CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman County Circuit Court Judge Greg Nicholas is retiring after serving 20 years in the Alabama court system. In the 32nd Judicial Circuit, Nicholas served 19 years. His retirement is effective Jan. 26, 2026.
“I managed a total of 20 years working for the Alabama courts, including my employment as law clerk for Judge Sam Taylor on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals after law school,” Nicholas shared. “I enjoyed serving as mediator before going on the bench, so I may occasionally do mediation to help people involved in a lawsuit find common ground to settle their case.”
Nicholas said it’s also possible he may be called back on a limited basis as a judge in this circuit or another judicial circuit when the judges have a conflict or due to other circumstances, but he’s looking forward to getting back to charity work and spending more time with family.
“I was also previously involved with various charitable organizations in our community that I needed to step back from while on the bench due to time constraints and possible conflicts of interest, so I expect to have more time now to become involved again with some of those organizations,” he said. “I am looking forward to having more time to spend with family and friends and for travel.”
Nicholas shared a few memories that have stuck with him throughout this career.
“There are so many cases that come to mind but one that left an indelible mark happened very early in my career when I was serving as a district court judge in a dependency case,” he said.
“When there is an allegation that a child has been abused or neglected the law authorizes a social worker with the Department of Human Resources to take a child into protective custody to safeguard the child but requires that a court hearing be held within 72 hours to determine if the child is in need of care or supervision. If a judge determines that a child is in danger as a result of abuse or neglect by a parent or custodian, other family resources are examined for possible temporary placement or, if there are none, then placement with a foster family can be ordered temporarily so that services can be provided to a parent in an effort to reunify the family as soon as that can safely be accomplished.
“So, one morning on a dependency docket, a mother and her 12-year-old son appeared in court for me to make a determination whether the child had been abused or neglected and, if so, what action was needed to protect the child. The petition filed in the case alleged that the mother frequently left her child at home alone while she was out until one or two o’clock in the morning, that the child was missing school frequently and that he was going for long periods without being fed and there was insufficient food in the home.
“The 12-year-old confirmed to me that the allegations were true and also testified that he witnessed his mother smoking marijuana when she came home late at night so she could ‘calm down’ and that she would take a hit of crystal meth each morning ‘to get going.’”
Nicholas said it was obvious the child was painfully aware of his mother’s drug addiction.
“He looked up at me, with tears streaming down his face, and asked, ‘Why does my momma love drugs more than me? Why doesn’t she just stop using drugs so I can live with her?’ he recalled. “I didn’t have a great answer for that little boy. Children love their parents and desperately want to be with them, even under the most appalling circumstances.
“That case illustrates the devastating consequences of drug addiction in our society and just how powerful drugs must be to sever the bonds of parental love. There shouldn’t be any force on Earth more powerful than a parent’s love for their children, but clearly there was in that case, and so many others like it. Drug addiction causes so many problems in our society, and children are too often just collateral damage. Parental drug addiction robs children of the types of memories they should have and creates a hellish existence for way too many children living in our community.”
Nicholas said that case helped shape his views and led to a greater focus on drug rehabilitation to help address the root problem.
“It also led to creation of a local program where circuit and district judges visit every high school in Cullman County to candidly talk with teens about the real-world problems drugs often cause and other legal issues commonly faced by teens and young adults,” he said.
Judge Nicholas’ replacement will be named by Governor Kay Ivey, and he or she will serve until the next election is held.
Many community leaders expressed admiration for Nicholas upon hearing of his retirement.
Cullman Police Chief Joey Duncan said Nicholas has served the community with fairness, integrity and steady leadership.
“His commitment to justice set a standard we will feel for years to come,” Duncan said. “I’m grateful for his service and wish him the very best in retirement.”
Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry said Nicholas has served the people of Cullman County with integrity, humility and a deep commitment to justice for nearly two decades.
“His steady leadership on the bench and his unwavering fairness have made our community stronger and our justice system better,” Gentry said. “Judge Nicholas never sought the spotlight — he simply worked every day to do what was right, treating every person who appeared before him with respect.
“As sheriff, I’ve seen firsthand the impact of his dedication, and I’m grateful for the partnership and professionalism he has shown to law enforcement throughout his career. We celebrate his remarkable service and wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.”
Cullman County District Judges Chad Floyd and Rusty Turner and Circuit Judge Emily Johnston also share kind words.
“Judge Nicholas will be deeply missed for many reasons,” Floyd said. “He is not only a genuine pleasure to work with, but also an exceptional jurist who has consistently sought to administer justice fairly and in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the State of Alabama. On a personal note, I will greatly miss the benefit of his insight concerning complex legal issues. Ninety-five percent of me wishes him and (his wife) Rita the very best in his retirement; the remaining 5% hopes he might reconsider and continue working with us for another decade.”
“It has been my pleasure to serve with Greg for the last 14 years on the bench and before that as a practicing lawyer,” Turner said. “He is always the consummate gentleman and his dedication to the legal system has been consistent in the way he engages with the people that appear before him. I’ve also had the opportunity to work with Judge Nicholas for the last 11 years as he and I, along with Judge Floyd, Judge Johnston and former Judge Martha Williams speak to every ninth-grade class in the Cullman County school system each year. Greg would share his experiences with the ninth graders to help them make better decisions so as to keep them from running afoul of the law. I will miss working with him, but he has earned a well-deserved retirement and I wish him the best.”
“Judge Nicholas is wise, patient and, thorough in his research, always staying impartial and ruling with common sense to find the best result while following the law,” Johnston said. “His leadership and commitment to public service is evidenced by his decision to stay on the bench, delaying his retirement last year so that Cullman County would have consistency in the Circuit Court. What an incredible example of service above self. It has been an honor to work alongside him, and he will be greatly missed.”
In a social media post, Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker said, “Judge Nicholas has served this judicial circuit with honor and distinction. He has always embodied what a judge should be – prompt, courteous, curious and prepared. He will be missed.”
