{{short description|Current United States federal appellate court}} {{redirect|DC Circuit|direct current circuits|Direct current#Circuits}} {{distinguish|District of Columbia Court of Appeals}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Use American English|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox U.S. federal court | court_type = circuit | court_name = United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | abbreviation = D.C. Cir. | seal = District of Columbia Court of Appeals Seal.svg | seal_size = 170 | map_image_name = DC locator map with state names w usmap.png | map_image_width = 150 | map_image_caption = | courthouse = E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse | location = Washington, D.C. | appeals_from = District of Columbia | established = February 9, 1893 | circuit_justice = John Roberts | chief = Sri Srinivasan | judges_assigned = 11 | official_site = {{URL|https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov|cadc.uscourts.gov}} }} The '''United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit''' (in case citations, '''D.C. Cir.''') is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals. It has the smallest geographical jurisdiction of any of the U.S. courts of appeals, and it covers only the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.{{efn|In some circumstances, it may also handle appeals that originate in American Samoa, which has no local federal district court or territorial court, by way of the D.C. District court; the Ninth Circuit may also handle such cases by the District of Hawaii.<ref name="GAO_AS">{{cite web|url=https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-08-1124T|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016102008/https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-08-1124T|archive-date=2019-10-16|publisher=GAO (U.S. Government Accountability Office)|title=AMERICAN SAMOA: Issues Associated with Some Federal Court Options|date=September 18, 2008|access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref>}} It meets at the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse in Washington, DC.
The D.C. Circuit is often considered to be second only to the U.S. Supreme Court in status and prestige. It is sometimes unofficially termed "the second highest court in the land", even though it is officially no higher than the other twelve Courts of Appeals.<ref name="Turner2003">{{cite web |last1=Turner |first1=Julia |title=What’s So Important About the Washington, D.C., Circuit Court of Appeals? |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2003/02/the-second-highest-court-in-the-land.html |website=Slate |access-date=2 October 2024 |date=7 February 2003}}</ref> Because its jurisdiction covers the District of Columbia, it tends to be the main federal appellate court for issues of U.S. administrative law and constitutional law.<ref name="Turner2003" /> Four of the nine current Supreme Court justices were previously judges on the D.C. Circuit: Chief Justice John Roberts and associate justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Past justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Antonin Scalia, Warren E. Burger, Fred M. Vinson, and Wiley Blount Rutledge also served on the D.C. Circuit before their appointments to the Supreme Court.
Because the D.C. Circuit does not represent any U.S. states, confirming D.C. Circuit nominees can be procedurally and practically easier than confirming nominees to other circuits, because home-state senators have historically been able to hold up confirmation through the blue slip process.
== Current composition of the court == <onlyinclude> {{As of|2024|01|16|df=US}}: {{start U.S. judgeship Current}} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 58 | title = Chief Judge | name = Sri Srinivasan | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1967 | term = 2013–present | chief term = 2020–present | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Obama|List of federal judges appointed by Barack Obama}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 49 | title = Circuit Judge | name = Karen L. Henderson | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1944 | term = 1990–present | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|G.H.W.|Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George H. W. Bush}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 59 | title = Circuit Judge | name = Patricia Millett | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1963 | term = 2013–present | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Obama|List of federal judges appointed by Barack Obama}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 60 | title = Circuit Judge | name = Cornelia Pillard | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1961 | term = 2013–present | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Obama|List of federal judges appointed by Barack Obama}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 61 | title = Circuit Judge | name = Robert L. Wilkins | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1963 | term = 2014–present | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Obama|List of federal judges appointed by Barack Obama}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 62 | title = Circuit Judge | name = {{sortname|Gregory G.