United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Last updated

United States District Court for the District of Columbia
(D.D.C.)
Seal of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.png
DC locator map with state names w usmap.png
Location of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Location E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse
Appeals to District of Columbia Circuit
EstablishedMarch 3, 1863
Judges15
Chief Judge James Boasberg
Officers of the court
U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves
U.S. Marshal Lamont Ruffin (acting)
www.dcd.uscourts.gov

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (in case citations, D.D.C.) is a federal district court in Washington, D.C. Along with the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii and the High Court of American Samoa, it also sometimes handles federal issues that arise in the territory of American Samoa, which has no local federal court or territorial court. [1]

Contents

Appeals from the District Court are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit.

The current United States Attorney for the District of Columbia is Matthew M. Graves, who was sworn into office on November 5, 2021. [2]

History

E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse at 333 Constitution Avenue, N.W. in Washington, D.C. E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse from NGA East Building.jpg
E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse at 333 Constitution Avenue, N.W. in Washington, D.C.

The court was established by Congress in 1863 as the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, replacing the abolished circuit and district courts of the District of Columbia that had been in place since 1801. The court consisted of four justices, including a chief justice, and was granted the same powers and jurisdiction as the earlier circuit court. Any of the justices could convene a United States circuit court or a local criminal court. In 1936, Congress renamed the court the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia. Its current name was adopted in 1948, and from then on justices were known as judges. [3]

Originally housed in the former District of Columbia City Hall, the court now sits in the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse located at 333 Constitution Avenue, N.W., in Washington, D.C. The District has no local district attorney or equivalent, and so local prosecutorial matters also fall into the jurisdiction of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. Assistant United States attorneys (AUSAs) are tasked with prosecution of not only federal crimes but also crimes that would normally be left to the state prosecutor's discretion. The District Court has the largest U.S. Attorney's Office in the nation, with around 250 assistant U.S. attorneys.

Current judges

As of October 10,2024:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
Active Chief Senior
98Chief Judge James Boasberg Washington, D.C. 19632011–present2023–present Obama
100District Judge Rudolph Contreras Washington, D.C. 19622012–present Obama
102District Judge Christopher R. Cooper Washington, D.C. 19662014–present Obama
103District Judge Tanya Chutkan Washington, D.C. 19622014–present Obama
104District Judge Randolph Moss Washington, D.C. 19612014–present Obama
105District Judge Amit Mehta Washington, D.C. 19712014–present Obama
106District Judge Timothy J. Kelly Washington, D.C. 19692017–present Trump
107District Judge Trevor N. McFadden Washington, D.C. 19782017–present Trump
108District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich Washington, D.C. 19672017–present Trump
109District Judge Carl J. Nichols Washington, D.C. 19702019–present Trump
111District Judge Jia M. Cobb Washington, D.C. 19802021–present Biden
112District Judge Ana C. Reyes Washington, D.C. 19742023–present Biden
113District Judge Loren AliKhan Washington, D.C. 19832023–present Biden
114District Judgevacant Washington, D.C.
115District Judgevacant Washington, D.C.
77Senior Judge Thomas F. Hogan inactive19381982–20082001–20082008–present Reagan
81Senior Judge Royce Lamberth Washington, D.C.
San Antonio, Texas [Note 1]
19431987–20132008–20132013–present Reagan
83Senior Judge Paul L. Friedman Washington, D.C. 19441994–20092009–present Clinton
85Senior Judge Emmet G. Sullivan Washington, D.C. 19471994–20212021–present Clinton
88Senior Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly Washington, D.C. 19431997–20232023–present Clinton
89Senior Judge Henry H. Kennedy Jr. inactive19481997–20112011–present Clinton
90Senior Judge Richard W. Roberts inactive19531998–20162013–20162016–present Clinton
91Senior Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle inactive19481999–20142014–present Clinton
92Senior Judge Reggie Walton Washington, D.C. 19492001–20152015–present G.W. Bush
93Senior Judge John D. Bates Washington, D.C. 19462001–20142014–present G.W. Bush
94Senior Judge Richard J. Leon Washington, D.C. 19492002–20162016–present G.W. Bush
95Senior Judge Rosemary M. Collyer inactive19452002–20162016–present G.W. Bush
96Senior Judge Beryl Howell Washington, D.C. 19562010–20242016–20232024–present Obama
99Senior Judge Amy Berman Jackson Washington, D.C. 19542011–20232023–present Obama
  1. Judge Lamberth has sat with the Western District of Texas for several months each year since 2015.

