United States District Court for the District of Maryland

Last updated

United States District Court for the District of Maryland
(D. Md.)
DistrictCourtMarylandSeal.png
Maryland Locator Map.PNG
Location Edward A. Garmatz U.S. Courthouse
More locations
Appeals to Fourth Circuit
EstablishedSeptember 24, 1789
Judges10
Chief Judge George L. Russell III
Officers of the court
U.S. Attorney Erek Barron
U.S. Marshal Johnny L. Hughes
www.mdd.uscourts.gov

The United States District Court for the District of Maryland (in case citations, D. Md.) is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Maryland. Appeals from the District of Maryland are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

Contents

Notable past judges of this district include William Paca, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. The United States Attorney for the District of Maryland represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. As of October 7,2021, the U.S. attorney is Erek Barron. [1]

Organization of the court

View of U.S. District Court for Maryland, Northern Division, in Baltimore, Maryland. US District Court Maryland Northern Division Baltimore.jpg
View of U.S. District Court for Maryland, Northern Division, in Baltimore, Maryland.

Under 28 U.S.C.   § 100, Maryland consists of a single federal judicial district with two statutory divisions.

Northern Division

The Northern Division includes Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, Worcester counties and the City of Baltimore, is located in Baltimore, while the statute also provides for the court to sit in Cumberland and Denton. The Court also maintains an unstaffed location in Salisbury, Maryland. [2]

Southern Division

View of U.S. District Court for Maryland, Southern Division, in Greenbelt, Maryland. US District Court Maryland Southern Division Greenbelt.jpg
View of U.S. District Court for Maryland, Southern Division, in Greenbelt, Maryland.

The Southern Division includes Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's, and St. Mary's counties and sits in Greenbelt.

Current judges

As of September 12,2024:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
Active Chief Senior
45Chief Judge George L. Russell III Baltimore 19652012–present2024–present Obama
47District Judge Theodore D. Chuang Greenbelt 19692014–present Obama
49District Judge Paula Xinis Greenbelt 19682016–present Obama
50District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher Baltimore 19722019–present Trump
51District Judge Deborah Boardman Greenbelt 19742021–present Biden
52District Judge Lydia Griggsby Greenbelt 19682021–present Biden
53District Judge Julie Rubin Baltimore 19722022–present Biden
54District Judge Brendan A. Hurson Baltimore 19772023–present Biden
55District Judge Matthew J. Maddox Baltimore 19772023–present Biden
56District Judge Adam B. Abelson Baltimore 19822024–present Biden
33Senior Judge William M. Nickerson inactive19331990–20022002–present G.H.W. Bush
35Senior Judge Deborah K. Chasanow Greenbelt 19481993–20142010–20142014–present Clinton
36Senior Judge Peter J. Messitte Greenbelt 19411993–20082008–present Clinton
38Senior Judge Catherine C. Blake Baltimore 19501995–20212014–20172021–present Clinton
41Senior Judge Richard D. Bennett Baltimore 19472003–20212021–present G.W. Bush
43Senior Judge James K. Bredar Baltimore 19572010–20242017–20242024–present Obama
44Senior Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander Baltimore 19492010–20222022–present Obama

Former judges

#JudgeStateBorn–diedActive service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed byReason for
termination
1 William Paca MD 1740–17991789–1799 [Note 1] Washington death
2 James Winchester MD 1772–18061799–1806 J. Adams death
3 James Houston MD 1767–18191806–1819 Jefferson death
4 Theodorick Bland MD 1776–18461819–1824 [Note 2] Monroe resignation
5 Elias Glenn MD 1769–18461824–1836 [Note 3] Monroe resignation
6 Upton Scott Heath MD 1784–18521836–1852 Jackson death
7 John Glenn MD 1795–18531852–1853 Fillmore death
8 William Fell Giles MD 1807–18791853–1879 [Note 4] Pierce death
9 Thomas John Morris MD 1837–19121879–1912 Hayes death
10 John Carter Rose MD 1861–19271910–1922 Taft elevation to 4th Cir.
11 Morris Ames Soper MD 1873–19631923–1931 Harding elevation to 4th Cir.
12 William Caldwell Coleman MD 1884–19681927–1955 [Note 5] 1948–1955 Coolidge resignation
13 William Calvin Chesnut MD 1873–19621931–1953 [Note 6] 1953–1962 Hoover death
14 Roszel Cathcart Thomsen MD 1900–19921954–19711955–19701971–1992 Eisenhower death
15 Robert Dorsey Watkins MD 1900–19861955–1971 [Note 7] 19701971–1986 Eisenhower death
16 Edward Skottowe Northrop MD 1911–20031961–19811970–19811981–2003 Kennedy death
17 Harrison Lee Winter MD 1921–19901961–1966 [Note 8] Kennedy elevation to 4th Cir.
18 Frank Albert Kaufman MD 1916–19971966–19861981–19861986–1997 L. Johnson death
19 Alexander Harvey II MD 1923–20171966–19911986–19911991–2017 L. Johnson death
20 James Rogers Miller Jr. MD 1931–20141970–1986 Nixon retirement
21 Charles Stanley Blair MD 1927–19801971–1980 Nixon death
22 Herbert Frazier Murray MD 1923–19991971–19881988–1999 Nixon death
23 Joseph H. Young MD 1922–20151971–19871987–2015 Nixon death
24 Joseph C. Howard Sr. MD 1922–20001979–19911991–2000 Carter death
25 Shirley Brannock Jones MD 1925–20191979–1982 Carter resignation
26 Norman Park Ramsey MD 1922–19931980–19911991–1992 Carter retirement
27 Walter Evan Black Jr. MD 1926–20141982–19941991–19941994–2014 Reagan death
28 John R. Hargrove Sr. MD 1923–19971984–19941994–1997 Reagan death
29 J. Frederick Motz MD 1942–20231985–20101994–20012010–2023 Reagan death
30 Frederic N. Smalkin MD 1946–present1986–20032001–20032003–2011 Reagan retirement
31 Paul V. Niemeyer MD 1941–present1988–1990 Reagan elevation to 4th Cir.
32 Marvin J. Garbis MD 1936–present1989–20032003–2018 G.H.W. Bush retirement
34 Benson Everett Legg MD 1947–present1991–20122003–20102012–2013 G.H.W. Bush retirement
37 Alexander Williams Jr. MD 1948–present1994–20132013–2014 Clinton retirement
39 Andre M. Davis MD 1949–present1995–2009 Clinton elevation to 4th Cir.
40 William D. Quarles Jr. MD 1948–present2003–2016 G.W. Bush retirement
42 Roger W. Titus MD 1941–20192003–20142014–2019 G.W. Bush death
46 Paul W. Grimm MD 1951–present2012–20222022 Obama retirement
48 George J. Hazel MD 1975–present2014–2023 Obama resignation
  1. Recess appointment; formally nominated on February 8, 1790, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 10, 1790, and received commission the same day.
  2. Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 3, 1820, confirmed by the Senate on January 5, 1820, and received commission the same day.
  3. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 16, 1824, confirmed by the Senate on January 3, 1825, and received commission the same day.
  4. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 19, 1853, confirmed by the Senate on January 11, 1854, and received commission the same day.
  5. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 6, 1927, confirmed by the Senate on December 19, 1927, and received commission the same day.
  6. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 15, 1931, confirmed by the Senate on January 12, 1932, and received commission the same day.
  7. Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 12, 1956, confirmed by the Senate on March 1, 1956, and received commission on March 2, 1956.
  8. Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 15, 1962, confirmed by the Senate on February 7, 1962, and received commission on February 17, 1962.

