Code of Alabama
Ala. Code § 13A-10-2 (2026)
Obstructing Governmental Operations.
✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
(a) A person commits the crime of obstructing governmental operations if, by means of intimidation, physical force or interference or by any other independently unlawful act, he:
(1) Intentionally obstructs, impairs or hinders the administration of law or other governmental function; or
(2) Intentionally prevents a public servant from performing a governmental function.
(b) This section does not apply to the obstruction, impairment or hindrance of the making of an arrest.
(c) Obstructing governmental operations is a Class A misdemeanor.
(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §4505.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 36
cases (13 in the last 5 years), 1985–2026 · leading case: Grider v. City of Auburn, Ala., 618 F.3d 1240 (11th Cir. 2010).
Grider v. City of Auburn, Ala., 618 F.3d 1240 (11th Cir. 2010). “Officer Carver argues that the district court erred (1) in finding no arguable probable cause for the bribery charge, and (2) in not finding arguable probable cause to arrest Grider for the "closely related" crime of obstruction of a government function in Ala.Code § 13A-10-2.…”
D.A.D.O. v. State, 57 So. 3d 798 (Ala. Crim. App. 2009). “, a juvenile, was adjudicated delinquent based upon a charge of obstructing governmental operations, a violation of § 13A-10-2, Ala.Code 1975. The juvenile court placed D.”
Megan Garcia v. Pamela Casey, 75 F.4th 1176 (11th Cir. 2023). “” Ala. Code § 13A-10-2. Notably, “administration of law” is not de- fined under the applicable title.”
Scott v. Palmer, 210 F. Supp. 3d 1303 (N.D. Ala. 2016). “Scott had obstructed, was obstructing, or was about to obstruct governmental operations as defined by Alabama Code § 13A-10-2.”
United States v. State of Alabama, 691 F.3d 1269 (11th Cir. 2012). “Both of these sections impose a duty on state officials to report violations of Alabama’s immigration laws, and failure to do so could result in a conviction under Ala.Code § 13A-10-2 for obstructing government operations.”
Ruffino v. City of Hoover, 891 F. Supp. 2d 1247 (N.D. Ala. 2012). “endants contend that Glover had probable cause to arrest Ruffino not only for disorderly conduct in violation of Alabama Code § 13A-ll-7-(a)(3), but also disorderly conduct in violation of Alabama Code § 13A-ll-7(a)(l), harassment in violation of Alabama Code § 13A-11-8, assault…”
Newsome v. Lee Cnty., Ala., 431 F. Supp. 2d 1189 (M.D. Ala. 2006). “]” Ala.Code § 13A-10-2. The Officer Defendants, charged with enforcing this law, intentionally obstructed and interfered with Newsome’s pursuit of her sexual abuse complaint and retaliated against her for so acting.”
McCray v. City of Dothan, 169 F. Supp. 2d 1260 (M.D. Ala. 2001). “CODE § 13A-10-2. Accepting McCray’s version of events as true, he was eating in a restaurant without incident or disturbance until Woodruff approached him with questions about the damage to Hart’s car.”
Galloway v. City of Abbeville, 871 F. Supp. 2d 1298 (M.D. Ala. 2012). “He contends that when Galloway pulled away from him he had probable cause to arrest Galloway for disorderly conduct, see Ala.Code § 13A-10-2 (1975), or obstructing governmental operations, see id.”
A.A.G. v. State, 668 So. 2d 122 (Ala. Crim. App. 1995). “, was charged with obstructing governmental operations, a violation of § 13A-10-2, Ala.Code 1975. Following a delinquency hearing, the juvenile court entered an order finding the appellant delinquent as charged and fining her $50.”
Roland Edger v. Krista McCabe, 83 F.4th 858 (11th Cir. 2023). “Edger was charged with obstructing governmental op- erations in violation of Alabama Code § 13A-10-2(a)(1). The City of Huntsville dropped all charges relating to this incident.”
William Joseph Phillips v. Officer B. E. Irvin, 222 F. App'x 928 (11th Cir. 2007). “Moreover, in granting Irvin qualified immunity on Phillips’s false arrest claim, the district court itself determined that Irvin had arguable probable cause to arrest Phillips for obstruction of governmental operations, in violation of Ala.Code § 13A-10-2. We agree with the…”
— Ala. Code § 13A-10-2(A) — 1 case
Jennings v. Smith (N.D. Ala. 2025).
— Ala. Code § 13A-10-2(a) — 9 cases
D.A.D.O. v. State, 57 So. 3d 798 (Ala. Crim. App. 2009). “, a juvenile, was adjudicated delinquent based upon a charge of obstructing governmental operations, a violation of § 13A-10-2, Ala.Code 1975. The juvenile court placed D.”
A.A.G. v. State, 668 So. 2d 122 (Ala. Crim. App. 1995). “, was charged with obstructing governmental operations, a violation of § 13A-10-2, Ala.Code 1975. Following a delinquency hearing, the juvenile court entered an order finding the appellant delinquent as charged and fining her $50.”
Jennings v. Smith (N.D. Ala. 2023).
C.L.G. v. State, 50 So. 3d 1123 (Ala. Crim. App. 2009).
Michael Jennings v. Christopher Smith (11th Cir. 2024).
— Ala. Code § 13A-10-2(a)(1) — 5 cases
Megan Garcia v. Pamela Casey, 75 F.4th 1176 (11th Cir. 2023). “” Ala. Code § 13A-10-2. Notably, “administration of law” is not de- fined under the applicable title.”
Roland Edger v. Krista McCabe, 83 F.4th 858 (11th Cir. 2023). “Edger was charged with obstructing governmental op- erations in violation of Alabama Code § 13A-10-2(a)(1). The City of Huntsville dropped all charges relating to this incident.”
Jennings v. Smith (N.D. Ala. 2025).
Roland Edger v. Krista McCabe (11th Cir. 2023).
Holman (N.D. Ala. 2026).
— Ala. Code § 13A-10-2(a)(2) — 1 case
— Ala. Code § 13A-10-2(a)(l) — 1 case
Robinson v. State, 484 So. 2d 1197 (Ala. Crim. App. 1986).
— Ala. Code § 13A-10-2(b) — 3 cases
Grider v. City of Auburn, Ala., 618 F.3d 1240 (11th Cir. 2010). “Officer Carver argues that the district court erred (1) in finding no arguable probable cause for the bribery charge, and (2) in not finding arguable probable cause to arrest Grider for the "closely related" crime of obstruction of a government function in Ala.Code § 13A-10-2.…”
Penn v. City of Decatur, Alabama (N.D. Ala. 2023).
Patrick James Grider v. City of Auburn, Alabama (11th Cir. 2010).
— Ala. Code § 13A-10-2(e) — 1 case
Scott v. Palmer, 210 F. Supp. 3d 1303 (N.D. Ala. 2016). “Scott had obstructed, was obstructing, or was about to obstruct governmental operations as defined by Alabama Code § 13A-10-2.”
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