H. Emory Widener, Jr.
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| H. Emory Widener, Jr. | |
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| In office 1972 – 2007 |
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| Nominated by | Richard M. Nixon |
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| Preceded by | Albert Vickers Bryan |
| Succeeded by | vacant |
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| In office 1969 – 1972 |
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| Nominated by | Richard M. Nixon |
| Preceded by | Thomas J. Michie |
| Succeeded by | James C. Turk |
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| Born | April 20, 1923 Abingdon, Virginia |
| Died | September 17, 2007 (aged 84) Abingdon, Virginia |
Hiram Emory Widener Jr. (April 20, 1923 – September 19, 2007) was a federal judge and then a Senior Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Born in Abingdon, Virginia, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1944 and then served in the Navy. In 1953 he received his law degree from Washington and Lee University. In 1969 he was appointed to be District Judge for the Western District of Virginia by President Richard Nixon where he served as Chief Judge between 1971-72. Widener succeeded Thomas J. Michie, and was succeeded by James C. Turk, on the district court. In 1972 Widener was elevated to the Fourth Circuit by Nixon.
Widener announced his intent to take senior status upon confirmation of his successor in 2001. William Haynes had been nominated to succeed Widener but was never given a vote in the U.S. Senate. In January 2007, Haynes withdrew his candidacy for nomination to replace Widener on the Fourth Circuit. He had long been opposed by Democrats and a few Republicans, and with the Democrats having regained control of the Senate, his chances for confirmation appeared to have completely vanished. On July 17, 2007, Widener took senior status unconditionally.
Until his taking senior status, Widener was the longest-serving appellate judge still in active service. The longest serving appellate judge is now Judge Gerald Tjoflat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, who has been in active service since October 1970. Judge Widener holds the record as the longest serving judge in the history of the Fourth Circuit. (Judge John D. Butzner, Jr. technically served longer, but he spent the last 24 years (out of 39 years total) in senior status, and the last 5 years of those 24 as an inactive judge).
Widener died at his home outside Abingdon on September 19, 2007 after a year-long battle with lung cancer.
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