United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia

Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...

, with appellate jurisdiction

Appellate jurisdiction

Appellate jurisdiction is the power of the Supreme Court to review decisions and change outcomes of decisions of lower courts. Most appellate jurisdiction is legislatively created, and may consist of appeals by leave of the appellate court or by right...

over the district courts

United States district court

The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...

in the following districts

United States federal judicial district

For purposes of the federal judicial system, Congress has divided the United States into judicial districts. There are 94 federal judicial districts, including at least one district in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico...

District of Maryland
United States District Court for the District of Maryland
The United States District Court for the District of Maryland is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Maryland....
Eastern District of North Carolina
United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina is the United States District Court that serves the eastern 44 counties in North Carolina. Appeals from the Eastern District of North Carolina are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The...
Middle District of North Carolina
United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina is a United States district court with jurisdiction over 24 counties in the center of North Carolina...
Western District of North Carolina
United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
The United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina is a Federal district court which covers the western third of North Carolina....
District of South Carolina
United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
The United States District Court for the District of South Carolina is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of South Carolina...
Eastern District of Virginia
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of two United States district courts serving the Commonwealth of Virginia...
Western District of Virginia
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia is a United States district court.Appeals from the Western District of Virginia are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (in...
Northern District of West Virginia
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W.Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit The United States District Court...
Southern District of West Virginia
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia is a trial-level federal court. Decisions from the Court may be appealed to the Fourth Circuit Fourth Circuit, except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to...

The court is based at the Lewis F. Powell, Jr.

Lewis Franklin Powell, Jr.

Lewis Franklin Powell, Jr. was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He developed a reputation as a judicial moderate, and was known as a master of compromise and consensus-building. He was also widely well regarded by contemporaries due to his personal good manners and...

U.S. Courthouse in Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia

. With 15 authorized judgeships (currently there are 14 active judges, one senior judge who continues to hear cases part-time, and two retired judges who no longer hear cases) it is mid-sized among the 13 United States courts of appeals

United States court of appeals

The United States courts of appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system...

Active

As of October 3, 2011, the active judges on the court are as follows (chief judge in bold):

#	Judge	Duty station	Born	Appointed	Chief	Appointed by
38	William Byrd Traxler, Jr. William Byrd Traxler, Jr. William Byrd Traxler, Jr. is an American jurist who currently serves as the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.-Early life and education :...	Greenville, SC Greenville, South Carolina -Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...	1948	1998	2009–	Clinton
29	J. Harvie Wilkinson III	Charlottesville, VA Charlottesville, Virginia Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...	1944	1984	1996–2003	Reagan
32	Paul V. Niemeyer Paul V. Niemeyer Paul Victor Niemeyer is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.- Biography :Niemeyer was born in Princeton, New Jersey. He attended Kenyon College , where he played on the school's . He then studied at the University of Munich, before pursuing his legal...	Baltimore, MD	1941	1990	——	G.H.W. Bush
37	Diana Gribbon Motz Diana Gribbon Motz Diana Jane Gribbon Motz is a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.- Early life and education :...	Baltimore, MD	1943	1994	——	Clinton
39	Robert Bruce King Robert Bruce King Robert Bruce King is a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.- Early life and education :Born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, King earned a bachelor's degree from West Virginia University in 1961 and a law degree from West Virginia University in 1968.-...	Charleston, WV Charleston, West Virginia Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...	1940	1998	——	Clinton
40	Roger Gregory Roger Gregory Roger L. Gregory is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.- Background :Gregory was born in Philadelphia but grew up in Petersburg, Virginia. He earned his B.A. degree summa cum laude from Virginia State University in 1975 and his law degree from the...	Richmond, VA Richmond, Virginia Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...	1953	2000	——	Clinton/ G.W. Bush
41	Dennis Shedd Dennis Shedd Dennis Wayne Shedd is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.- Background :...	Columbia, SC Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...	1953	2002	——	G.W. Bush
42	Allyson Kay Duncan Allyson Kay Duncan Allyson Kay Duncan is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She is the Fourth Circuit's first female African American judge.- Background :...	Raleigh, NC Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...	1951	2003	——	G.W. Bush
43	G. Steven Agee G. Steven Agee George Steven Agee is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia.- Background :...	Salem, VA	1952	2008	——	G.W. Bush
44	Andre M. Davis Andre M. Davis Andre Maurice Davis is a jurist on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He previously was a federal district judge, and was nominated first for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit by President Bill Clinton in 2000...	Baltimore, MD	1949	2009	——	Obama
45	Barbara Milano Keenan Barbara Milano Keenan Barbara Milano Keenan is a judge on United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and a former justice on the Supreme Court of Virginia.- Early life and education :...	Alexandria, VA Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...	1950	2010	——	Obama
46	James A. Wynn	Raleigh, NC Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...	1954	2010	——	Obama
47	Albert Diaz Albert Diaz (judge) Albert Diaz is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Diaz is the first Hispanic judge to serve the Fourth Circuit. Prior to his appointment to the U.S...	Charlotte, NC Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...	1960	2010	——	Obama
48	Henry Franklin Floyd Henry Franklin Floyd Henry Franklin Floyd is a United States Circuit Judge, currently serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.- Early life and education :...	Pickens, SC Pickens, South Carolina Pickens, formerly called Pickens Courthouse, is a city in Pickens County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,012 at the 2000 census, at which time it was listed as a town; the change to a city was made in 1998, but not reported to the Census Bureau until 2001. It is the county seat...	1947	2011	——	Obama
Vacant (seat 9) (formerly held by Michael M. Blane Michael Martin Blane Michael was a Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He was nominated by President Bill Clinton on August 6, 1993, to a seat vacated by James Marshall Sprouse... )

