C. Ashley Royal

Charles Ashley Royal (born 1949) is a Senior United States federal judge.
Born in Augusta, Georgia, Royal received an A.B. from the University of Georgia in 1971, a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1974, and a M.S. from the University of Georgia in 1976. He was an assistant district attorney in the District Attorney's Office, Augusta Judicial Circuit, Georgia from 1974 to 1975. He was in private practice in Georgia in 1976, and was a public defender in Glynn County, Georgia from 1976 to 1977, returning to private practice from 1977 to 2001.
On October 9, 2001, Royal was nominated by President George W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia vacated by Duross Fitzpatrick. Royal was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 20, 2001, and received his commission on December 21, 2001. He served as chief judge from 2009 to 2014. He assumed senior status on September 1, 2016.