United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia

The United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia is a former United States federal court, which existed from 1801 to 1863.

Contents

History

Congress established the United States circuit courts in the Judiciary Act of 1789, but did not initially provide for designated judges to sit on those courts. The Circuit Court of the District of Columbia was established on February 27, 1801 by 2 Stat. 103, which authorized one chief judge and two assistant judges who were to serve during good behavior. Congress granted the court the same powers as the U.S. circuit courts as well as local civil and criminal jurisdiction within the District of Columbia. On March 3, 1801, by 2 Stat. 123, Congress authorized the chief judge of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia to hold the United States District Court for the District of Potomac, but this jurisdiction was short lived. On March 8, 1802, by 2 Stat. 132, the Potomac District was abolished, effective July 1, 1802. Shortly thereafter, on April 29, 1802, by 2 Stat. 156, the Judiciary Act of 1802 established the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and specified that the court would have the same jurisdiction and powers as the U.S. district courts. The act authorized the chief judge of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia to preside in the district court.

Congress established the Criminal Court of the District of Columbia on July 7, 1838, by 5 Stat. 306. This act authorized one judge, and granted the Criminal Court the powers of the U.S. circuit courts and the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia in criminal matters. The act of February 20, 1839, 5 Stat. 319, provided that the chief judge of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia would preside in the absence of the Criminal Court judge. On July 9, 1846, by 9 Stat. 35, The county of Alexandria in the District of Columbia was returned to the state of Virginia, and the division of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia seated in that county was abolished upon the formal approval of retrocession, occurred September 7, 1846.

The circuit court, district court, and criminal court of the District of Columbia were finally abolished altogether on March 3, 1863, by 12 Stat. 762. A new court, the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (later renamed the "United States District Court for the District of Columbia"), was created in its place, thus terminating the service of the three U.S. circuit court judges appointed to serve during good behavior.

Judges

Judges of the D.C. Circuit:

Judge Appointed by Began active
service		 Ended active
service		 End reason
William Cranch John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
(as chief judge)[1]		 18010228February 28, 1801

February 24, 1806		 18550901February 24, 1806

September 1, 1855		 reappointment

death
Allen Bowie Duckett Thomas Jefferson 18060317March 17, 1806 18090719July 19, 1809 death
James Dunlop James K. Polk
Franklin Pierce
(as chief judge)[1]		 18451003October 3, 1845[2]

November 27, 1855		 18630303November 27, 1855

March 3, 1863		 reappointment

death
Nicholas Battalle Fitzhugh Thomas Jefferson 18031125November 25, 1803 18141231December 31, 1814 death
William Kilty Thomas Jefferson
(as chief judge)		 18020126January 26, 1802 18060127January 27, 1806 death
James Markham Marshall John Adams 18010303March 3, 1801 18031116November 16, 1803 resignation
William Matthew Merrick Franklin Pierce 18551214December 14, 1855 18630303March 3, 1863 abolition of the court
James Sewall Morsell James Madison 18150111January 11, 1815 18630303March 3, 1863 abolition of the court
Buckner Thruston James Madison 18091214December 14, 1809 18450830August 30, 1845 death

Notes

  1. ^ a b Because of the unique structure of the United States Circuit Court for the District of Columbia, the elevation of a sitting judge of the Court to chief judge of the Court is considered a separate appointment.
  2. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 23, 1845, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 3, 1846, and received commission on February 3, 1846.

External links