Vacancies and pending nominations

Seat	Prior incumbent	Vacancy reason	Date of vacancy	Nominee	Date of nomination
9	M. Blane Michael M. Blane Michael Martin Blane Michael was a Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He was nominated by President Bill Clinton on August 6, 1993, to a seat vacated by James Marshall Sprouse...	Death	March 25, 2011	Stephanie Thacker Stephanie Thacker Stephanie Dawn Thacker, born , is a West Virginia lawyer and a current federal judicial nominee to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.- Early life and education :...	September 8, 2011

Senior

One former circuit judge continues to hear cases on senior status

Senior status

Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...

#	Judge	Duty station	Born	Active service	Chief	Senior Senior status Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status... since	Appointed by
24	James Dickson Phillips, Jr. James Dickson Phillips, Jr. James Dickson Phillips, Jr. is a senior federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.-Early life and education:...	(inactive)	1922	1978–1994	——	1994	Carter
28	Robert Foster Chapman Robert Foster Chapman Robert Foster Chapman was a United States federal judge.Born in Inman, South Carolina, Chapman was an Ensign in the United States Navy during World War II, from 1943 to 1946. He received a B.S. from University of South Carolina in 1945, and an LL.B. from University of South Carolina Law School in...	(inactive)	1926	1981–1991	——	1991	Reagan
33	Clyde H. Hamilton Clyde H. Hamilton Clyde H. Hamilton is a United States federal judge.Born in Edgefield, South Carolina, Hamilton received a B.S. from Wofford College in 1956 and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School in 1961. He was in the United States Army Reserve Captain from 1956 to 1958. He was in private...	Columbia, SC Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...	1934	1991–1999	——	1999	G.H.W. Bush

List of former judges

Thirty judges used to serve on the court, but no longer do:

#	State	Born/Died	Active	Chief	Senior Senior status Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...	Reason for termination
1	MD Maryland Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...	1828–1893	1891–1893	——	——	death
2	WV West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...	1843–1920	1892–1913	——	——	resignation
3	SC South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...	1829–1904	1893–1904	——	——	death
4	NC North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte... /DC Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....	1857–1921	1904–1921	——	——	death
5	SC South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...	1852–1925	1913–1925	——	——	death
6	VA Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...	1855–1931	1921–1931	——	——	death
7	MD Maryland Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...	1861–1927	1922–1927	——	——	death
8	NC North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...	1885–1958	1925–1958	1948–1958	——	death
9	WV West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...	1869–1946	1927–1939	——	1939–1946	death
10	MD Maryland Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...	1873–1963	1931–1955	——	1955–1963	death
11	VA Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...	1881–1962	1939–1956	——	1956–1962	death
12	MD Maryland Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...	1894–1973	1956–1970	1958–1964	1970–1973	death
13	SC South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...	1912–1989	1957–1981	1964–1981	1981–1989	death
14	WV West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...	1897–1982	1959–1971	——	1971–1982	death
15	VA Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...	1899–1984	1961–1972	——	1972–1984	death
16	NC North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...	1906–1967	1961–1967	——	——	death
17	MD Maryland Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...	1921–1990	1966–1990	1981–1989	1990–1990	death
18	NC North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...	1918–1977	1966–1977	——	——	death
19	VA Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...	1917–2006	1967–1982	——	1982–2006	death
20	SC South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...	1906–1998	1971–1998	——	——	death
21	WV West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...	1910–1995	1971–1976	——	1976–1995	death
22	VA Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...	1923–2007	1972–2007	——	2007	death
23	WV West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...	1918–1999	1976–1998	——	1998–1999	death
25	MD Maryland Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...	1920–2000	1979–2000	——	——	death
26	WV West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...	1923–2004	1979–1992	——	1992–1995	retirement
27	NC North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...	1926–1999	1980–1999	1989–1996	——	death
30	DC Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....	1927–1987	1984–1986	——	——	resignation
31	SC South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...	1942–	1986–2007	2003–2007	2007–2008	retirement
34	VA Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...	1954–	1991–2006	——	——	resignation
35	SC South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...	1951–	1992–2009	2007–2009	——	retirement
36	WV West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...	1943–2011	1993–2011	——	——	death

