Legal Career:

Chris began his legal career in 1987 as a law clerk in the Lauderdale County Circuit Court, working for Judges Ed Tease and Mike Suttle.

In 1988, Chris joined the law firm of O'Bannon and O'Bannon. He practiced law with Stewart O'Bannon Jr. and Stewart O'Bannon III handling civil and criminal cases for a wide variety of clients until his election as District Attorney in November 2004.

As a lawyer, Chris obtained an AV rating from the national attorney ranking organization, Martindale-Hubbell. This is the organization's highest ranking and indicates very high to preeminent legal ability and very high ethical standards as established by confidential opinions from members of the Bar.

Chris served as President of the Lauderdale County Bar Association in 1992. While president, he organized having the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals come to Florence to hear oral arguments in two capital murder case appeals. Area high school students attended this event and were able to see Alabama's appellate court system in action.

Education:

Law School -
Chris is a 1987 graduate of the The University of Alabama Law School. Chris worked his way through law school as a warrant magistrate for the City of Tuscaloosa and Tuscaloosa County. As a magistrate he issued arrest warrants for crime victims and police investigators.

While in law school, Chris managed the school's international law moot court team. The team won the Southeast Regional Competition in Gainesville, Florida, and went on to compete in the National Competition in Boston.

Undergraduate -
Chris graduated from Auburn University in 1984 with a business degree. While at Auburn, Chris worked in the cooperative education program at Martin Industries in Florence. He also worked part-time pumping gas at Mr. Friendly's in Auburn, as well as at the school library.

High School -
Chris graduated from Coffee High School in 1979. While in high school, Chris worked at G&C Supermarket in downtown St. Florian. He also worked a summer job at the Florence Electricity Department.

Community Involvement:

Chris is currently a member of the board of directors of the Northwest Alabama Children's Advocacy Center. He has served on the board of directors of Rape Response and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Shoals, and is also a member of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce.