Coordinates : 37°32′16″N 77°26′05″W / 37.53769°N 77.43481°W / 37.53769; -77.43481
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (in case citations , 4th Cir. ) is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia , with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts :
Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Courthouse
The court is based at the Lewis F. Powell, Jr., United States Courthouse in Richmond, Virginia . With 15 authorized judgeships, it is mid-sized among the 13 United States Courts of Appeals .
Current composition of the court [ edit ]
As of July 8, 2016, the active and senior judges on the court are as follows:[1] [2]
#
Title
Judge
Duty station
Born
Term of service
Appointed by
Active
Chief
Senior
40
Chief Judge
Roger Gregory
Richmond, VA
1953
2000–present
2016–present
—
Clinton /G.W. Bush [Note 1]
29
Circuit Judge
J. Harvie Wilkinson III
Charlottesville, VA
1944
1984–present
1996–2003
—
Reagan
32
Circuit Judge
Paul V. Niemeyer
Baltimore, MD
1941
1990–present
—
—
G.H.W. Bush
37
Circuit Judge
Diana Gribbon Motz
Baltimore, MD
1943
1994–present
—
—
Clinton
38
Circuit Judge
William Byrd Traxler, Jr.
Greenville, SC
1948
1998–present
2009–2016
—
Clinton
39
Circuit Judge
Robert Bruce King
Charleston, WV
1940
1998–present
—
—
Clinton
41
Circuit Judge
Dennis Shedd
Columbia, SC
1953
2002–present
—
—
G.W. Bush
42
Circuit Judge
Allyson Kay Duncan
Raleigh, NC
1951
2003–present
—
—
G.W. Bush
43
Circuit Judge
G. Steven Agee
Salem, VA
1952
2008–present
—
—
G.W. Bush
45
Circuit Judge
Barbara Milano Keenan
Alexandria, VA
1950
2010–present
—
—
Obama
46
Circuit Judge
James A. Wynn, Jr.
Raleigh, NC
1954
2010–present
—
—
Obama
47
Circuit Judge
Albert Diaz
Charlotte, NC
1960
2010–present
—
—
Obama
48
Circuit Judge
Henry Franklin Floyd
Pickens, SC
1947
2011–present
—
—
Obama
49
Circuit Judge
Stephanie Thacker
Charleston, WV
1965
2012–present
—
—
Obama
50
Circuit Judge
Pamela Harris
Greenbelt, MD
1962
2014–present
—
—
Obama
24
Senior Judge
James Dickson Phillips, Jr.
inactive
1922
1978–1994
—
1994–present
Carter
28
Senior Judge
Robert F. Chapman
inactive
1926
1981–1991
—
1991–present
Reagan
33
Senior Judge
Clyde H. Hamilton
Columbia, SC
1934
1991–1999
—
1999–present
G.H.W. Bush
44
Senior Judge
Andre M. Davis
Baltimore, MD
1949
2009–2014
—
2014–present
Obama
List of former judges [ edit ]
Since 1891 there have been 36 judges who have served, but no longer serve, on the court.[1]
#
Judge
State
Born/Died
Active
Chief
Senior
Appointed by
Reason for
termination
1
Bond, Hugh Lennox Hugh Lennox Bond
MD
1828–1893
1891–1893
——
——
Grant, Grant [3]
death
2
Goff, Jr., Nathan Nathan Goff, Jr.
WV
1843–1920
1892–1913
——
——
Harrison, B. B. Harrison
resignation
3
Simonton, Charles Henry Charles Henry Simonton
SC
1829–1904
1893–1904
——
——
Cleveland, Cleveland
death
4
Pritchard, Jeter Connelly Jeter Connelly Pritchard
NC /DC
1857–1921
1904–1921
——
——
Roosevelt, T. T. Roosevelt
death
5
Woods, Charles Albert Charles Albert Woods
SC
1852–1925
1913–1925
——
——
Wilson, Wilson
death
6
Waddill, Jr., Edmund Edmund Waddill, Jr.
VA
1855–1931
1921–1931
——
——
Harding, Harding
death
7
Rose, John Carter John Carter Rose
MD
1861–1927
1922–1927
——
——
Harding, Harding
death
8
Parker, John J. John J. Parker
NC
1885–1958
1925–1958
1948–1958
——
Coolidge, Coolidge
death
9
Northcott, Elliott Elliott Northcott
WV
1869–1946
1927–1939
——
1939–1946
Coolidge, Coolidge
death
10
Soper, Morris Ames Morris Ames Soper [4]
MD
1873–1963
1931–1955
——
1955–1963
Hoover, Hoover
death
11
Dobie, Armistead Mason Armistead Mason Dobie [4]
VA
1881–1962
1939–1956
——
1956–1962
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
12
Sobeloff, Simon E. Simon E. Sobeloff
MD
1894–1973
1956–1970
1958–1964
1970–1973
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
death
13
Haynsworth, Clement Clement Haynsworth
SC
1912–1989
1957–1981
1964–1981
1981–1989
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
death
14
Boreman, Herbert Stephenson Herbert Stephenson Boreman
WV
1897–1982
1959–1971
——
1971–1982
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
death
15
Bryan, Albert V. Albert V. Bryan
VA
1899–1984
1961–1972
——
1972–1984
Kennedy, Kennedy
death
16
Bell, J. Spencer J. Spencer Bell
NC
1906–1967
1961–1967
——
——
Kennedy, Kennedy
death
17
Winter, Harrison Lee Harrison Lee Winter
MD
1921–1990
1966–1990
1981–1989
1990–1990
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
18
Craven, Jr., James Braxton James Braxton Craven, Jr.
NC
1918–1977
1966–1977
——
——
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
19
Butzner, Jr., John D. John D. Butzner, Jr.
VA
1917–2006
1967–1982
——
1982–2006
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
20
Russell, Donald Stuart Donald Stuart Russell
SC
1906–1998
1971–1998
——
——
Nixon, Nixon
death
21
Field, Jr., John A. John A. Field, Jr.
WV
1910–1995
1971–1976
——
1976–1995
Nixon, Nixon
death
22
Widener, Jr., H. Emory H. Emory Widener, Jr.
VA
1923–2007
1972–2007
——
2007
Nixon, Nixon
death
23
Hall, Kenneth Keller Kenneth Keller Hall
WV
1918–1999
1976–1998
——
1998–1999
Ford, Ford
death
25
Murnaghan, Jr., Francis Dominic Francis Dominic Murnaghan, Jr.
MD
1920–2000
1979–2000
——
——
Carter, Carter
death
26
Sprouse, James Marshall James Marshall Sprouse
WV
1923–2004
1979–1992
——
1992–1995
Carter, Carter
retirement
27
Ervin III, Samuel James Samuel James Ervin III
NC
1926–1999
1980–1999
1989–1996
——
Carter, Carter
death
30
Sneeden, Emory M. Emory M. Sneeden
DC
1927–1987
1984–1986
——
——
Reagan, Reagan
resignation
31
Wilkins, William Walter William Walter Wilkins
SC
1942–present
1986–2007
2003–2007
2007–2008
Reagan, Reagan
retirement
34
Luttig, J. Michael J. Michael Luttig
VA
1954–present
1991–2006
——
——
Bush, G.H.W. G.H.W. Bush
resignation
35
Williams, Karen J. Karen J. Williams
SC
1951–2013
1992–2009
2007–2009
2009–2013
Bush, G.H.W. G.H.W. Bush
death
36
Michael, M. Blane M. Blane Michael
WV
1943–2011
1993–2011
——
——
Clinton, Clinton
death
Chief judges [ edit ]
Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their circuits, and preside over any panel on which they serve unless the circuit justice (i.e., the Supreme Court justice responsible for the circuit) is also on the panel. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the circuit judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge. A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.
When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire on what has since 1958 been known as senior status or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.
Succession of seats [ edit ]
The court has fifteen seats for active judges, numbered in the order in which they were filled. Judges who retire into senior status remain on the bench but leave their seat vacant. That seat is filled by the next circuit judge appointed by the president .
Seat 4
Established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
Bryan
VA
1961–1972
Widener
VA
1972–2007
Keenan
VA
2010–present
Seat 5
Established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
Bell
NC
1961–1967
Butzner
VA
1967–1982
Wilkinson
VA
1984–present
Seat 6
Established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Winter
MD
1966–1990
Niemeyer
MD
1990–present
Seat 7
Established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Craven
NC
1966–1977
Phillips
NC
1978–1994
Wynn
NC
2010–present
Seat 8
Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Murnaghan
MD
1979–2000
Davis
MD
2009–2014
Harris
MD
2014–present
Seat 9
Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Sprouse
WV
1979–1992
Michael
WV
1993–2011
Thacker
WV
2012–present
Seat 10
Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Ervin
NC
1980–1999
Duncan
NC
2003–present
Seat 11
Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
Sneeden
NC
1984–1986
Wilkins
SC
1986–2007
Diaz
NC
2010–present
Seat 12
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Hamilton
SC
1991–1999
Shedd
SC
2002–present
Seat 13
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Luttig
VA
1991–2006
Agee
VA
2008–present
Seat 14
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Motz
MD
1994–present
Seat 15
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Gregory
VA
2000–present
Practice in the 4th Circuit [ edit ]
The Fourth is the most efficient circuit, taking an average of just over seven months to resolve each appeal. From 2000 to 2008, the Court had the highest rate of non-publication (92%) on the Federal Circuit.[5]
The Chief Justice is always assigned to the Fourth Circuit as the circuit advisory justice, due to Richmond's close proximity to Washington, D.C.
The Fourth Circuit is considered an extremely collegial court. By tradition, the Judges of the Fourth Circuit come down from the bench following each oral argument to greet the lawyers.[6]
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
External links [ edit ]