William Byrd Traxler Jr. | |
---|---|
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit | |
Assumed office August 31, 2018 | |
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit | |
In office July 8,2009 –July 8,2016 | |
Preceded by | Karen J. Williams |
Succeeded by | Roger Gregory |
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit | |
In office October 1,1998 –August 31,2018 | |
Appointed by | Bill Clinton |
Preceded by | Donald S. Russell |
Succeeded by | A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr. |
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina | |
In office March 2,1992 –October 21,1998 | |
Appointed by | George H. W. Bush |
Preceded by | Clyde H. Hamilton |
Succeeded by | Margaret B. Seymour |
Personal details | |
Born | Greenville,South Carolina | May 1,1948
Education | Davidson College (BA) University of South Carolina (JD) |
William Byrd Traxler Jr. (born May 1,1948) is an American jurist who currently serves as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Traxler was born in Greenville,South Carolina. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Davidson College in 1970 and his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1973. [1]
Traxler worked in the office of United States Army Reserve Adjutant General,from 1970 to 1978. He practiced private law in Greenville from 1973 to 1974 before working as a criminal prosecutor in the Office of the solicitor for South Carolina's 13th Judicial Circuit from 1975 to 1981.
From 1981 to 1985,he served as solicitor for the 13th Judicial Circuit,where he was the circuit's chief criminal prosecutor. In 1985,Traxler was elected by the General Assembly of South Carolina to be a state circuit court judge,where he served until becoming a federal judge in 1992. [1]
Traxler was nominated by President George H. W. Bush in 1991,to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina vacated by Clyde H. Hamilton. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 27,1992,and received his commission on March 2,1992. [1] His service terminated on October 21,1998,due to elevation to the court of appeals. [1]
Traxler presided over a significant First Amendment case,Hall vs. Marion School District 2. In 1993,Judge Traxler ruled in favor of the plaintiff in this important case. He ruled that defendant Mullins District 2 acted illegally in firing a teacher for exercising free speech in criticizing her superintendent and school board. The school district appealed the case to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals which affirmed. The case became one of the most important First Amendment cases to be decided by the 4th Circuit in over a decade. [Just Shut Up and Teach:First Amendment Under Fire chronicles the lawsuit.]
On July 10,1998,President Bill Clinton nominated Traxler to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to replace Judge Donald Stuart Russell,who had died on February 22,1998. The Senate confirmed Traxler by a voice vote on September 28,1998. He received his commission on October 1,1998. [1] On the retirement of Chief Judge Karen J. Williams in July 2009,Traxler became the Chief Judge of the 4th Circuit Court. [1] While he was serving as the chief judge,Traxler joined the Charleston School of Law as a distinguished visiting professor of law in 2009. [2] In February 2013,Chief Justice John Roberts named Traxler the chair of the executive committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States. [3] Traxler's term as the chief judge ended on July 8,2016,and he was succeeded by Judge Roger Gregory. [4] Traxler assumed senior status on August 31,2018. [1]
The United States District Court for the District of South Carolina is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of South Carolina. Court is held in the cities of Aiken,Anderson,Beaufort,Charleston,Columbia,Florence,Greenville,and Spartanburg.
James Andrew Wynn Jr. is an American jurist. He serves as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and formerly served on both the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Clement Furman Haynsworth Jr. was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He was also an unsuccessful nominee for the United States Supreme Court in 1969.
Alexander Campbell King was the 16th Solicitor General of the United States and a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. King was a founding partner of the international law firm of King &Spalding.
Jerry Edwin Smith is an American attorney and jurist serving as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Solomon "Sol" Blatt Jr. was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina and trustee of the University of South Carolina.
Robert Bruce King is a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Armistead Mason Dobie was a law professor,Dean of the University of Virginia School of Law,United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
Henry Franklin Floyd is a senior United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
James Robert Martin Jr. was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of South Carolina,the United States District Court for the Western District of South Carolina and later the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.
Martin Blane Michael was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
David Charles Norton is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.
William Walter "Billy" Wilkins Jr. is a former United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and a former United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.
The South Carolina Law Review is a student-edited law review that was established in 1937. It covers South Carolina law and commentary on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. It also publishes the winning essays from the Warren E. Burger Writing Competition,which is sponsored by the American Inns of Court Foundation. In 2008 the journal began to experiment with peer review.
Ojetta Rogeriee Thompson is an American lawyer who serves as a senior United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. She was previously a Rhode Island Superior Court justice.
Richard Mark Gergel is an American lawyer who serves as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.
Bruce McCaw Howe Hendricks is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina and former United States magistrate judge of the same court.
Arthur Marvin Quattlebaum Jr. is a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He was formerly a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.
Julius Ness "Jay" Richardson is an American judge and lawyer who serves as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He was formerly an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina.
DeAndrea Gist Benjamin is an American lawyer serving as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She previously served as a judge of the South Carolina Circuit Court for the fifth district.