Chiefs
| Chief | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| as Chief Justice | |||
| Alvey | 1893–1905 | ||
| Shepard | 1905–1917 | ||
| Smyth | 1917–1924 | ||
| Martin | 1924–1937 | ||
| Groner | 1937–1948 | ||
| Stephens | 1948–1948 | ||
| as Chief Judge | |||
| Stephens | 1948–1955 | ||
| Edgerton | 1955–1958 | ||
| Prettyman | 1958–1960 | ||
| W. Miller | 1960–1962 | ||
| Bazelon | 1962–1978 | ||
| Wright | 1978–1981 | ||
| McGowan | 1981–1981 | ||
| Robinson | 1981–1986 | ||
| Wald | 1986–1991 | ||
| Mikva | 1991–1994 | ||
| Edwards | 1994–2001 | ||
| D. Ginsburg | 2001–2008 | ||
| Sentelle | 2008–present | ||
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, just like the Supreme Court. Just like 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.
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.
Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their circuits, and preside over any panel on which they serve unless the circuit justice (i.e., the Supreme Court justice responsible for the circuit) is also on the panel. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the circuit judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge. A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.
When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire on what has since 1958 been known as senior status or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.
Read more about this topic: United States Court Of Appeals For The District Of Columbia Circuit
Famous quotes containing the word chiefs:
““Hear me,” he said to the white commander. “I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. Our chiefs are dead; the little children are freezing. My people have no blankets, no food. From where the sun stands, I will fight no more forever.””
—For the State of Montana, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“If you tie a horse to a stake, do you expect he will grow fat? If you pen an Indian up on a small spot of earth, and compel him to stay there, he will not be contented, nor will he grow and prosper. I have asked some of the great white chiefs where they get their authority to say to the Indian that he shall stay in one place, while he sees white men going where they please. They can not tell me.”
—Chief Joseph (c. 1840–1904)
“Fashion understands itself; good-breeding and personal superiority of whatever country readily fraternize with those of every other. The chiefs of savage tribes have distinguished themselves in London and Paris, by the purity of their tournure.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)