The United States Court of International Trade, formerly the United States Customs Court, and before that the Board of General Appraisers, is an Article III court, with full powers in law and equity. The Customs Court Act of 1980 replaced the old United States Customs Court with the United States Court of International Trade. The Court has nine sitting Judges, as well as Senior Judges. The Court sits in New York City, although it is authorized to sit elsewhere, including in foreign nations.
History
In 1890, the United States Congress passed legislation creating the Board of General Appraisers, a quasi-judicial administrative unit within the United States Department of the Treasury. The Board had nine members appointed by the President of the United States and empowered to review decisions of United States Customs officials concerning the amount of duties to be paid on importations.[1]
In 1926, Congress responded to the increasing number and complexity of customs cases by replacing the Board of General Appraisers with the United States Customs Court, an independent Article I tribunal, retaining the jurisdiction and powers of the Board of General Appraisers. In 1928, the United States Customs Court became the first federal tribunal in the United States to have a woman judge,[2] when President Calvin Coolidge nominated Genevieve R. Cline to the court.[3] Although many members of the United States Senate objected to Cline's appointment, both because of her gender, and because they believed she was self-taught and had no judicial experience, her supporters advocated strongly for her, including the Katherine Pike, president of the National Association of Women Lawyers and a number of club-women. Cline won U.S. Senate confirmation on May 25, 1928, received her commission on May 26, 1928, and took her oath of office in the Cleveland Federal Building on June 5, 1928.[4]
In 1956, Congress made the United States Customs Court an Article III tribunal, again without changing its jurisdiction, powers, or procedures. After making some procedural changes in the Customs Courts Act of 1970, Congress addressed substantive issues concerning the court's jurisdiction and remedial powers in the Customs Courts Act of 1980, which broadened the power of the court and renamed it the United States Court of International Trade.[1]
Jurisdiction
The Court possesses limited subject matter jurisdiction, meaning that it may hear only cases involving particular international trade and customs law questions. For example, the Court hears disputes such as those involving protests filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, decisions regarding Trade Adjustment Assistance by the United States Department of Labor or United States Department of Agriculture, customs broker licensing, and disputes relating to determinations made by the United States International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration regarding anti-dumping and countervailing duties.
There is one notable exception to the Court's jurisdiction. In cases involving antidumping and countervailing duties imposed on Canadian or Mexican merchandise, an interested party can request that the case be heard before a special ad hoc binational panel organized under Chapter 19 of the 1988 Canadian-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.
Procedure
Most cases are heard by a single judge. If a case challenges the constitutionality of a U.S. law or has important implications regarding the administration or interpretation of the customs laws, then it may be heard by a three-judge panel. Many Judges of the Court of International Trade also regularly sit by designation on three-judge panels of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Although the Court maintains its own rules of procedure, they are patterned for the most part on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The court has held that decisions interpreting the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are "instructive" in interpreting its own rules.
Courthouse
The James L. Watson Court of International Trade Building, located on Foley Square in lower Manhattan in New York City, houses the court. Also known as 1 Federal Plaza, it was built in 1968 adjacent to the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building.[5]
In 2003, the building was named in honor of James L. Watson, a judge of the United States Customs Court from 1964 to 1980, and of the Court of International Trade from 1980 to 2001.[6]
Current composition of the court
Judges of the United States Court of International Trade
(current as of March 1, 2015)
- By virtue of his seniority of age, Judge Barnett holds seniority over Judge Kelly, despite their identical commission dates.
