J. Harvie Wilkinson III, Virginia, Chief Judge, 2003
Patricia S. Conner, Clerk
U.S. Courthouse Annex
1100 East Main St., 5th floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 771-2213
Garmatz Federal Courthouse
101 West Lombard St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
The United States Courts of Appeals are intermediate appellate courts 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. Maryland is part of the fourth judicial circuit along with Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has fifteen authorized judges. 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.
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