Chief judges

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

U.S. Attorneys

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Southern District of New York</span> United States federal district court

The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is a federal trial court whose geographic jurisdiction encompasses eight counties of the State of New York. Two of these are in New York City: New York (Manhattan) and Bronx; six are in the Hudson Valley: Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, and Sullivan. Appeals from the Southern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania</span> United States federal district court in Pennsylvania

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 federal judiciary districts created by the Judiciary Act of 1789. It originally sat in Independence Hall in Philadelphia as the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania, and is now located at the James Byrne Courthouse at 601 Market Street in Philadelphia. There are five Eastern District federal courtrooms in Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Lancaster, Allentown, Reading, and Easton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Northern District of New York</span> United States federal district court in New York (U.S. state)

The United States District Court for the Northern District of New York serves one of the 94 judicial districts in the United States and one of four in the state of New York. Appeals from the Northern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which has jurisdiction over the four districts of New York, the District of Connecticut and the District of Vermont. The U.S. attorney for the district is Carla B. Freedman since October 8, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama</span> Federal court of the 11th circuit

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama is a federal court in the Eleventh Circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the District of Minnesota</span> Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Minnesota

The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Minnesota. Its two primary courthouses are in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Cases are also heard in the federal courthouses in Duluth and Fergus Falls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the District of New Jersey</span> United States federal district court of New Jersey

The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey is a federal court in the Third Circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island</span> United States district court

The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Rhode Island. The District Court was created in 1790 when Rhode Island ratified the Constitution. The Federal Courthouse was built in 1908.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the District of South Dakota</span> United States federal district court of South Dakota

The United States District Court for the District of South Dakota is the United States District Court or the Federal district court, whose jurisdiction for issues pertaining to federal law or diversity for the state of South Dakota. The court is based in Sioux Falls with other courthouses in Rapid City, Pierre, and Aberdeen. The district was created in 1889, when the Dakota Territory was divided into North and South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia</span> United States federal district court in Virginia

The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia is a United States district court.

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia is a United States district court which serves the residents of forty-six counties. These are divided up into four divisions.

The U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland is the chief federal law enforcement officer for the State of Maryland. Since October 2021, the United States attorney for the District of Maryland is Erek Barron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio</span> United States federal district court in Ohio

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio is one of two United States district courts in Ohio and includes forty-eight of the state's eighty-eight counties—everything from the Columbus area southward. Appeals from the court are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit at Cincinnati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the District of Columbia</span> United States federal district court

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania</span> United States federal district court in Pennsylvania

The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania is a federal trial court that sits in Pittsburgh, Erie, and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is composed of ten judges as authorized by federal law. Appeals from this court are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma</span> United States federal district court in Oklahoma

The United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma is a federal court in the Tenth Circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrison Lee Winter</span> American judge

Harrison Lee Winter was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and previously was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

References

  1. "Erek L. Barron Sworn-In as the 49th United States Attorney for the District of Maryland" (Press release). Baltimore, Maryland: U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland. October 7, 2021. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  2. "Salisbury | District of Maryland | United States District Court". www.mdd.uscourts.gov. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  3. "The Political Graveyard: U.S. District Attorneys in Maryland". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  4. "Stephen M. Schenning, Acting U.S. Attorney (Maryland)". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  5. "Loucks named interim U.S. Attorney". Baltimore Business Journal. January 3, 2005. Retrieved May 4, 2024.

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from Former Maryland United States Attorneys. United States Government.

39°17′13″N76°37′2″W / 39.28694°N 76.61722°W / 39.28694; -76.61722