|Katsas}} | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1964 | term = 2017–present | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Trump|List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 63 | title = Circuit Judge | name = {{sortname|Neomi|Rao}} | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1973 | term = 2019–present | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Trump|List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 64 | title = Circuit Judge | name = {{sortname|Justin R.|Walker}} | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1982 | term = 2020–present | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Trump|List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 66 | title = Circuit Judge | name = J. Michelle Childs | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1966 | term = 2022–present | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Biden|List of federal judges appointed by Joe Biden}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 67 | title = Circuit Judge | name = Florence Y. Pan | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1966 | term = 2022–present | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Biden|List of federal judges appointed by Joe Biden}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 68 | title = Circuit Judge | name = Brad Garcia | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1986 | term = 2023–present | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Biden|List of federal judges appointed by Joe Biden}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 38 | title = Senior Judge | name = Harry T. Edwards | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1940 | term = 1980–2005 | chief term = 1994–2001 | senior term = 2005–present | appointer = {{sortname||Carter|List of federal judges appointed by Jimmy Carter}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 46 | title = Senior Judge | name = Douglas H. Ginsburg | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1946 | term = 1986–2011 | chief term = 2001–2008 | senior term = 2011–present | appointer = {{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 47 | title = Senior Judge | name = David B. Sentelle | duty station = ''inactive'' | born = 1943 | term = 1987–2013 | chief term = 2008–2013 | senior term = 2013–present | appointer = {{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 50 | title = Senior Judge | name = A. Raymond Randolph | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1943 | term = 1990–2008 | chief term = — | senior term = 2008–present | appointer = {{sortname|G.H.W.|Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George H. W. Bush}} }} {{U.S. judgeship row Current | index = 51 | title = Senior Judge | name = Judith W. Rogers | duty station = Washington, D.C. | born = 1939 | term = 1994–2022 | chief term = — | senior term = 2022–present | appointer = {{sortname||Clinton|List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton}} }} {{end U.S. judgeship Current}} </onlyinclude>
== List of former judges == {{start U.S. judgeship Former}} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 1 | name = {{sortname|Richard Henry|Alvey}} | state = MD | borndied = 1826–1906 | term = 1893–1905 | chief term = 1893–1905 | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Cleveland|List of federal judges appointed by Grover Cleveland}} | termination = retirement }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 2 | name = {{sortname|Martin Ferdinand|Morris}} | state = DC | borndied = 1834–1909 | term = 1893–1905 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Cleveland|List of federal judges appointed by Grover Cleveland}} | termination = retirement }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 3 | name = {{sortname|Seth|Shepard}} | state = TX | borndied = 1847–1917 | term = 1893–1917 | chief term = 1905–1917 | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Cleveland|List of federal judges appointed by Grover Cleveland}} (associate);<br>T. Roosevelt (chief){{efn|name=appointive_chief|Prior to 1948, the court consisted of a Chief Justice and up to five Associate Justices. Much like with the Supreme Court of the United States, the Chief Justice would be separately nominated and subject to a separate confirmation process, regardless of whether or not he was elevated from an associate justice position. In 1948, the positions of Chief Justice and Associate Justice were reassigned to Circuit Judge positions and the position of Chief Judge was assigned based on seniority.}} | termination = retirement }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 4 | name = {{sortname|Charles Holland|Duell}} | state = NY | borndied = 1850–1920 | term = 1905–1906 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|T.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Theodore Roosevelt}} | termination = resignation }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 5 | name = {{sortname|Louis E.|McComas}} | state = MD | borndied = 1846–1907 | term = 1905–1907 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|T.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Theodore Roosevelt}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 6 | name = {{sortname|Charles Henry|Robb}} | state = VT | borndied = 1867–1939 | term = 1906{{efn|name=recess|Recess appointment, confirmed by the Senate at a later date.