Chief judges

class=wikitable>	Chief Judge
Parker John J. Parker John Johnston Parker was a U.S. judge who failed confirmation to the Supreme Court by one vote. He was also the U.S. alternate judge at the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi war criminals and later served on the United Nations' International Law Commission.John J. Parker was born in Monroe, North Carolina,...	1948–1958
Sobeloff	1958–1964
Haynsworth Clement Haynsworth Clement Furman Haynsworth, Jr. was a United States judge and an unsuccessful nominee for the United States Supreme Court....	1964–1981
Winter Harrison Lee Winter Harrison Lee Winter was a United States federal judge.Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Winter received an A.B. from Johns Hopkins University in 1942 and an LL.B. from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1944. He was in private practice in Baltimore, Maryland from 1945 to 1959...	1981–1989
Ervin Samuel James Ervin III Samuel James Ervin III was a United States federal judge and the son of U.S. Senator Sam Ervin.Ervin was born in Morganton, North Carolina. He received a B.S. from Davidson College in 1948 and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1951. He served in the United States Army from 1944 to 1946 and from...	1989–1996
Wilkinson	1996–2003
Wilkins William Walter Wilkins William Walter Wilkins is a former United States federal judge.Born in Anderson, South Carolina, Wilkins received a B.A. from Davidson College in 1964 and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1967. He served on active duty for two years, in active reserves, and the South...	2003–2007
Williams Karen J. Williams Karen J. Williams was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, appointed in 1992 and serving as its Chief Judge from 2007 until her retirement in 2009. Williams was mentioned as a potential nominee to the United States Supreme Court during the administration of George W...	2007–2009
Traxler William Byrd Traxler, Jr. William Byrd Traxler, Jr. is an American jurist who currently serves as the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.-Early life and education :...	2009–

Succession of seats

border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2>	Seat 1
Established on December 10, 1869 by the Judiciary Act of 1869 Judiciary Act of 1869 The Judiciary Act of 1869 , also called the Circuit Judges Act of 1869, was a United States statute that made two important reforms of the federal judiciary.... as a circuit judgeship United States circuit court The United States circuit courts were the original intermediate level courts of the United States federal court system. They were established by the Judiciary Act of 1789. They had trial court jurisdiction over civil suits of diversity jurisdiction and major federal crimes. They also had appellate... for the Fourth Circuit
Reassigned on June 16, 1891 to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit by the Judiciary Act of 1891 Judiciary Act of 1891 The Judiciary Act of 1891 , also known as the Evarts Act after its primary sponsor, Senator William M. Evarts, created the United States courts of appeals, and reassigned the jurisdiction of most routine appeals from the district and circuit courts to these appellate courts...
Bond	MD	1891–1893
Simonton	SC	1893–1904
Pritchard	DC	1904–1921
Waddill	VA	1921–1931
Soper	MD	1931–1955
Sobeloff	MD	1956–1970
Russell	SC	1971–1998
Traxler	SC	1998–

border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2> Seat 2 Established on June 16, 1891 by the Judiciary Act of 1891

Judiciary Act of 1891

The Judiciary Act of 1891 , also known as the Evarts Act after its primary sponsor, Senator William M. Evarts, created the United States courts of appeals, and reassigned the jurisdiction of most routine appeals from the district and circuit courts to these appellate courts...

Goff WV 1892–1913 Woods SC 1913–1925 Parker NC 1925–1958 Boreman WV 1959–1971 Field WV 1971–1976 Hall WV 1976–1998 King WV 1998– border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2> Seat 3 Established on September 14, 1922 by 42 Stat. 837 Rose MD 1922–1927 Northcott WV 1927–1939 Dobie VA 1939–1956 Haynsworth SC 1957–1981 Chapman SC 1981–1991 Williams SC 1992–2009 Floyd SC 2011– border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2> Seat 4 Established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80 Bryan VA 1961–1972 Widener VA 1972–2007 Keenan VA 2010–

border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2>	Seat 5
Established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
Bell	NC	1961–1967
Butzner	VA	1967–1982
Wilkinson	VA	1984–

border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2> Seat 6 Established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75 Winter MD 1966–1990 Niemeyer MD 1990– border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2> Seat 7 Established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75 Craven NC 1966–1977 Phillips NC 1978–1994 Wynn NC 2010– border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2> Seat 8 Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 Murnaghan MD 1979–2000 Davis MD 2009–

border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2>	Seat 9
Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Sprouse	WV	1979–1992
Michael	WV	1993–2011
Vacant		2011–

border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2> Seat 10 Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 Ervin NC 1980–1999 Duncan NC 2003– border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2> Seat 11 Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333 Sneeden DC 1984–1986 Wilkins SC 1986–2007 Diaz NC 2010– border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2> Seat 12 Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 Hamilton SC 1991–1999 Shedd SC 2002–

border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2>	Seat 13
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Luttig	VA	1991–2006
Agee	VA	2008–

border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2> Seat 14 Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 Motz MD 1994– border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2> Seat 15 Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 Gregory VA 2000–

Practice in the 4th Circuit

The Fourth is the most efficient circuit, taking an average of just over seven months to resolve each appeal.

The Chief Justice

Chief Justice of the United States

The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...

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

Oral argument

Oral arguments are spoken presentations to a judge or appellate court by a lawyer of the legal reasons why they should prevail. Oral argument at the appellate level accompanies written briefs, which also advance the argument of each party in the legal dispute...

to greet the lawyers.

External links

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