United States District Court for the District of Maryland

The United States District Court for the District of Maryland (in case citations, D. Md.) is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Maryland. Appeals from the District of Maryland are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

Not to be confused with Maryland District Court.
United States District Court for the District of Maryland
(D. Md.)
LocationEdward A. Garmatz U.S. Courthouse
(Baltimore)
More locations
Appeals toFourth Circuit
EstablishedSeptember 24, 1789
Judges10
Chief JudgeJames K. Bredar
Officers of the court
U.S. AttorneyErek Barron
U.S. MarshalJohnny L. Hughes
www.mdd.uscourts.gov

Notable past judges of this district include William Paca, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. The United States Attorney for the District of Maryland represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. As of October 7, 2021, the U.S. attorney is Erek Barron.[1]

Organization of the court
View of U.S. District Court for Maryland, Northern Division, in Baltimore, Maryland.

Under 28 U.S.C. § 100, Maryland consists of a single federal judicial district with two statutory divisions.

Northern Division

The Northern Division includes Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, Worcester counties and the City of Baltimore, is located in Baltimore, while the statute also provides for the court to sit in Cumberland and Denton. The Court also maintains an unstaffed location in Salisbury, Maryland.[2]

Southern Division
View of U.S. District Court for Maryland, Southern Division, in Greenbelt, Maryland.

The Southern Division includes Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's, and St. Mary's counties and sits in Greenbelt.

Current judges

As of October 6, 2023:

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
43 Chief Judge James K. Bredar Baltimore 1957 2010–present 2017–present — Obama
45 District Judge George L. Russell III Baltimore 1965 2012–present — — Obama
47 District Judge Theodore D. Chuang Greenbelt 1969 2014–present — — Obama
49 District Judge Paula Xinis Greenbelt 1968 2016–present — — Obama
50 District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher Baltimore 1972 2019–present — — Trump
51 District Judge Deborah Boardman Greenbelt 1974 2021–present — — Biden
52 District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby Greenbelt 1968 2021–present — — Biden
53 District Judge Julie Rubin Baltimore 1972 2022–present — — Biden
54 District Judge Brendan A. Hurson Baltimore 1977 2023–present — — Biden
55 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
33 Senior Judge William M. Nickerson inactive 1933 1990–2002 — 2002–present G.H.W. Bush
35 Senior Judge Deborah K. Chasanow Greenbelt 1948 1993–2014 2010–2014 2014–present Clinton
36 Senior Judge Peter J. Messitte Greenbelt 1941 1993–2008 — 2008–present Clinton
38 Senior Judge Catherine C. Blake Baltimore 1950 1995–2021 2014–2017 2021–present Clinton
41 Senior Judge Richard D. Bennett Baltimore 1947 2003–2021 — 2021–present G.W. Bush
44 Senior Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander Baltimore 1949 2010–2022 — 2022–present Obama

Vacancies and pending nominations
Seat Prior judge's duty station Seat last held by Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Nominee Date of nomination
6 Greenbelt Paul W. Grimm Senior status December 11, 2022 Matthew J. Maddox March 21, 2023
11 Baltimore James K. Bredar April 30, 2024[3] – –

