Public Service & Alternative Dispute Resolution Committees
- Judicial Council of the Magic City Bar Association
- Birmingham Inn of Court
- Alabama State University Alumni Association
- Louisiana State University Alumni Association
- The Women's Network
- Cumberland School of Law Moot Court Volunteer
- Jones Valley Development Corporation, Inc., Former Board Member; Co-wrote a grant that led to thousands of dollars for the creation of community-based health initiatives in disadvantaged areas
- Redmont School in the Waldorf Tradition, Former Board Member
- Birmingham Public Library Board, Former Board Member; Parliamentarian and Chairperson of the Long Range Planning Committee
Judge Owens is also a graduate of the following Leadership Organizations:
- 2008 Project Corporate Leadership
- 2011 Leadership Birmingham
- 2014 Leadership Vestavia Hills
In 2010, Judge Owens was featured on the cover of Birmingham Magazine's “Legal Eagles” edition. This year, she was a recipient of the “Encouraging Diversity” Award at the 2014 Best in Minority Business Awards. She has received the following honors for her work on and off the bench:
- 2013 Alabama State University Silhouette of Service Honoree
- 2011 NAACP Wonderful Outstanding Women Honoree
- 2010 Alabama State University Outstanding Alumni in Law
- 2009 Alpha Kappa Alpha Legacy of Leadership Honoree.