}}–1937 | chief term = — | senior term = 1937–1939 | appointer = {{sortname|T.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Theodore Roosevelt}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 7 | name = {{sortname|Josiah|Van Orsdel|Josiah Alexander Van Orsdel}} | state = WY | borndied = 1860–1937 | term = 1907{{efn|name=recess}}–1937 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|T.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Theodore Roosevelt}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 8 | name = {{sortname|Constantine Joseph|Smyth}} | state = NE | borndied = 1859–1924 | term = 1917–1924 | chief term = 1917–1924 | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Wilson|List of federal judges appointed by Woodrow Wilson}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 9 | name = {{sortname|George Ewing|Martin}} | state = OH | borndied = 1857–1948 | term = 1924–1937 | chief term = 1924–1937 | senior term = 1937–1948 | appointer = {{sortname||Coolidge|List of federal judges appointed by Calvin Coolidge}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 10 | name = {{sortname|William|Hitz}} | state = DC | borndied = 1872–1935 | term = 1931–1935 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Hoover|List of federal judges appointed by Herbert Hoover}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 11 | name = {{sortname|Duncan Lawrence|Groner}} | state = VA | borndied = 1873–1957 | term = 1931–1948 | chief term = 1937–1948 | senior term = 1948–1957 | appointer = {{sortname||Hoover|List of federal judges appointed by Herbert Hoover}} (associate);<br>F. Roosevelt (chief){{efn|name=appointive_chief}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 12 | name = {{sortname|Harold Montelle|Stephens}} | state = UT | borndied = 1886–1955 | term = 1935–1955 | chief term = 1948–1955 | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}} (associate);<br>Truman (chief){{efn|name=appointive_chief}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 13 | name = {{sortname|Justin|Miller|dab=judge}} | state = CA | borndied = 1888–1973 | term = 1937–1945 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}} | termination = resignation }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 14 | name = {{sortname|Henry White|Edgerton}} | state = DC | borndied = 1888–1970 | term = 1937–1963 | chief term = 1955–1958 | senior term = 1963–1970 | appointer = {{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 15 | name = {{sortname|Fred M.|Vinson}} | state = KY | borndied = 1890–1953 | term = 1938–1943 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}} | termination = resignation }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 16 | name = {{sortname|Wiley|Rutledge}} | state = KY | borndied = 1894–1949 | term = 1939–1943 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}} | termination = elevation }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 17 | name = {{sortname|Thurman |Arnold}} | state = WY | borndied = 1891–1969 | term = 1943–1945 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}} | termination = resignation }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 18 | name = {{sortname|Bennett Champ|Clark}} | state = MO | borndied = 1890–1954 | term = 1945–1954 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 19 | name = {{sortname|E. Barrett|Prettyman}} | state = DC | borndied = 1891–1971 | term = 1945–1962 | chief term = 1958–1960 | senior term = 1962–1971 | appointer = {{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 20 | name = {{sortname|Wilbur Kingsbury|Miller}} | state = KY | borndied = 1892–1976 | term = 1945–1964 | chief term = 1960–1962 | senior term = 1964–1976 | appointer = {{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 21 | name = {{sortname|James McPherson|Proctor}} | state = DC | borndied = 1882–1953 | term = 1948–1953 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 22 | name = {{sortname|David L.|Bazelon}} | state = IL | borndied = 1909–1993 | term = 1949{{efn|name=recess}}–1979 | chief term = 1962–1978 | senior term = 1979–1993 | appointer = {{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 23 | name = {{sortname|Charles|Fahy}} | state = GA | borndied = 1892–1979 | term = 1949{{efn|name=recess}}–1967 | chief term = — | senior term = 1967–1979 | appointer = {{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 24 | name = {{sortname|George|Washington|George Thomas Washington}} | state = OH | borndied = 1908–1971 | term = 1949{{efn|name=recess}}–1965 | chief term = — | senior term = 1965–1971 | appointer = {{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 25 | name = {{sortname|John A.|Danaher}} | state = CT | borndied = 1899–1990 | term = 1953{{efn|name=recess}}–1969 | chief term = — | senior term = 1969–1990 | appointer = {{sortname||Eisenhower|List of federal judges appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 26 | name = {{sortname|Walter Maximillian|Bastian}} | state = DC | borndied = 1891–1975 | term = 1954{{efn|name=recess}}–1965 | chief term = — | senior term = 1965–1975 | appointer = {{sortname||Eisenhower|List of federal judges appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 27 | name = {{sortname|Warren E.