In two weeks, Lauderdale County Circuit Judge Gil Self is set to face trial on a series of serious felony charges. Reports from Shoals Insider indicate that state prosecutors have accused Self of misappropriating court funds for personal purchases, which include items such as a sofa, liquor, eyeglasses, firearms, golf clubs, and various other personal belongings. Additionally, it has been alleged that he improperly compensated his son with public funds after appointing him as a court clerk. Investigators have also uncovered claims that Self reimbursed himself for vacations and trips by categorizing them as “court-related travel.”
This case has garnered significant attention in the Shoals region, particularly given that Self has been a fixture on the Lauderdale County bench for over a decade. A state audit conducted by the Alabama Examiners of Public Accounts revealed more than $146,000 in questionable expenditures from two court accounts that Self managed between 2020 and 2023. Prosecutors assert that these funds, derived from local court fees and fines, were meant to support court operations rather than serve personal interests.
Facing a total of 16 felony counts for using his official position for personal benefit, Self is also charged with one count of lying to auditors and one count of perjury. He has entered a plea of not guilty to all allegations. His defense team contends that Alabama’s ethics laws lack clarity and that some of the expenditures in question could be considered legitimate court-related expenses. While it has been reported that Self has repaid a portion of the funds, prosecutors argue that such repayment does not absolve him of the alleged criminal acts.
The trial is scheduled to commence on October 20 at 9 a.m. in Lauderdale County Circuit Court, with Judge Tim Jolley overseeing the proceedings. Should he be found guilty, Self faces the possibility of up to 20 years in prison for each felony charge, in addition to potential fines and removal from his judicial position. This case has sparked serious discussions regarding public trust and the oversight of financial practices within the judiciary.
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