J. Harvie Wilkinson III, Virginia, Chief Judge, 2003
Patricia S. Conner, Clerk
U.S. Courthouse Annex, 5th floor
1100 East Main St.
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 916-2700
Garmatz Federal Courthouse
101 West Lombard St.
Baltimore, MD 21201 - 2671
The United States Courts of Appeals are intermediate appellate courts. They were created in 1891 to relieve overcrowding of the U.S. Supreme Court docket. The appeals courts are empowered to review all decisions of federal district courts, certain special courts, and administrative bodies, except in those few instances where direct review by the U.S. Supreme Court is mandated.
Under the United States Court of Appeals are thirteen judicial circuits. The fourth judicial circuit includes Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Fifteen judges sit on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. They are appointed for life terms by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. The judge with seniority who is under 65 years of age is designated Chief Judge. The Chief Judge may serve no longer than seven years.
© Copyright July 18, 2000 Maryland State Archives