|Burger}} | state = MN | borndied = 1907–1995 | term = 1956–1969 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Eisenhower|List of federal judges appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower}} | termination = elevation }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 28 | name = {{sortname|James Skelly|Wright|J. Skelly Wright}} | state = LA | borndied = 1911–1988 | term = 1962–1986 | chief term = 1978–1981 | senior term = 1986–1988 | appointer = {{sortname||Kennedy|List of federal judges appointed by John F. Kennedy}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 29 | name = {{sortname|Carl E.|McGowan}} | state = IL | borndied = 1911–1987 | term = 1963–1981 | chief term = 1981 | senior term = 1981–1987 | appointer = {{sortname||Kennedy|List of federal judges appointed by John F. Kennedy}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 30 | name = {{sortname|Edward Allen|Tamm}} | state = DC | borndied = 1906–1985 | term = 1965–1985 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|L.|Johnson|List of federal judges appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 31 | name = {{sortname|Harold|Leventhal|dab=judge}} | state = DC | borndied = 1915–1979 | term = 1965–1979 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|L.|Johnson|List of federal judges appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 32 | name = {{sortname|Spottswood|Robinson III|Spottswood William Robinson III}} | state = VA | borndied = 1916–1998 | term = 1966–1989 | chief term = 1981–1986 | senior term = 1989–1998 | appointer = {{sortname|L.|Johnson|List of federal judges appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 33 | name = {{sortname|George|MacKinnon}} | state = MN | borndied = 1906–1995 | term = 1969–1983 | chief term = — | senior term = 1983–1995 | appointer = {{sortname||Nixon|List of federal judges appointed by Richard Nixon}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 34 | name = {{sortname|Roger|Robb}} | state = DC | borndied = 1907–1985 | term = 1969–1982 | chief term = — | senior term = 1982–1985 | appointer = {{sortname||Nixon|List of federal judges appointed by Richard Nixon}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 35 | name = {{sortname|Malcolm Richard|Wilkey}} | state = TX | borndied = 1918–2009 | term = 1970–1984 | chief term = — | senior term = 1984–1985 | appointer = {{sortname||Nixon|List of federal judges appointed by Richard Nixon}} | termination = retirement }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 36 | name = {{sortname|Patricia|Wald}} | state = DC | borndied = 1928–2019 | term = 1979–1999 | chief term = 1986–1991 | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Carter|List of federal judges appointed by Jimmy Carter}} | termination = retirement }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 37 | name = {{sortname|Abner|Mikva}} | state = IL | borndied = 1926–2016 | term = 1979–1994 | chief term = 1991–1994 | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Carter|List of federal judges appointed by Jimmy Carter}} | termination = retirement }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 39 | name = {{sortname|Ruth Bader|Ginsburg}} | state = NY | borndied = 1933–2020 | term = 1980–1993 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Carter|List of federal judges appointed by Jimmy Carter}} | termination = elevation }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 40 | name = {{sortname|Robert|Bork}} | state = CT | borndied = 1927–2012 | term = 1982–1988 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}} | termination = resignation }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 41 | name = {{sortname|Antonin|Scalia}} | state = IL | borndied = 1936–2016 | term = 1982–1986 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}} | termination = elevation }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 42 | name = {{sortname|Kenneth|Starr|Ken Starr}} | state = VA | borndied = 1946–2022 | term = 1983–1989 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}} | termination = resignation }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 43 | name = {{sortname|Laurence|Silberman}} | state = PA | borndied = 1935–2022 | term = 1985–2000 | chief term = — | senior term = 2000–2022 | appointer = {{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 44 | name = {{sortname|James L.|Buckley}} | state = NY | borndied = 1923–2023 | term = 1985–1996 | chief term = — | senior term = 1996–2023 | appointer = {{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 45 | name = {{sortname|Stephen F.|Williams}} | state = CO | borndied = 1936–2020 | term = 1986–2001 | chief term = — | senior term = 2001–2020 | appointer = {{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}} | termination = death }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 48 | name = {{sortname|Clarence|Thomas}} | state = GA | borndied = 1948–present | term = 1990–1991 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|G.H.W.|Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George H. W. Bush}} | termination = elevation }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 52 | name = {{sortname|David S.