Succession of Seats
The court has fifteen seats for active judges, 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.
Seat 1 |
Established on December 10, 1869 by the Judiciary Act of 1869 as a circuit judgeship for the Fourth Circuit |
Reassigned on June 16, 1891 to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit by the Judiciary Act of 1891 |
Bond |
MD |
1891–1893 |
Simonton |
SC |
1893–1904 |
Pritchard |
DC |
1904–1921 |
Waddill |
VA |
1921–1931 |
Soper |
MD |
1931–1955 |
Sobeloff |
MD |
1956–1970 |
Russell |
SC |
1971–1998 |
Traxler |
SC |
1998– |
|
Seat 2 |
Established on June 16, 1891 by the Judiciary Act of 1891 |
Goff |
WV |
1892–1913 |
Woods |
SC |
1913–1925 |
Parker |
NC |
1925–1958 |
Boreman |
WV |
1959–1971 |
Field |
WV |
1971–1976 |
Hall |
WV |
1976–1998 |
King |
WV |
1998– |
|
Seat 3 |
Established on September 14, 1922 by 42 Stat. 837 |
Rose |
MD |
1922–1927 |
Northcott |
WV |
1927–1939 |
Dobie |
VA |
1939–1956 |
Haynsworth |
SC |
1957–1981 |
Chapman |
SC |
1981–1991 |
Williams |
SC |
1992–2009 |
Floyd |
SC |
2011– |
|
Seat 4 |
Established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80 |
Bryan |
VA |
1961–1972 |
Widener |
VA |
1972–2007 |
Keenan |
VA |
2010– |
|
Seat 5 |
Established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80 |
Bell |
NC |
1961–1967 |
Butzner |
VA |
1967–1982 |
Wilkinson |
VA |
1984– |
|
Seat 6 |
Established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75 |
Winter |
MD |
1966–1990 |
Niemeyer |
MD |
1990– |
|
Seat 7 |
Established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75 |
Craven |
NC |
1966–1977 |
Phillips |
NC |
1978–1994 |
Wynn |
NC |
2010– |
|
Seat 8 |
Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 |
Murnaghan |
MD |
1979–2000 |
Davis |
MD |
2009– |
|
Seat 9 |
Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 |
Sprouse |
WV |
1979–1992 |
Michael |
WV |
1993–2011 |
Thacker |
WV |
2012– |
|
Seat 10 |
Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 |
Ervin |
NC |
1980–1999 |
Duncan |
NC |
2003– |
|
Seat 11 |
Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333 |
Sneeden |
DC |
1984–1986 |
Wilkins |
SC |
1986–2007 |
Diaz |
NC |
2010– |
|
Seat 12 |
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 |
Hamilton |
SC |
1991–1999 |
Shedd |
SC |
2002– |
|
Seat 13 |
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 |
Luttig |
VA |
1991–2006 |
Agee |
VA |
2008– |
|
Seat 14 |
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 |
Motz |
MD |
1994– |
|
Seat 15 |
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 |
Gregory |
VA |
2000– |
|