Vacancies and pending nominations
Past Judges of the United States Court of International Trade
# |
Judge |
State |
Born–died |
Active service |
Chief Judge |
Age at appointment |
Senior status |
Appointed by |
Reason for termination |
— |
Rosenstein, Samuel MurraySamuel Murray Rosenstein |
NY |
1909–1995 |
— |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
1980–1995 |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
death |
1 |
Rao, Paul PeterPaul Peter Rao |
NY |
1899–1988 |
1980–1988 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
death |
2 |
Ford, MorganMorgan Ford |
NY |
1911–1992 |
1980–1985 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
1985–1992 |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
death |
3 |
Richardson, ScovelScovel Richardson |
NY |
1912–1982 |
1980–1982 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
death |
4 |
Landis, Jr., FrederickFrederick Landis, Jr. |
NY |
1912–1990 |
1980–1983 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
1983–1990 |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
death |
5 |
Watson, James LopezJames Lopez Watson |
NY |
1922–2001 |
1980–1991 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
1991–2001 |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
death |
6 |
Maletz, Herbert N.Herbert N. Maletz |
NY |
1913–2002 |
1980–1982 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
1982–2002 |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
death |
7 |
Newman, BernardBernard Newman |
NY |
1907–1999 |
1980–1983 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
1983–1999 |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
death |
8 |
Re, Edward D.Edward D. Re |
NY |
1920–2006 |
1980–1991 |
1980–1991 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
retirement |
9 |
Boe, NilsNils Boe |
NY |
1913–1992 |
1980–1984 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
1984–1992 |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
death |
12 |
DiCarlo, Dominick L.Dominick L. DiCarlo |
NY |
1928–1999 |
1984–1996 |
1991–1996 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
1996–1999 |
Reagan, Reagan |
death |
18 |
Wallach, EvanEvan Wallach |
NY |
1949–present |
1995–2011 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Clinton, Clinton |
reappointment |
Judges of the United States Customs Court
# |
Judge |
State |
Born–died |
Active service |
Chief Judge |
Age at appointment |
Senior status |
Appointed by |
Reason for termination |
1 |
Howell, William BarberieWilliam Barberie Howell |
NY |
1865–1927 |
1926–1927 |
1926–1927 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
death |
2 |
Fischer, Israel F.Israel F. Fischer |
NY |
1858–1940 |
1926–1932 |
1927–1932 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
retirement |
3 |
Waite, Byron SylvesterByron Sylvester Waite |
NY |
1852–1930 |
1926–1930 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
retirement |
4 |
McClelland, Charles PaulCharles Paul McClelland |
NY |
1854–1944 |
1926–1939 |
1934–1939 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
retirement |
5 |
Sullivan, Jerry BartholomewJerry Bartholomew Sullivan |
NY |
1859–1948 |
1926–1939 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
retirement |
6 |
Brown, George StewartGeorge Stewart Brown |
NY |
1871–1941 |
1926–1941 |
1939–1940 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
retirement |
7 |
Adamson, William C.William C. Adamson |
NY |
1854–1929 |
1926–1928 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
retirement |
8 |
Weller, George EmeryGeorge Emery Weller |
NY |
1857–1932 |
1926–1930 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
retirement |
9 |
Young, George M.George M. Young |
NY |
1870–1932 |
1926–1932 |
1932–1932 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Operation of law, Operation of law |
death |
10 |
Tilson, William JosiahWilliam Josiah Tilson |
NY |
1871–1949 |
1928–1949 |
1932–1934 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Coolidge, Coolidge |
death |
11 |
Cline, Genevieve R.Genevieve R. Cline |
NY |
1877–1959 |
1928–1953 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Coolidge, Coolidge |
retirement |
12 |
Kincheloe, David HayesDavid Hayes Kincheloe |
NY |
1877–1950 |
1930–1948 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Hoover, Hoover |
retirement |
13 |
Evans, Walter HowardWalter Howard Evans |
NY |
1870–1959 |
1931–1941 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Hoover, Hoover |
retirement |
14 |
Dallinger, Frederick W.Frederick W. Dallinger |
NY |
1871–1955 |
1932–1942 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Hoover, Hoover |
retirement |
15 |
Keefe, William JohnWilliam John Keefe |
NY |
1873–1955 |
1933–1947 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
retirement |
16 |
Walker, Thomas JosephThomas Joseph Walker |
NY |
1877–1945 |
1940–1945 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
death |