|Tatel}} | state = DC | borndied = 1942–present | term = 1994–2022 | chief term = — | senior term = 2022–2024 | appointer = {{sortname||Clinton|List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton}} | termination = retirement }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 53 | name = {{sortname|Merrick|Garland}} | state = IL | borndied = 1952–present | term = 1997–2021 | chief term = 2013–2020 | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Clinton|List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton}} | termination = retirement }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 54 | name = {{sortname|John|Roberts}} | state = MD | borndied = 1955–present | term = 2003–2005 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|G.W.|Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush}} | termination = elevation }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 55 | name = {{sortname|Janice Rogers|Brown}} | state = CA | borndied = 1949–present | term = 2005–2017 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|G.W.|Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush}} | termination = retirement }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 56 | name = {{sortname|Thomas B.|Griffith}} | state = UT | borndied = 1954–present | term = 2005–2020 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|G.W.|Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush}} | termination = retirement }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 57 | name = {{sortname|Brett|Kavanaugh}} | state = MD | borndied = 1965–present | term = 2006–2018 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname|G.W.|Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush}} | termination = elevation }} {{U.S. judgeship row Former | index = 65 | name = {{sortname|Ketanji Brown|Jackson}} | state = DC | borndied = 1970–present | term = 2021–2022 | chief term = — | senior term = — | appointer = {{sortname||Biden|List of federal judges appointed by Joe Biden}} | termination = elevation }} {{end U.S. judgeship Former}}
== Chiefs ==
{{start U.S. judge succession | float = right | seat title = Chief }} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = as Chief Justice }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Alvey | term = 1893–1905 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Shepard | term = 1905–1917 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Smyth | term = 1917–1924 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Martin | term = 1924–1937 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Groner | term = 1937–1948 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Stephens | term = 1948 }} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = as Chief Judge }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Stephens | term = 1948–1955 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Edgerton | term = 1955–1958 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Prettyman | term = 1958–1960 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = W. Miller | term = 1960–1962 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Bazelon | term = 1962–1978 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Wright | term = 1978–1981 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = McGowan | term = 1981 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Robinson | term = 1981–1986 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Wald | term = 1986–1991 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Mikva | term = 1991–1994 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Edwards | term = 1994–2001 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = D. Ginsburg | term = 2001–2008 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Sentelle | term = 2008–2013 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Garland | term = 2013–2020 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = '''Srinivasan''' | term = 2020–present }} {{end U.S. judge succession}}
When Congress established this court in 1893 as the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, it had a chief justice, and the other judges were called associate justices, which was similar to the structure of the Supreme Court. The chief justiceship was a separate seat: the president would appoint the chief justice, and that person would stay chief justice until he left the court.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}
On June 25, 1948, 62 ''Stat.'' 869 and 62 ''Stat.'' 985 became law. These acts made the chief justice a chief judge. In 1954, another law, 68 ''Stat.'' 1245, clarified what was implicit in those laws: that the chief judgeship was not a mere renaming of the position but a change in its status that made it the same as the chief judge of other inferior courts.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}
{{ChiefJudge}}
== Succession of seats ==
The court has eleven seats for active judges after the elimination of Seat 8 under the Court Security Improvement Act of 2007. The seat that was originally the chief justiceship is numbered as Seat 1; the other seats are numbered in order of their creation. If seats were established simultaneously, they are numbered in the order in which they were filled. Judges who retire into senior status remain on the bench but leave their seat vacant. That seat is filled by the next circuit judge appointed by the president.