Former judges
# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 William Paca MD 1740–1799 1789–1799[Note 1] — — Washington death
2 James Winchester MD 1772–1806 1799–1806 — — J. Adams death
3 James Houston MD 1767–1819 1806–1819 — — Jefferson death
4 Theodorick Bland MD 1776–1846 1819–1824[Note 2] — — Monroe resignation
5 Elias Glenn MD 1769–1846 1824–1836[Note 3] — — Monroe resignation
6 Upton Scott Heath MD 1784–1852 1836–1852 — — Jackson death
7 John Glenn MD 1795–1853 1852–1853 — — Fillmore death
8 William Fell Giles MD 1807–1879 1853–1879[Note 4] — — Pierce death
9 Thomas John Morris MD 1837–1912 1879–1912 — — Hayes death
10 John Carter Rose MD 1861–1927 1910–1922 — — Taft elevation to 4th Cir.
11 Morris Ames Soper MD 1873–1963 1923–1931 — — Harding elevation to 4th Cir.
12 William Caldwell Coleman MD 1884–1968 1927–1955[Note 5] 1948–1955 — Coolidge resignation
13 William Calvin Chesnut MD 1873–1962 1931–1953[Note 6] — 1953–1962 Hoover death
14 Roszel Cathcart Thomsen MD 1900–1992 1954–1971 1955–1970 1971–1992 Eisenhower death
15 Robert Dorsey Watkins MD 1900–1986 1955–1971[Note 7] 1970 1971–1986 Eisenhower death
16 Edward Skottowe Northrop MD 1911–2003 1961–1981 1970–1981 1981–2003 Kennedy death
17 Harrison Lee Winter MD 1921–1990 1961–1966[Note 8] — — Kennedy elevation to 4th Cir.
18 Frank Albert Kaufman MD 1916–1997 1966–1986 1981–1986 1986–1997 L. Johnson death
19 Alexander Harvey II MD 1923–2017 1966–1991 1986–1991 1991–2017 L. Johnson death
20 James Rogers Miller Jr. MD 1931–2014 1970–1986 — — Nixon retirement
21 Charles Stanley Blair MD 1927–1980 1971–1980 — — Nixon death
22 Herbert Frazier Murray MD 1923–1999 1971–1988 — 1988–1999 Nixon death
23 Joseph H. Young MD 1922–2015 1971–1987 — 1987–2015 Nixon death
24 Joseph C. Howard Sr. MD 1922–2000 1979–1991 — 1991–2000 Carter death
25 Shirley Brannock Jones MD 1925–2019 1979–1982 — — Carter resignation
26 Norman Park Ramsey MD 1922–1993 1980–1991 — 1991–1992 Carter retirement
27 Walter Evan Black Jr. MD 1926–2014 1982–1994 1991–1994 1994–2014 Reagan death
28 John R. Hargrove Sr. MD 1923–1997 1984–1994 — 1994–1997 Reagan death
29 J. Frederick Motz MD 1942–2023 1985–2010 1994–2001 2010–2023 Reagan death
30 Frederic N. Smalkin MD 1946–present 1986–2003 2001–2003 2003–2011 Reagan retirement
31 Paul V. Niemeyer MD 1941–present 1988–1990 — — Reagan elevation to 4th Cir.
32 Marvin J. Garbis MD 1936–present 1989–2003 — 2003–2018 G.H.W. Bush retirement
34 Benson Everett Legg MD 1947–present 1991–2012 2003–2010 2012–2013 G.H.W. Bush retirement
37 Alexander Williams Jr. MD 1948–present 1994–2013 — 2013–2014 Clinton retirement
39 Andre M. Davis MD 1949–present 1995–2009 — — Clinton elevation to 4th Cir.
40 William D. Quarles Jr. MD 1948–present 2003–2016 — — G.W. Bush retirement
42 Roger W. Titus MD 1941–2019 2003–2014 — 2014–2019 G.W. Bush death
46 Paul W. Grimm MD 1951–present 2012–2022 — 2022 Obama retirement
48 George J. Hazel MD 1975–present 2014–2023 — — Obama resignation
  1. Recess appointment; formally nominated on February 8, 1790, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 10, 1790, and received commission the same day.
  2. Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 3, 1820, confirmed by the Senate on January 5, 1820, and received commission the same day.
  3. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 16, 1824, confirmed by the Senate on January 3, 1825, and received commission the same day.
  4. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 19, 1853, confirmed by the Senate on January 11, 1854, and received commission the same day.
  5. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 6, 1927, confirmed by the Senate on December 19, 1927, and received commission the same day.
  6. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 15, 1931, confirmed by the Senate on January 12, 1932, and received commission the same day.
  7. Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 12, 1956, confirmed by the Senate on March 1, 1956, and received commission on March 2, 1956.
  8. Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 15, 1962, confirmed by the Senate on February 7, 1962, and received commission on February 17, 1962.

Chief judges

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court 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 or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

See also

References
  1. "Erek L. Barron Sworn-In as the 49th United States Attorney for the District of Maryland" (Press release). Baltimore, Maryland: U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland. October 7, 2021. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  2. "Salisbury | District of Maryland | United States District Court". www.mdd.uscourts.gov. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  3. "Chief Judge James K. Bredar to Assume Senior Status on April 30, 2024". mdd.uscourts.gov. October 12, 2023. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from Former Maryland United States Attorneys. United States Government.

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