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United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina

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United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
Court nameUnited States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
Established0 1927
LocationGreensboro
Appeals toUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
ChiefjudgeLoretta C. Biggs
Websitewww.ncmd.uscourts.gov

United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina is a federal trial court with jurisdiction over a central portion of North Carolina. It was created by an act of the United States Congress in 1927, splitting from the former single Eastern District. The court hears cases arising under federal law and its decisions are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

History

The district was established on March 2, 1927, by 44 Stat. 1339, as part of a congressional effort to manage increasing caseloads across the state. Prior to its creation, all federal cases in North Carolina were handled by the Eastern District, which was established in 1790 following the Judiciary Act of 1789. The division created the Western District simultaneously, with the Middle District taking a central portion of the state. Key early judicial figures included Judge Johnson J. Hayes, who presided over the court's initial sessions. The district's boundaries have remained largely stable, encompassing cities like Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Durham.

Jurisdiction and organization

The Middle District's jurisdiction comprises 24 counties, including Alamance, Forsyth, Guilford, and Wake. It has jurisdiction over all federal crimes, civil actions under the Constitution, federal statutes, and treaties, as well as disputes between citizens of different states where the amount exceeds $75,000. The court is organized into divisions for administrative purposes, with primary locations in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Durham. The court operates under the oversight of the Judicial Conference of the United States and utilizes both Article III judges and magistrate judges to manage its docket.

Current judges

As of 2023, the court has four active Article III judgeships and several senior judges. The chief judge is Loretta C. Biggs, appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate in 2014. Other active judges include Catherine C. Eagles, appointed by Obama, and Thomas D. Schroeder, appointed by President George W. Bush. The court also includes magistrate judges such as L. Patrick Auld and Joe L. Webster, who handle preliminary proceedings and certain trials with consent of the parties. Vacancies are filled through nomination by the President of the United States and confirmation by the Senate.

Former judges

Notable former judges of the court include Eugene A. Gordon, who served from 1964 to 1992 and oversaw significant civil rights litigation. Judge Frank W. Bullock Jr. served from 1982 to 2006, presiding over complex commercial and constitutional cases. Judge N. Carlton Tilley Jr., appointed by President Bill Clinton, served from 1993 to 2005. The court's first judge, Johnson J. Hayes, served from 1927 to 1967, guiding the district through the Great Depression and World War II. Other distinguished jurists include James B. McMillan, who later served on the Western District.

Courthouses

The main courthouse is the L. Richardson Preyer Federal Building in Greensboro, named for former Congressman L. Richardson Preyer. This facility houses courtrooms and chambers for multiple judges. The district also maintains the Hiram H. Ward Federal Building in Winston-Salem, and utilizes space in the Terry Sanford Federal Building in Durham. These courthouses are managed by the General Services Administration and feature courtrooms equipped for modern proceedings, including secure facilities for high-profile trials.

Notable cases

The court has presided over several landmark cases. In *United States v. MacDonald*, it handled the murder trial of Jeffrey MacDonald, a former Green Beret convicted of killing his family, a case later scrutinized by the Fourth Circuit. The district was central to litigation surrounding the Voting Rights Act of 1965, including cases affecting North Carolina's congressional districts. It also adjudicated significant environmental lawsuits under the Clean Water Act involving the Cape Fear River and major pharmaceutical litigation, such as cases related to opioid distribution by companies like Purdue Pharma.

Category:United States district courts Category:North Carolina law Category:1927 establishments in North Carolina