17 |
Oliver, WebsterWebster Oliver |
NY |
1888–1969 |
1940–1967 |
1940–1965 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
1967–1969 |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
death |
18 |
Ekwall, William A.William A. Ekwall |
NY |
1887–1956 |
1942–1956 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
death |
19 |
Cole, Jr., William PuringtonWilliam Purington Cole, Jr. |
NY |
1889–1957 |
1942–1952 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
reappointment |
20 |
Lawrence, Charles DrummondCharles Drummond Lawrence |
NY |
1878–1975 |
1943–1965 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
1965–1975 |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
death |
21 |
Mollison, Irvin CharlesIrvin Charles Mollison |
NY |
1898–1962 |
1945–1962 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Truman, Truman |
death |
22 |
Johnson, JedJed Johnson |
NY |
1888–1963 |
1947–1963 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Truman, Truman |
death |
23 |
Rao, Paul PeterPaul Peter Rao |
NY |
1899–1988 |
1948–1980 |
1965–1971 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Truman, Truman |
reassignment |
24 |
Ford, MorganMorgan Ford |
NY |
1911–1992 |
1949–1980 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Truman, Truman |
reassignment |
25 |
Wilson, David JohnDavid John Wilson |
NY |
1887–1976 |
1954–1966 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
1966–1976 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
26 |
Alger, Mary DonlonMary Donlon Alger |
NY |
1893–1977 |
1955–1966 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
1966–1977 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
27 |
Richardson, ScovelScovel Richardson |
NY |
1912–1982 |
1957–1980 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
reassignment |
28 |
Nichols, Jr., PhilipPhilip Nichols, Jr. |
NY |
1907–1990 |
1964–1966 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
reappointment |
29 |
Landis, Jr., FrederickFrederick Landis, Jr. |
NY |
1912–1990 |
1965–1980 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
reassignment |
30 |
Watson, James LopezJames Lopez Watson |
NY |
1922–2001 |
1966–1980 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
reassignment |
31 |
Beckworth, LindleyLindley Beckworth |
NY |
1913–1984 |
1967–1968 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
resignation |
32 |
Maletz, Herbert N.Herbert N. Maletz |
NY |
1913–2002 |
1967–1980 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
reassignment |
33 |
Newman, BernardBernard Newman |
NY |
1907–1999 |
1968–1980 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
reassignment |
34 |
Rosenstein, Samuel MurraySamuel Murray Rosenstein |
NY |
1909–1995 |
1968–1970 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
1970–1980 |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
reassignment |
35 |
Re, Edward D.Edward D. Re |
NY |
1920–2006 |
1968–1980 |
1977–1980 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
reassignment |
36 |
Boe, NilsNils Boe |
NY |
1913–1992 |
1971–1980 |
1971–1977 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Nixon, Nixon |
reassignment |
Members of the Board of General Appraisers
# |
Member |
State |
Born/Died |
Active service |
President |
Senior status |
Appointed by |
Reason for termination |
1 |
Ham, Charles H.Charles H. Ham |
NY |
1831–1902 |
1890–1902 |
1897–1902 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Harrison, B.B. Harrison |
resignation |
2 |
Tichenor, George C.George C. Tichenor |
NY |
1838–1902 |
1890–1902 |
1890–1897 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Harrison, B.B. Harrison |
death |
3 |
Wilkinson, Jr., Joseph BiddleJoseph Biddle Wilkinson, Jr. |
NY |
1845–1915 |
1890–1899 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Harrison, B.B. Harrison |
resignation |
4 |
Jewell, James A.James A. Jewell |
NY |
????–1912 |
1890–1903 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Harrison, B.B. Harrison |
resignation |
5 |
Somerville, Henderson M.Henderson M. Somerville |
NY |
1837–1915 |
1890–1915 |
1910–1914 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Harrison, B.B. Harrison |
death |
6 |
Shurtleff, Ferdinand N.Ferdinand N. Shurtleff |
NY |
1837–1903 |
1890–1899 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Harrison, B.B. Harrison |
removal[Note 1] |
7 |
Stackpole, Joseph LewisJoseph Lewis Stackpole |
NY |
1838–1904 |
1890–1890 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Harrison, B.B. Harrison |
resignation |
8 |
Sharretts, Thaddeus S.Thaddeus S. Sharretts |
NY |
1850–1926 |
1890–1913 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Harrison, B.B. Harrison |
removal[Note 2] |
9 |
Sharpe, George H.George H. Sharpe |
NY |
1828–1900 |
1890–1899 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Harrison, B.B. Harrison |
resignation |
10 |
Lunt, Wilbur FiskWilbur Fisk Lunt |
NY |
1848–1908 |
