Courtroom Bailiff for Suspended Alabama Judge Charged With Impersonating Law Enforcement Officer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BuzzReport) — A courtroom bailiff who served under a recently suspended Jefferson County probate judge is now facing criminal charges after authorities say he falsely identified himself as a law enforcement officer during a domestic dispute investigation.

The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office issued a warrant Wednesday charging James Edward Dozier, 53, of Hueytown, with impersonating a police officer, adding another layer of controversy to an already troubled chapter within Jefferson County’s judicial system.

According to charging documents, sheriff’s deputies responded Saturday to a custody-related dispute on 36th Avenue Northwest in the Center Point area. When deputies arrived at the scene, investigators allege that Dozier represented himself as a deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities say Dozier was taken into custody and booked into the Jefferson County Jail at approximately 10:38 p.m. Saturday. Jail records indicate he was released about an hour later after posting a $15,000 bond. The formal warrant charging him with impersonating a law enforcement officer was issued four days later.

The allegations come amid heightened scrutiny surrounding Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard, for whom Dozier served as a courtroom bailiff.

Last month, Blanchard was suspended from office following a sharply critical complaint filed by the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission. The complaint outlined numerous allegations regarding conduct and administration within the probate court, triggering disciplinary proceedings that led to her suspension.

The latest criminal charge against one of Blanchard’s courtroom staff members is likely to intensify public attention on the ongoing issues surrounding the probate court. While the charge against Dozier is separate from the allegations involving the suspended judge, the timing has raised additional questions about oversight and accountability within the judicial office.

Impersonating a law enforcement officer is a serious offense under Alabama law, as it can undermine public trust and create confusion during emergency situations and official investigations. Prosecutors have not publicly released additional details regarding the circumstances that led deputies to conclude that Dozier falsely represented himself as a sheriff’s deputy.

As of Thursday, court records do not indicate whether Dozier has entered a plea or retained legal counsel to respond to the allegations.

The case remains pending in Jefferson County, and prosecutors are expected to present additional evidence as the matter moves through the court system.