On August 19, 2021, Nicholas A. Danella took the bench as a magistrate judge in the United
States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. He was selected by the Court's district
judges from applicants recommended for the position by the Merit Selection Panel.
“I am honored and excited to serve the bench and bar,” Judge Danella said.
“Judge Danella is an outstanding addition to our Court,” Chief Judge Scott Coogler said. “His
intellect, integrity, and impartiality will serve the cause of justice well.”
Prior to his appointment, Judge Danella was a civil litigation partner at Bradley Arant Boult
Cummings LLP in Birmingham. While at Bradley, he handled a wide variety of civil cases in both
federal and state court. Judge Danella previously worked as a civil litigator at Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP in New York and Los Angeles. Judge Danella also served as pro bono counsel
on a number of criminal cases.
Judge Danella clerked for the Honorable Jacqueline H. Nguyen on the United States Court of
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and for the Honorable Michael W. Fitzgerald on the United States
District Court for the Central District of California.
Judge Danella earned his Juris Doctor summa cum laude from the University of Notre Dame
Law School, where he was an executive issue editor for the Notre Dame Law Review. He earned his
Bachelor of Arts cum laude in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard College.
Judge Danella is a member of the American Law Institute. In practice, he was named to the
Top 40 Under 40 by the Birmingham Business Journal, the 40 & Under Hot List by Benchmark
Litigation, and the Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars.
Judge Danella’s office is in Birmingham's federal courthouse.