1891–1908 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Harrison, B.B. Harrison |
death |
11 |
Howell, William BarberieWilliam Barberie Howell |
NY |
1865–1927 |
1899–1926 |
1925–1926 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
McKinley, McKinley |
reassignment |
12 |
Fischer, Israel F.Israel F. Fischer |
NY |
1858–1940 |
1899–1926 |
1902–1905 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
McKinley, McKinley |
reassignment |
13 |
De Vries, MarionMarion De Vries |
NY |
1865–1939 |
1900–1910 |
1906–1910 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
McKinley, McKinley |
reappointment |
14 |
Waite, Byron SylvesterByron Sylvester Waite |
NY |
1852–1930 |
1902–1926 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt |
reassignment |
15 |
McClelland, Charles PaulCharles Paul McClelland |
NY |
1854–1944 |
1903–1926 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt |
reassignment |
16 |
Hay, Eugene GanoEugene Gano Hay |
NY |
1853–1933 |
1903–1923 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt |
retirement |
17 |
Chamberlain, RoyRoy Chamberlain |
NY |
1862–???? |
1908–1913 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt |
removal[Note 3] |
18 |
Cooper, Samuel B.Samuel B. Cooper |
NY |
1850–1918 |
1910–1918 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Taft, Taft |
death |
19 |
Sullivan, Jerry BartholomewJerry Bartholomew Sullivan |
NY |
1859–1948 |
1913–1926 |
1914–1925 |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Wilson, Wilson |
reassignment |
20 |
Brown, George StewartGeorge Stewart Brown |
NY |
1871–1941 |
1913–1926 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Wilson, Wilson |
reassignment |
21 |
Adamson, William C.William C. Adamson |
NY |
1854–1929 |
1917–1926 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Wilson, Wilson |
reassignment |
22 |
Weller, George EmeryGeorge Emery Weller |
NY |
1857–1932 |
1919–1926 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Wilson, Wilson |
reassignment |
23 |
Young, George M.George M. Young |
NY |
1870–1932 |
1924–1926 |
— |
{{{age at appointment}}} |
— |
Coolidge, Coolidge |
reassignment |
Succession of seats
Seat 1 |
Seat established on June 10, 1890 by 26 Stat. 131, 136 |
Ham | 1890–1902 |
Waite | 1902–1930 |
Evans | 1931–1941 |
Ekwall | 1942–1956 |
Richardson | 1957–1982 |
Carman | 1983–2014 |
vacant | 2014–present |
|
Seat 2 |
Seat established on June 10, 1890 by 26 Stat. 131, 136 |
Tichenor | 1890–1902 |
Hay | 1903–1923 |
Young | 1924–1932 |
Keefe | 1933–1947 |
Johnson | 1947–1963 |
Watson | 1966–1991 |
Pogue | 1995–2014 |
vacant | 2014–present |
|
Seat 3 |
Seat established on June 10, 1890 by 26 Stat. 131, 136 |
Wilkinson, Jr. | 1890–1899 |
De Vries | 1900–1910 |
Cooper | 1910–1918 |
Weller | 1919–1930 |
Kincheloe | 1930–1948 |
Rao | 1948–1988 |
Goldberg | 1991–2001 |
Stanceu | 2003–present |
|
Seat 4 |
Seat established on June 10, 1890 by 26 Stat. 131, 136 |
Jewell | 1890–1903 |
McClelland | 1903–1939 |
Oliver | 1940–1967 |
Rosenstein | 1968–1970 |
Boe | 1971–1984 |
Tsoucalas | 1986–1996 |
Ridgway | 1998–present |
|
|
Seat 5 |
Seat established on June 10, 1890 by 26 Stat. 131, 136 |
Somerville | 1890–1915 |
Adamson | 1917–1928 |
Cline | 1928–1953 |
Alger | 1955–1966 |
Newman | 1968–1983 |
DiCarlo | 1984–1996 |
Barzilay | 1998–2011 |
Barnett | 2013–present |
|
Seat 6 |
Seat established on June 10, 1890 by 26 Stat. 131, 136 |
Shurtleff | 1890–1899 |
Fischer | 1899–1932 |
Dallinger | 1932–1942 |
Lawrence | 1943–1965 |
Landis, Jr. | 1965–1983 |
Aquilino, Jr. | 1985–2004 |
Gordon | 2006–present |
|
Seat 7 |
Seat established on June 10, 1890 by 26 Stat. 131, 136 |
Stackpole | 1890–1890 |
Lunt | 1891–1908 |
Chamberlain | 1908–1913 |
Brown | 1913–1941 |
Cole, Jr. | 1942–1952 |
Wilson | 1954–1966 |
Beckworth | 1967–1968 |
Re | 1968–1991 |
Wallach | 1995–2011 |
Kelly | 2013–present |
|
Seat 8 |
Seat established on June 10, 1890 by 26 Stat. 131, 136 |
Sharretts | 1890–1913 |
Sullivan | 1913–1939 |
Walker | 1940–1945 |
Mollison | 1945–1962 |
Nichols, Jr. | 1964–1966 |
Maletz | 1967–1982 |
Restani | 1983–2015 |
vacant | 2015–present |
|
|
Seat 9 |
Seat established on June 10, 1890 by 26 Stat. 131, 136 |
Sharpe | 1890–1899 |
Howell | 1899–1927 |
Tilson | 1928–1949 |
Ford | 1949–1985 |
Musgrave | 1987–1997 |
Eaton | 1999–2014 |
vacant | 2014–present |
|
|
References
- 1 2 History of the United States Court of International Trade.
- ↑ Jo Freeman, A Room at a Time: How Women Entered Party Politics, 2002: Rowman and Littlefield, p. 216 (ISBN 084769805X)
- ↑ "The Coolidge Week", Time, May 14, 1928
- ↑ William Ganson Rose, Cleveland: the Making of a City, 1990: Kent State Univ. Press, p. 854 (ISBN 0873384288)
- ↑ Casey Nelson Blake, "Tilted Arc, and the Crisis of Public Art" in The Power of Culture: Critical Essays in American History (eds. Richard Wightman Fox & T. J. Jackson Lears), pp. 260-61, 278.
- ↑ Public Law 108-70, 108th United States Congress.
External links