Vacancies and pending nominations

SeatPrior judge's duty stationSeat last held byVacancy reasonDate of vacancyNomineeDate of nomination
14 Washington, D.C. Florence Y. Pan ElevationSeptember 28, 2022 Sparkle L. Sooknanan February 27, 2024
12 Beryl Howell Senior status February 1, 2024 Amir Ali February 1, 2024

Former judges

#JudgeStateBorn–diedActive service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed byReason for
termination
1 David Kellogg Cartter DC 1812–18871863–18871863–1887 Lincoln death
2 George P. Fisher DC 1817–18991863–1870 Lincoln resignation
3 Abram B. Olin DC 1808–18791863–1879 Lincoln retirement
4 Andrew Wylie DC 1814–19051863 [Note 1]
1863–1885 [Note 2]
Lincoln
Lincoln
confirmation reconsidered
retirement
5 David Campbell Humphreys DC 1817–18791870–1879 Grant death
6 Arthur MacArthur Sr. DC 1815–18961870–1887 Grant retirement
7 Alexander Burton Hagner DC 1826–19151879–1903 Hayes retirement
8 Walter Smith Cox DC 1826–19021879–1899 Hayes retirement
9 Charles Pinckney James DC 1818–18991879–1892 [Note 3] Hayes retirement
10 William Matthews Merrick DC 1818–18891885–1889 [Note 4] Cleveland death
11 Martin V. Montgomery DC 1840–18981887–1892 [Note 5] Cleveland resignation
12 Edward Franklin Bingham DC 1828–19071887–1903 [Note 6] 1887–1903 Cleveland retirement
13 Andrew Coyle Bradley DC 1844–19021889–1902 B. Harrison death
14 Louis E. McComas DC 1846–19071892–1899 [Note 7] B. Harrison resignation
15 Charles Cleaves Cole DC 1841–19051893–1901 B. Harrison resignation
16 Harry M. Clabaugh DC 1856–19141899–1903 McKinley appointment as chief justice
16.1 Harry M. Clabaugh DC 1856–19141903–1914 [Note 8] 1903–1914 T. Roosevelt death
17 Job Barnard DC 1844–19231899–1914 [Note 9] McKinley retirement
18 Thomas H. Anderson DC 1848–19161901–1916 [Note 10] McKinley [Note 11]
T. Roosevelt [Note 12]
death
19 Ashley Mulgrave Gould DC 1859–19211902–1921 T. Roosevelt death
20 Jeter Connelly Pritchard DC 1857–19211903–1904 T. Roosevelt elevation to 4th Cir.
21 Daniel Thew Wright DC 1864–19431903–1914 T. Roosevelt resignation
22 Wendell Phillips Stafford DC 1861–19531904–1931 [Note 13] T. Roosevelt retirement
23 J. Harry Covington DC 1870–19421914–19181914–1918 Wilson resignation
24 Walter I. McCoy DC 1859–19331914–1918 Wilson appointment as chief justice
24.1 Walter I. McCoy DC 1859–19331918–19291918–1929 Wilson retirement
25 Frederick Lincoln Siddons DC 1864–19311915–1931 Wilson death
26 William Hitz DC 1872–19351916–1931 [Note 14] Wilson elevation to D.C. Cir.
27 Thomas Jennings Bailey DC 1867–19631918–19501950–1963 Wilson death
28 Adolph A. Hoehling Jr. DC 1868–19411921–1927 Harding resignation
29 Peyton Gordon DC 1870–19461928–19411941–1946 Coolidge death
30 Alfred Adams Wheat DC 1867–19431929–1930 Hoover appointment as chief justice
30.1 Alfred Adams Wheat DC 1867–19431930–19411930–19411941–1943 Hoover death
31 Jesse Corcoran Adkins DC 1879–19551930–19461946–1955 Hoover death
32 Oscar Raymond Luhring DC 1879–19441930–1944 Hoover death
33 Joseph Winston Cox DC 1875–19391930–1939 Hoover death
34 James McPherson Proctor DC 1882–19531931–1948 Hoover elevation to D.C. Cir.
35 F. Dickinson Letts DC 1875–19651931–1961 [Note 15] 1958–19591961–1965 Hoover death
36 Daniel William O'Donoghue DC 1876–19481931–1946 [Note 16] 1946–1948 Hoover death
37 Bolitha James Laws DC 1891–19581938–1945 F. Roosevelt appointment as chief justice
37.1 Bolitha James Laws DC 1891–19581945–19481945–1948 F. Roosevelt appointment as district judge
37.2 Bolitha James Laws DC 1891–19581948–19581948–1958 operation of law death
38 Thomas Alan Goldsborough DC 1877–19511939–1951 F. Roosevelt death
39 James Ward Morris DC 1890–19601939–1960 F. Roosevelt death
40 David Andrew Pine DC 1891–19701940–19651959–19611965–1970 F. Roosevelt death
41 Matthew Francis McGuire DC 1898–19861941–19661961–19661966–1986 F. Roosevelt death
42 Edward C. Eicher DC 1878–19441942–19441942–1944 F. Roosevelt death
43 Henry Albert Schweinhaut DC 1902–19701944–19561956–1970 F. Roosevelt death
44 Alexander Holtzoff DC 1886–19691945–19671967–1969 Truman death
45 Richmond Bowling Keech DC 1896–19861946–1966 [Note 17] 19661966–1986 Truman death
46 Edward Matthew Curran DC 1903–19881946–1971 [Note 18] 1966–19711971–1988 Truman death
47 Edward Allen Tamm DC 1906–19851948–1965 [Note 19] Truman elevation to D.C. Cir.
48 James Robert Kirkland DC 1903–19581949–1958 [Note 20] Truman death
49 Burnita Shelton Matthews DC 1894–19881949–1968 [Note 21] 1968–1988 Truman death
50 Charles F. McLaughlin DC 1887–19761949–1964 [Note 22] 1964–1976 Truman death
51 Walter M. Bastian DC 1891–19751950–1954 [Note 23] Truman elevation to D.C. Cir.
52 Luther Youngdahl DC 1896–19781951–19661966–1978 Truman death
53 Joseph Charles McGarraghy DC 1897–19751954–19671967–1975 Eisenhower death
54 John Sirica DC 1904–19921957–19771971–19741977–1992 Eisenhower death
55 George Luzerne Hart Jr. DC 1905–19841958–1979 [Note 24] 1974–19751979–1984 Eisenhower death
56 Leonard Patrick Walsh DC 1904–19801959–19711971–1980 Eisenhower death
57 William Blakely Jones DC 1907–19791962–19771975–19771977–1979 Kennedy death
58 Spottswood William Robinson III DC 1916–19981964–1966 [Note 25] L. Johnson elevation to D.C. Cir.
59 Howard Francis Corcoran DC 1906–19891965–19771977–1989 L. Johnson death
60 William B. Bryant DC 1911–20051965–19821977–19811982–2005 L. Johnson death
