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
(Baltimore)
More locations
Appeals to Fourth Circuit
EstablishedSeptember 24, 1789
Judges10
Chief Judge George L. Russell III
Officers of the court
U.S. Attorney Phil Selden (acting)
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 a location in Salisbury, Maryland that is only staffed on days when court is in session. [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 January 11,2025:

#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 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 inactive19331990–2002—2002–present G.H.W. Bush
35Senior Judge Deborah K. Chasanow Greenbelt 19481993–20142010–20142014–present Clinton
38Senior Judge Catherine C. Blake Baltimore 19501995–20212014–20172021–present Clinton
41Senior Judge Richard D. Bennett Baltimore 19472003–2021—2021–present G.W. Bush
43Senior Judge James K. Bredar Baltimore 19572010–20242017–20242024–present Obama
44Senior Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander Baltimore 19492010–2022—2022–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 1923–19991971–1988—1988–1999 Nixon death
23 Joseph H. Young MD 1922–20151971–1987—1987–2015 Nixon death
24 Joseph C. Howard Sr. MD 1922–20001979–1991—1991–2000 Carter death
25 Shirley Brannock Jones MD 1925–20191979–1982—— Carter resignation
26 Norman Park Ramsey MD 1922–19931980–1991—1991–1992 Carter retirement
27 Walter Evan Black Jr. MD 1926–20141982–19941991–19941994–2014 Reagan death
28 John R. Hargrove Sr. MD 1923–19971984–1994—1994–1997 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–present1989–2003—2003–2018 G.H.W. Bush retirement
34 Benson Everett Legg MD 1947–present1991–20122003–20102012–2013 G.H.W. Bush retirement
36 Peter J. Messitte MD 1941–20251993-2008—2008-2025 Clinton death
37 Alexander Williams Jr. MD 1948–present1994–2013—2013–2014 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 1941–20192003–2014—2014–2019 G.W. Bush death
46 Paul W. Grimm MD 1951–present2012–2022—2022 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

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.

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