{{col-begin}} {{col-break}} {{U.S. judge succession inactive| seat title=Seat 1}} {{U.S. judge succession 3 note | text = Established February 9, 1893 as Chief Justice by {{USStat|27|434}} }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Alvey | term = 1893–1905 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Shepard | term = 1905–1917 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Smyth | term = 1917–1924 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Martin | term = 1924–1937 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Groner | term = 1937–1948 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Stephens | term = 1948 }} {{U.S. judge succession 3 note | text = Seat abolished June 25, 1948 pursuant to {{USStat|62|869}}, {{USStat|62|985}}, and {{USStat|68|1245}} }} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession| seat title=Seat 2}} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Established February 9, 1893 as Associate Justice by {{USStat|27|434}} }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Morris | term = 1893–1905 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = McComas | term = 1905–1907 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Van Orsdel | term = 1907–1937 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = J. Miller | term = 1937–1945 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Prettyman | term = 1945–1948 }} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Redesignated June 25, 1948 as Circuit Judge by {{USStat|62|869}}, 985 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Prettyman | term = 1948–1962 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Wright | term = 1962–1986 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = D. Ginsburg | term = 1986–2011 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = '''Pillard''' | term = 2013–present }} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession| seat title=Seat 3}} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Established February 9, 1893 as Associate Justice by {{USStat|27|434}} }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Shepard | term = 1893–1905 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Duell | term = 1905–1906 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = C. Robb | term = 1906–1937 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Vinson | term = 1938–1943 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = W. Miller | term = 1945–1948 }} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Redesignated June 25, 1948 as Circuit Judge by {{USStat|62|869}}, 985 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = W. Miller | term = 1948–1964 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Leventhal | term = 1965–1979 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = R.B. Ginsburg | term = 1980–1993 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Tatel | term = 1994–2022 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = '''Childs''' | term = 2022–present }} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession| seat title=Seat 4}} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Established June 19, 1930 as Associate Justice by {{USStat|46|785}} }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Hitz | term = 1931–1935 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Stephens | term = 1935–1948 }} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Redesignated June 25, 1948 as Circuit Judge by {{USStat|62|869}}, 985 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Proctor | term = 1948–1953 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Danaher | term = 1953–1969 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = R. Robb | term = 1969–1982 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Scalia | term = 1982–1986 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Sentelle | term = 1987–2013 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = '''Wilkins''' | term = 2014–present }} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-end}} {{col-begin}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession| seat title=Seat 5}} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Established June 19, 1930 as Associate Justice by {{USStat|46|785}} }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Groner | term = 1931–1937 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Edgerton | term = 1937–1948 }} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Redesignated June 25, 1948 as Circuit Judge by {{USStat|62|869}}, 985 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Edgerton | term = 1948–1963 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = McGowan | term = 1963–1981 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Bork | term = 1982–1988 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Thomas | term = 1990–1991 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Rogers | term = 1994–2022 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = '''Garcia''' | term = 2023–present }} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession| seat title=Seat 6}} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Established May 31, 1938 as Associate Justice by {{USStat|52|584}} }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Rutledge | term = 1939–1943 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Arnold | term = 1943–1945 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Clark | term = 1945–1948 }} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Redesignated June 25, 1948 as Circuit Judge by {{USStat|62|869}}, 985 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Clark | term = 1948–1954 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Bastian | term = 1954–1965 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Tamm | term = 1965–1985 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Buckley | term = 1985–1996 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Roberts | term = 2003–2005 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = '''Millett''' | term = 2013–present }} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession| seat title=Seat 7}} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Established June 25, 1948 pursuant to {{USStat|62|869}}, {{USStat|62|985}}, and {{USStat|68|1245}} }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Stephens | term = 1948–1955 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Burger | term = 1956–1969 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Wilkey | term = 1970–1984 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Williams | term = 1986–2001 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Brown | term = 2005–2017 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = '''Katsas''' | term = 2017–present }} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-break}} {{U.S. judge succession inactive|seat title=Seat 8}} {{U.S. judge succession 3 note | text = Established August 3, 1949 by {{USStat|63|493}} }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Bazelon | term = 1949–1979 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Edwards | term = 1980–2005 }} {{U.S. judge succession 3 note | text = Seat eliminated January 7, 2008 by {{USStat|121|2543}} }} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-end}} {{col-begin}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession| seat title=Seat 9}} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Established August 3, 1949 by {{USStat|63|493}} }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Fahy | term = 1949–1967 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = MacKinnon | term = 1969–1983 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Starr | term = 1983–1989 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = '''Henderson''' | term = 1990–present }} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession| seat title=Seat 10}} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Established August 3, 1949 by {{USStat|63|493}} }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Washington | term = 1949–1965 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Robinson | term = 1966–1989 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Randolph | term = 1990–2008 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = '''Srinivasan''' | term = 2013–present }} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession| seat title=Seat 11}} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Established October 20, 1978 by {{USStat|92|1629}} }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Wald | term = 1979–1999 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Griffith | term = 2005–2020 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = '''Walker''' | term = 2020–present }} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession| seat title=Seat 12}} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Established October 20, 1978 by {{USStat|92|1629}} }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Mikva | term = 1979–1994 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Garland | term = 1997–2021 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Jackson | term = 2021–2022 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = '''Pan''' | term = 2022–present }} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-end}} {{col-begin}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession| seat title=Seat 13}} {{U.S. judge succession note | text = Established July 10, 1984 by {{USStat|98|333}} }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Silberman | term = 1985–2000 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = Kavanaugh | term = 2006–2018 }} {{U.S. judge succession row | name = '''Rao''' | term = 2019–present }} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-end}}
== See also == * Judicial appointment history for United States federal courts#DC Circuit * List of current United States circuit judges
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == <references/> * {{cite web |url = https://lawclerks.ao.uscourts.gov/web/jobSearch |title = Standard Search |work = Federal Law Clerk Information System |access-date = 2005-06-02 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051021220038/https://lawclerks.ao.uscourts.gov/web/jobSearch |archive-date = 2005-10-21 |url-status = dead }} ** Source for the duty station for Judge Williams * {{cite web | url = http://www.utexas.edu/law/depts/career/downloads/judicial_listing.html | title = Instructions for Judicial Directory | work = Website of the University of Texas Law School | access-date = 2005-07-04 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051111193332/http://www.utexas.edu/law/depts/career/downloads/judicial_listing.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2005-11-11}} ** Source for the duty station for Judges Silberman and Buckley ** Data is current to 2002 * {{cite web | url = http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/usca_dc_frm?OpenFrameSet | title = U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | work = Official website of the Federal Judicial Center | access-date = 2005-05-26 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050404132238/http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/usca_dc_frm?OpenFrameSet <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2005-04-04}} ** Source for the state, lifetime, term of active judgeship, term of chief judgeship, term of senior judgeship, appointer, termination reason, and seat information
== External links == {{wikisource index}} * [http://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/ United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit] * [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=dc&navby=year&year=recent Recent opinions from FindLaw] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928174439/http://www.virginialawreview.org/content/pdfs/92/375.pdf What Makes the DC Circuit so Different? A Historical View - Article by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.] * {{citation |url=https://cite.case.law |title= District of Columbia |work= Caselaw Access Project |publisher= Harvard Law School |oclc=1078785565 |quote= Court decisions freely available to the public online, in a consistent format, digitized from the collection of the Harvard Law Library }}
{{United States courts of appeals judges}} {{United States DC Circuit district judges}} {{U.S. courts of appeals}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit}} Category:United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Category:Government in Washington, D.C.
Category:1893 establishments in Washington, D.C. Category:Courts and tribunals established in 1893