61 Oliver Gasch DC 1906–19991965–19811981–1999 L. Johnson death
62 John Lewis Smith Jr. DC 1912–19921966–19831981–19821983–1992 L. Johnson death
63 Aubrey Eugene Robinson Jr. DC 1922–20001966–19921982–19921992–2000 L. Johnson death
64 Joseph Cornelius Waddy DC 1911–19781967–1978 L. Johnson death
65 Gerhard Gesell DC 1910–19931967–19931993–1993 L. Johnson death
66 June Lazenby Green DC 1914–20011968–19841984–2001 L. Johnson death
67 John H. Pratt DC 1910–19951968–19891989–1995 L. Johnson death
68 Barrington D. Parker DC 1915–19931969–19851985–1993 Nixon death
69 Charles Robert Richey DC 1923–19971971–19971997–1997 Nixon death
70 Thomas Aquinas Flannery DC 1918–20071971–19851985–2007 Nixon death
71 Louis F. Oberdorfer DC 1919–20131977–19921992–2013 Carter death
72 Harold H. Greene DC 1923–20001978–19951995–2000 Carter death
73 John Garrett Penn DC 1932–20071979–19981992–19971998–2007 Carter death
74 Joyce Hens Green DC 1928–20241979–19951995–2024 Carter death
75 Norma Holloway Johnson DC 1932–20111980–20011997–20012001–2003 Carter retirement
76 Thomas Penfield Jackson DC 1937–20131982–20022002–2004 Reagan retirement
78 Stanley S. Harris MD 1927–20211983–19961996–2001 Reagan retirement
79 George Hughes Revercomb VA 1929–19931985–1993 Reagan death
80 Stanley Sporkin MD 1932–20201985–19991999–2000 Reagan retirement
82 Michael Boudin DC 1939–present1990–1992 G. H. W. Bush resignation
84 Gladys Kessler DC 1938–20231994–20072007–2023 Clinton death
86 Ricardo M. Urbina DC 1946–20241994–20112011–2012 Clinton retirement
87 James Robertson DC 1938–20191994–20082008–2010 Clinton retirement
97 Robert L. Wilkins DC 1963–present2010–2014
Obama elevation to D.C. Cir.
101 Ketanji Brown Jackson DC 1970–present2013–2021 Obama elevation to D.C. Cir.
110 Florence Y. Pan DC 1966–present2021–2022 Biden elevation to D.C. Cir.
  1. Confirmed by the United States Senate on March 12, 1863; confirmation was reconsidered on March 13, 1863, with no subsequent vote; his nomination expired March 14, 1863.
  2. Recess appointment; formally nominated January 5, 1864; confirmed by the Senate on January 20 and received commission the same day.
  3. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 1, 1879, confirmed by the Senate December 10, 1879, and received commission the same day.
  4. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 14, 1885, confirmed by the Senate March 15, 1856, and received commission the same day.
  5. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 20, 1887, confirmed by the Senate January 26, 1888, and received commission the same day.
  6. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 20, 1887, confirmed by the Senate January 23, 1888, and received commission the same day.
  7. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 6, 1892, confirmed by the Senate January 25, 1893, and received commission the same day.
  8. Recess appointment; formally nominated on November 10, 1903, confirmed by the Senate November 16, 1903, and received commission the same day.
  9. Recess appointment; formally nominated December 11, 1899, confirmed by the Senate December 19, 1899, and received commission the same day.
  10. Recess appointment; formally nominated December 5, 1901, confirmed by the Senate February 4, 1902, and received commission February 6, 1902.
  11. Judge Anderson was given a recess appointment by President McKinley.
  12. Judge Anderson was nominated by President McKinley but was appointed to the Court by (i.e., received his commission from) President Roosevelt.
  13. Recess appointment; formally nominated December 6, 1904, confirmed by the Senate December 13, 1904, and received commission the same day.
  14. Recess appointment; formally nominated December 15, 1916, confirmed by the Senate January 2, 1917, and received commission the same day.
  15. Recess appointment; formally nominated December 15, 1931, confirmed by the Senate February 17, 1932, and received commission February 20, 1932.
  16. Recess appointment; formally nominated December 15, 1931, confirmed by the Senate January 26, 1932, and received commission February 23, 1932.
  17. Recess appointment; formally nominated January 8, 1947, confirmed by the Senate January 22, 1947, and received commission January 24, 1947.
  18. Recess appointment; formally nominated January 8, 1947, confirmed by the Senate February 3, 1947, and received commission February 5, 1947.
  19. Recess appointment; formally nominated January 13, 1949, confirmed by the Senate March 29, 1949, and received commission April 1, 1949.
  20. Recess appointment; formally nominated January 5, 1950, confirmed by the Senate March 8, 1950, and received commission March 9, 1950.
  21. Recess appointment; formally nominated January 5, 1950, confirmed by the Senate April 4, 1950, and received commission April 7, 1950.
  22. Recess appointment; formally nominated January 5, 1950, confirmed by the Senate February 27, 1950, and received commission March 1, 1950.
  23. Recess appointment; formally nominated November 27, 1950, confirmed by the Senate December 14, 1950, and received commission December 22, 1950.
  24. Recess appointment; formally nominated January 17, 1959, confirmed by the Senate September 9, 1959, and received commission September 10, 1959.
  25. Recess appointment; formally nominated February 3, 1964, confirmed by the Senate July 1, 1964, and received commission July 2, 1964.

