United States District Court for the District of Delaware

United States District Court for the District of Delaware
(D. Del.)
Map

Appeals to Third Circuit
Established September 24, 1789
Judges assigned 4
Chief judge Gregory M. Sleet
Official site

The United States District Court for the District of Delaware (in case citations, D. Del.) is the Federal district court having jurisdiction over the entire state of Delaware. The Court sits in Wilmington. Currently, three judges and one magistrate judge preside over the court.

The Court is notable for hearing and trying a large number of patent and other complex commercial disputes. In addition, it has limited original and broad appellate jurisdiction over bankruptcy disputes which are filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

Appeals from the Court are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which sits in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

The current U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware is David C. Weiss.

Contents

History

The court was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, 1 Stat. 73, on September 24, 1789. From its establishment until 1946, the court had a single judge. A temporary additional judgeship was authorized on July 24, 1946, by 60 Stat. 654, and was made permanent on September 5, 1950, by 64 Stat. 578. A third judge was authorized on February 10, 1954, by 68 Stat. 8, and a fourth on July 10, 1984, by 98 Stat. 333.

Current judges

There currently are no vacancies on the court.

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
22 Chief Judge Gregory M. Sleet Wilmington 1951 1998–present 2007–present — Clinton
20 District Judge Sue Lewis Robinson Wilmington 1952 1991–present 2000–2007 — G.H.W. Bush
24 District Judge Leonard P. Stark Wilmington 1969 2010–present — — Obama
25 District Judge Richard G. Andrews Wilmington 1955 2011–present — — Obama
16 Senior District Judge Murray Merle Schwartz Wilmington 1931 1974–1989 1985–1989 1989–present Nixon
17 Senior District Judge Joseph J. Longobardi Wilmington 1930 1984–1997 1989–1996 1997–present Reagan

Former judges

# Judge State Born/Died Active service Term as Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Bedford, Jr., GunningGunning Bedford, Jr. DE 1747–1812 1789–1812 (none) (none) Washington, Washington death
2 Fisher, JohnJohn Fisher DE 1771–1823 1812–1823 (none) (none) Madison, Madison death
3 Hall, WillardWillard Hall DE 1780–1875 1823–1871 (none) (none) Monroe, Monroe retirement
4 Bradford, Edward GreenEdward Green Bradford DE 1819–1884 1871–1884 (none) (none) Grant, Grant death
5 Wales, Leonard EugeneLeonard Eugene Wales DE 1823–1897 1884–1897 (none) (none) Arthur, Arthur death
6 Bradford II, Edward GreenEdward Green Bradford II DE 1848–1928 1897–1918 (none) (none) McKinley, McKinley retirement
7 Morris, Hugh M.Hugh M. Morris DE 1878–1966 1919–1930 (none) (none) Wilson, Wilson resignation
8 Nields, John PercyJohn Percy Nields DE 1868–1943 1930–1941 (none) 1941–1943 Hoover, Hoover death
9 Leahy, Paul ConwayPaul Conway Leahy DE 1904–1966 1942–1957 1948–1957 1957–1966 Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt death
10 Rodney, Richard SeymourRichard Seymour Rodney DE 1882–1963 1946–1957 (none) 1957–1963 Truman, Truman death
11 Wright, Caleb MerrillCaleb Merrill Wright DE 1908–2001 1955–1973 1957–1973 1973–2001 Eisenhower, Eisenhower death
12 Layton III, Caleb RodneyCaleb Rodney Layton III DE 1907–1988 1957–1968 (none) 1968–1988 Eisenhower, Eisenhower death
13 Steel, Jr., Edwin DeHavenEdwin DeHaven Steel, Jr. DE 1904–1986 1958–1969 (none) 1969–1986 Eisenhower, Eisenhower death
14 Latchum, James LevinJames Levin Latchum DE 1918–2004 1968–1983 1973–1983 1983–2004 Johnson, L.L. Johnson death
15 Stapleton, Walter KingWalter King Stapleton DE 1934–present 1970–1985 1983–1985 (none) Nixon, Nixon appointment to 3rd Cir.
18 Farnan, Jr., Joseph JamesJoseph James Farnan, Jr. DE 1942–present 1985–2010 1996–2000 (none) Reagan, Reagan retirement
19 Roth, Jane RichardsJane Richards Roth DE 1935–present 1985–1991 (none) (none) Reagan, Reagan appointment to 3rd Cir.
21 McKelvie, Roderick R.Roderick R. McKelvie DE 1946–present 1992–2002 (none) (none) Bush, G.H.W.G.H.W. Bush resignation
23 Jordan, Kent A.Kent A. Jordan DE 1957–present 2002–2006 (none) (none) Bush, G.W.G.W. Bush appointment to 3rd Cir.

See also

Notes

External links