United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

Last updated
United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
(M.D. Ga.)
Location William Augustus Bootle Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse
(Macon)
More locations
Appeals to Eleventh Circuit
EstablishedMay 28, 1926
Judges4
Chief Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner
Officers of the court
U.S. Attorney William R. Kayes (acting)
U.S. Marshal Stephen D. Lynn
www.gamd.uscourts.gov

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia (in case citations, M.D. Ga.) is a United States district court which serves the residents of seventy counties from five divisions from its headquarters in Macon, Georgia.

Contents

Appeals from cases brought in the Middle District of Georgia are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

As of January 12,2025 the acting United States attorney is C. Shanelle Booker. [1]

History

The United States District Court for the District of Georgia was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, 1  Stat.   73, on September 24, 1789. [2] The District was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on August 11, 1848, by 9  Stat.   280. [2] [3] [4] The Middle District was formed from portions of those two Districts on May 28, 1926, by 44  Stat.   670. [2]

Jurisdiction

The Albany division serves: Baker, Ben Hill, Calhoun, Crisp, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Schley, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Turner, Webster, and Worth counties.

The Athens division hears cases from: Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Hart, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton counties.

The Columbus division includes: Chattahoochee, Clay, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Stewart, Talbot, and Taylor counties.

The Macon division serves: Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Butts, Crawford, Dooly, Hancock, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Macon, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, Upson, Washington, Wilcox and Wilkinson counties.

The Valdosta division hears cases for: Berrien, Brooks, Clinch, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Thomas, and Tift counties.

Current judges

As of June 1,2024:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
Active Chief Senior
14Chief Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner Albany 19742014–present2024–present— Obama
12District Judge Clay D. Land Columbus 19602001–present2014–2020— G.W. Bush
13District Judge Marc T. Treadwell Macon 19552010–present2020–2024— Obama
15District Judge Tripp Self Macon 19682018–present—— Trump
9Senior Judge W. Louis Sands Albany 19491994–20142001–20062014–present Clinton
11Senior Judge C. Ashley Royal Macon 19492001–20162008–20142016–present G.W. Bush

Former judges

#JudgeStateBorn–diedActive service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed byReason for
termination
1 William Josiah Tilson GA 1871–19491926–1927 [Note 1]
1927–1928 [Note 2] 		—— Coolidge not confirmed
resignation
2 Bascom Sine Deaver GA 1882–19441928–1944—— Coolidge death
3 Thomas Hoyt Davis GA 1892–19691945–19611949–19611961–1969 F. Roosevelt death
4 Abraham Benjamin Conger GA 1887–19531949–1953—— Truman death
5 William Augustus Bootle GA 1902–20051954–19721961–19721972–2005 Eisenhower death
6 J. Robert Elliott GA 1910–20061962–20001972–1980— Kennedy retirement
7 Wilbur Dawson Owens Jr. GA 1930–20101972–19951980–19951995–2010 Nixon death
8 Duross Fitzpatrick GA 1934–20081985–20011995–20012001–2008 Reagan death
10 Hugh Lawson GA 1941–20241995–20082006–20082008–2024 Clinton death
  1. ↑ Recess appointment; the United States Senate later rejected the appointment.
  2. ↑ Recess appointment; resigned prior to Senate consideration of the appointment.

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. ↑ "Meet the U.S. Attorney". January 12, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 U.S. District Courts of Georgia, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center .
  3. ↑ Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 390.
  4. ↑ Alfred Conkling, A Treatise on the Organization, Jurisdiction and Practice of the Courts of the United States (1864), p. 179.

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