James Render Dowdell (April 2, 1847 – June 21, 1921) was an American jurist and the 20th Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court from 1909 to 1914.

Upon his admission to the bar, Dowdell began to practice law in Opelika, Alabama in 1870 with William J. Samford.

Dowdell was named by Governor Braxton Bragg Comer Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in 1909.

[1] Dowdell's nephew was Armstead Brown, who served on the Florida Supreme Court.

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