Lee Loder
Lee Wendell Loder Jr (born c. 1970) is an attorney and owner of the Loder Law Firm, a Birmingham Municipal Court judge, a Christian minister, and former president of the Birmingham City Council.
Loder is the son of Gate City neighborhood president Lee E. Loder. He earned a bachelor of science in political science from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and a juris doctorate from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1995. He opened his own law firm in 1996.
Loder defeated appointee Frank Adams Jr to complete the District 8 seat left vacant by the election of Bernard Kincaid as Mayor of Birmingham. Birmingham City Council.
After the 2001 Birmingham City Council election in which he was joined by eight new Council members, Loder was elected to serve as President. He did not run in the 2005 Birmingham City Council election and was succeeded by Steven Hoyt. As a councilor, Loder promoted economic development projects and introduced a ban on smoking in restaurants and nightclubs.
In 2002, Loder was implicated in allegations of cruelty to his pet dog, Stokely, and arrested. The emaciated condition of the chained dog was reported by a carpenter working in the neighborhood. The charges were dismissed after Birmingham Municipal Court judge David Barnes was unsatisfied with questions about inconsistencies in the investigation and arrest. Barnes was later censured by the Alabama State Court of the Judiciary for not removing himself from the case. He had been a fraternity bother of Loder's and his position on the municipal bench was subject to the City Council. Loder forged an agreement with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society to work with them to promote better treatment for animals.
Loder ran for re-election in the 2005 Birmingham municipal election, but finished 6th with just under 4% of the vote. Stephen Hoyt succeeded him. After leaving the City Council, Loder began leading "Thankful Thursday" praise and outreach services with free lunches at the Carver Theater. He and his wife, Adrianne's Loder Ragland Ministries operate the iBestow pre-kindergarten program in downtown Birmingham with state funding.
Loder sought a judgeship on the Jefferson County Probate Court in the 2024 Democratic primary, but finished fourth in that race.
| Preceded by: Frank Adams, Jr |
Birmingham City Council District 8 Representative 2000–2005 |
Succeeded by: Steven Hoyt |
| Preceded by: William Bell |
Birmingham City Council President 2001–2005 |
Succeeded by: Carole Smitherman |
References
- Reynolds, Ed (October 24, 2002) "City Council President Arrested In Animal Cruelty Case." Black & White
- Geiss, Chuck (December 5, 2002) "Naked Birmingham". Black & White
- Reynolds, Ed (February 12, 2003) "No More Mr. Nice Guy." Black & White