United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia

The United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia (in case citations, C.C.D.C.) is a former United States federal court, which existed from 1801 to 1863. The court was created by the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801.

History

The D.C. circuit court was not one of the United States circuit courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789. The Circuit Court of the District of Columbia was established on February 27, 1801 by the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801, 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 of the D.C. Circuit

Judge Began service Ended service Appointed by
Cranch, WilliamWilliam Cranch February 28, 1801 February 24, 1806 Adams, JohnJohn Adams
February 24, 1806 September 1, 1855 Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson
(as chief judge)[note 1]
Duckett, AllenAllen Duckett March 17, 1806 July 19, 1809 Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson
Dunlop, JamesJames Dunlop October 3, 1845
Recess		 November 27, 1855 Polk, JamesJames Polk
November 27, 1855
Recess		 March 3, 1863 Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce
(as chief judge)[note 1]
Fitzhugh, NicholasNicholas Fitzhugh November 25, 1803 December 31, 1814 Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson
Johnson, ThomasThomas Johnson Declined – Adams, JohnJohn Adams
(as chief judge)[1]
Kilty, WilliamWilliam Kilty March 23, 1801
Recess		 January 27, 1806 Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson
(as chief judge)
Marshall, JamesJames Marshall March 3, 1801 November 16, 1803 Adams, JohnJohn Adams
Merrick, WilliamWilliam Merrick December 14, 1855 March 3, 1863 Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce
Morsell, JamesJames Morsell January 11, 1815 March 3, 1863 Madison, JamesJames Madison
Thruston, BucknerBuckner Thruston December 14, 1809 August 30, 1845 Madison, JamesJames Madison

Notes

  1. 1 2 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.
  1. ↑ From John Adams to United States Senate, 28 February 1801

Further reading

External links

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