Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the states of Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. The court is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, and its decisions are binding on the district courts within its jurisdiction, including the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. The court's jurisdiction also extends to cases involving federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. The court's decisions can be appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States, which has the final say on matters of federal law, as seen in cases like Marbury v. Madison and Brown v. Board of Education.

● Introduction

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals was established on June 16, 1891, as part of the Judiciary Act of 1891, which created the United States courts of appeals. The court has a rich history, with notable judges such as J. Harvie Wilkinson III and M. Blane Michael serving on the bench. The court's decisions have significant implications for the states within its jurisdiction, including North Carolina, where cases like Shelby County v. Holder have had a major impact on Voting Rights Act of 1965 enforcement. The court's jurisdiction also extends to cases involving federal laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. The court's decisions are guided by the principles of stare decisis, as established in cases like Payne v. Tennessee and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

● Jurisdiction

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over a wide range of cases, including appeals from the district courts within its jurisdiction, such as the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. The court also has jurisdiction over cases involving federal agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The court's jurisdiction extends to cases involving federal laws, such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, as well as cases involving international law, such as the Geneva Conventions and the United Nations Charter. The court's decisions are guided by the principles of federalism, as established in cases like McCulloch v. Maryland and Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority. The court's jurisdiction also extends to cases involving the National Labor Relations Act and the Fair Housing Act.

● Procedure

The procedure for appealing a case to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals involves filing a notice of appeal with the district court, as required by Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 3. The appellant must also file a brief with the court, as required by Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 28. The appellee may also file a brief, and the court may request oral argument, as seen in cases like United States v. Lopez and United States v. Morrison. The court's decisions are typically issued in the form of a written opinion, which may be published in the Federal Reporter. The court's procedure is guided by the principles of due process, as established in cases like Mathews v. Eldridge and Cleveland Board of Education v. Loudermill. The court's decisions can be appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States, which has the final say on matters of federal law.

● Notable Cases

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has decided many notable cases, including United States v. Windsor, which involved the Defense of Marriage Act, and King v. Burwell, which involved the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The court has also decided cases involving the First Amendment, such as Lamb's Chapel v. Center Moriches Union Free School District and Rosenberger v. University of Virginia. The court's decisions have significant implications for the states within its jurisdiction, including Virginia, where cases like Loving v. Virginia have had a major impact on civil rights. The court has also decided cases involving the Fourth Amendment, such as Katz v. United States and Carpenter v. United States. The court's decisions are guided by the principles of equal protection, as established in cases like Brown v. Board of Education and Regents of the University of California v. Bakke.

● Judges

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has a total of 15 active judges, including Chief Judge Roger L. Gregory and Judge Barbara Milano Keenan. The court's judges are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate, as required by Article II, Section 2 of the United States Constitution. The court's judges serve lifetime terms, as established by Article III, Section 1 of the United States Constitution. The court's judges have significant experience in the law, with many having served on the district courts or in other government positions, such as United States Attorney or Solicitor General of the United States. The court's judges are guided by the principles of judicial independence, as established in cases like Marbury v. Madison and United States v. Nixon.

● History

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has a rich history, dating back to its establishment in 1891. The court has been involved in many significant cases, including Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education. The court's decisions have had a major impact on the states within its jurisdiction, including North Carolina, where cases like Shelby County v. Holder have had a significant impact on Voting Rights Act of 1965 enforcement. The court's history is also marked by notable judges, such as J. Harvie Wilkinson III and M. Blane Michael, who have served on the bench. The court's history is guided by the principles of stare decisis, as established in cases like Payne v. Tennessee and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The court's decisions are also guided by the principles of federalism, as established in cases like McCulloch v. Maryland and Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority.

Category:United States courts of appeals