Javan Patton

Javan Patton is a Civil Circuit judge and the youngest of the judges elected in 2016. Her grandfather, W. C. Patton, was a voting rights activist and headed the Alabama chapter of the NAACP during the time that it was barred by the state of Alabama because of civil rights protests. He travelled all over the state registering voters, returning home every night for dinner with his family of six. Javan’s father, Jarvis Patton, worked alongside his father and was the president of the Alabama youth chapter of the NAACP. He worked in Mayor Bell’s administration for 13 years as Birmingham’s City Council president.

Javan attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts, where she pursued ballet and jazz dance. After graduation, she attended the University of Alabama and then the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She began her career in the Montgomery DA’s office as an assistant DA. Then she worked in the Jefferson County DA’s office and then was the assistant city attorney for Birmingham prior to her election. Her civic involvement includes Director of Liturgical Dance Ministry, Sixth Avenue Baptist Church; volunteer, Sisters Inspiring Sisters Through the Arts; social event co-chair, Alabama School of Fine Arts Alumni Association; board member, Alabama School of Fine Arts Foundation; board member, Railroad Park Foundation; former member, Birmingham Zoo Junior Board; former member, UAB Minority Health and Research Committee Young Professional board; member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.