Chief judges

Chief
as Chief Justice
Cartter 1863–1887
Bingham 1887–1903
Clabaugh 1903–1914
Covington 1914–1918
McCoy 1918–1929
Wheat 1930–1941
Eicher 1942–1944
Laws 1945–1948
as Chief Judge
Laws 1948–1958
Letts 1958–1959
Pine 1959–1961
McGuire 1961–1966
Keech 1966
Curran 1966–1971
Sirica 1971–1974
Hart 1974–1975
Jones 1975–1977
Bryant 1977–1981
Smith 1981–1982
A. Robinson 1982–1992
Penn 1992–1997
Johnson 1997–2001
Hogan 2001–2008
Lamberth 2008–2013
Roberts 2013–2016
Howell 2016–2023
Boasberg 2023–present

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court 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 or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

List of U.S. Attorneys

See also

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References

  1. https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-08-1124T U.S. Government Accountability Office. AMERICAN SAMOA: Issues Associated with Some Federal Court Options. September 18, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  2. "Matthew M. Graves Takes Office as United States Attorney". www.justice.gov. November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  3. "U.S. District Courts for the District of Columbia and the District of Potomac: Legislative History - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  4. "Press Releases - pr_06-11-13 - Supreme Court of the United States". www.supremecourt.gov. June 11, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  5. "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate". whitehouse.gov (Press release). December 19, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016 via National Archives.
  6. "Bates, John D. | Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  7. "Press Releases - pr_11-04-14 - Supreme Court of the United States". www.supremecourt.gov. November 4, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2024.