United States District Court for the District of Delaware
The United States District Court for the District of Delaware (in case citations, D. Del.) is the Federal district court having jurisdiction over the entire state of Delaware. The Court sits in Wilmington. Currently, four district judges and three magistrate judges preside over the court.
The Court is notable for hearing and trying a large number of patent and other complex commercial disputes. In addition, it has limited original and broad appellate jurisdiction over bankruptcy disputes which are filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Appeals from the Court are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which sits in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).
The current U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware is Charles M. Oberly, III.
History
The court was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, 1 Stat. 73, on September 24, 1789. From its establishment until 1946, the court had a single judge. A temporary additional judgeship was authorized on July 24, 1946, by 60 Stat. 654, and was made permanent on September 5, 1950, by 64 Stat. 578. A third judge was authorized on February 10, 1954, by 68 Stat. 8, and a fourth on July 10, 1984, by 98 Stat. 333.
Current judges
There currently are no vacancies on the court.
Former judges
# |
Judge |
State |
Born/Died |
Active service |
Chief Judge |
Senior status |
Appointed by |
Reason for termination |
1 |
Bedford, Jr., GunningGunning Bedford, Jr. |
DE |
1747–1812 |
1789–1812 |
— |
— |
Washington, Washington |
death |
2 |
Fisher, JohnJohn Fisher |
DE |
1771–1823 |
1812–1823 |
— |
— |
Madison, Madison |
death |
3 |
Hall, WillardWillard Hall |
DE |
1780–1875 |
1823–1871 |
— |
— |
Monroe, Monroe |
retirement |
4 |
Bradford, Edward GreenEdward Green Bradford |
DE |
1819–1884 |
1871–1884 |
— |
— |
Grant, Grant |
death |
5 |
Wales, Leonard EugeneLeonard Eugene Wales |
DE |
1823–1897 |
1884–1897 |
— |
— |
Arthur, Arthur |
death |
6 |
Bradford II, Edward GreenEdward Green Bradford II |
DE |
1848–1928 |
1897–1918 |
— |
— |
McKinley, McKinley |
retirement |
7 |
Morris, Hugh M.Hugh M. Morris |
DE |
1878–1966 |
1919–1930 |
— |
— |
Wilson, Wilson |
resignation |
8 |
Nields, John PercyJohn Percy Nields |
DE |
1868–1943 |
1930–1941 |
— |
1941–1943 |
Hoover, Hoover |
death |
9 |
Leahy, Paul ConwayPaul Conway Leahy |
DE |
1904–1966 |
1942–1957 |
1948–1957 |
1957–1966 |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
death |
10 |
Rodney, Richard SeymourRichard Seymour Rodney |
DE |
1882–1963 |
1946–1957 |
— |
1957–1963 |
Truman, Truman |
death |
11 |
Wright, Caleb MerrillCaleb Merrill Wright |
DE |
1908–2001 |
1955–1973 |
1957–1973 |
1973–2001 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
12 |
Layton III, Caleb RodneyCaleb Rodney Layton III |
DE |
1907–1988 |
1957–1968 |
— |
1968–1988 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
13 |
Steel, Jr., Edwin DeHavenEdwin DeHaven Steel, Jr. |
DE |
1904–1986 |
1958–1969 |
— |
1969–1986 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
14 |
Latchum, James LevinJames Levin Latchum |
DE |
1918–2004 |
1968–1983 |
1973–1983 |
1983–2004 |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
death |
15 |
Stapleton, Walter KingWalter King Stapleton |
DE |
1934–present |
1970–1985 |
1983–1985 |
— |
Nixon, Nixon |
reappointment |
16 |
Murray Merle Schwartz |
DE |
1931-2013 |
1974–1989 |
1985–1989 |
1989–2013 |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
18 |
Farnan, Jr., Joseph JamesJoseph James Farnan, Jr. |
DE |
1945–present |
1985–2010 |
1996–2000 |
— |
Reagan, Reagan |
retirement |
19 |
Roth, Jane RichardsJane Richards Roth |
DE |
1935–present |
1985–1991 |
— |
— |
Reagan, Reagan |
reappointment |
21 |
McKelvie, Roderick R.Roderick R. McKelvie |
DE |
1946–present |
1992–2002 |
— |
— |
Bush, G.H.W.G.H.W. Bush |
resignation |
23 |
Jordan, Kent A.Kent A. Jordan |
DE |
1957–present |
2002–2006 |
— |
— |
Bush, G.W.G.W. Bush |
reappointment |
Succession of seats
|
Seat 2 |
Seat established on July 24, 1946 by 60 Stat. 654 (temporary) |
Seat made permanent on September 5, 1950 by 64 Stat. 578 |
Rodney | 1946–1957 |
Layton III | 1957–1968 |
Latchum | 1968–1983 |
Longobardi | 1984–1997 |
Sleet | 1998–present |
|
|
Seat 4 |
Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333 |
Farnan, Jr. | 1985–2010 |
Andrews | 2011–present |
|
|
See also
Notes
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