The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (in case citations, D.D.C.) is a federal district court in Washington, D.C. Along with the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii and the High Court of American Samoa, it also sometimes handles federal issues that arise in the territory of American Samoa, which has no local federal court or territorial court.
United States District Court for the District of Columbia | |
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(D.D.C.) | |
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![]() Location of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | |
Location | E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse (Washington, D.C., U.S.) |
Appeals to | District of Columbia Circuit |
Established | March 3, 1863 |
Judges | 15 |
Chief Judge | James Boasberg |
Officers of the court | |
U.S. Attorney | Ed Martin (acting) |
U.S. Marshal | (acting) |
www.dcd.uscourts.gov |
Appeals from the District Court are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit.
The acting United States attorney for the District of Columbia is Edward R. Martin Jr. after Matthew M. Graves resigned.
History

The court was established by Congress in 1863 as the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, replacing the abolished circuit and district courts of the District of Columbia that had been in place since 1801. The court consisted of four justices, including a chief justice, and was granted the same powers and jurisdiction as the earlier circuit court. Any of the justices could convene a United States circuit court or a local criminal court. In 1936, Congress renamed the court the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia. Its current name was adopted in 1948, and from then on justices were known as judges.
Originally housed in the former District of Columbia City Hall, the court now sits in the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse located at 333 Constitution Avenue, N.W., in Washington, D.C. The District has no local district attorney or equivalent, and so local prosecutorial matters also fall into the jurisdiction of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. Assistant United States attorneys (AUSAs) are tasked with prosecution of not only federal crimes but also crimes that would normally be left to the state prosecutor's discretion. The District Court has the largest U.S. Attorney's Office in the nation, with around 250 assistant U.S. attorneys.
Current judges
As of January 2, 2025[update]:
# | Title | Judge | Duty station | Born | Term of service | Appointed by | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Active | Chief | Senior | ||||||
98 | Chief Judge | James Boasberg | Washington, D.C. | 1963 | 2011–present | 2023–present | — | Obama |
100 | District Judge | Rudolph Contreras | Washington, D.C. | 1962 | 2012–present | — | — | Obama |
102 | District Judge | Christopher R. Cooper | Washington, D.C. | 1966 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
103 | District Judge | Tanya Chutkan | Washington, D.C. | 1962 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
104 | District Judge | Randolph Moss | Washington, D.C. | 1961 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
105 | District Judge | Amit Mehta | Washington, D.C. | 1971 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
106 | District Judge | Timothy J. Kelly | Washington, D.C. | 1969 | 2017–present | — | — | Trump |
107 | District Judge | Trevor N. McFadden | Washington, D.C. | 1978 | 2017–present | — | — | Trump |
108 | District Judge | Dabney L. Friedrich | Washington, D.C. | 1967 | 2017–present | — | — | Trump |
109 | District Judge | Carl J. Nichols | Washington, D.C. | 1970 | 2019–present | — | — | Trump |
111 | District Judge | Jia M. Cobb | Washington, D.C. | 1980 | 2021–present | — | — | Biden |
112 | District Judge | Ana C. Reyes | Washington, D.C. | 1974 | 2023–present | — | — | Biden |
113 | District Judge | Loren AliKhan | Washington, D.C. | 1983 | 2023–present | — | — | Biden |
114 | District Judge | Amir Ali | Washington, D.C. | 1985 | 2024–present | — | — | Biden |
115 | District Judge | Sparkle L. Sooknanan | Washington, D.C. | 1983 | 2025–present | — | — | Biden |
77 | Senior Judge | Thomas F. Hogan | inactive | 1938 | 1982–2008 | 2001–2008 | 2008–present | Reagan |
81 | Senior Judge | Royce Lamberth | Washington, D.C. San Antonio, Texas | 1943 | 1987–2013 | 2008–2013 | 2013–present | Reagan |
83 | Senior Judge | Paul L. Friedman | Washington, D.C. | 1944 | 1994–2009 | — | 2009–present | Clinton |
85 | Senior Judge | Emmet G. Sullivan | Washington, D.C. | 1947 | 1994–2021 | — | 2021–present | Clinton |
88 | Senior Judge | Colleen Kollar-Kotelly | Washington, D.C. | 1943 | 1997–2023 | — | 2023–present | Clinton |
89 | Senior Judge | Henry H. Kennedy Jr. | inactive | 1948 | 1997–2011 | — | 2011–present | Clinton |
90 | Senior Judge | Richard W. Roberts | inactive | 1953 | 1998–2016 | 2013–2016 | 2016–present | Clinton |
91 | Senior Judge | Ellen Segal Huvelle | inactive | 1948 | 1999–2014 | — | 2014–present | Clinton |
92 | Senior Judge | Reggie Walton | Washington, D.C. | 1949 | 2001–2015 | — | 2015–present | G.W. Bush |
93 | Senior Judge | John D. Bates | Washington, D.C. | 1946 | 2001–2014 | — | 2014–present | G.W. Bush |
94 | Senior Judge | Richard J. Leon | Washington, D.C. | 1949 | 2002–2016 | — | 2016–present | G.W. Bush |
95 | Senior Judge | Rosemary M. Collyer | inactive | 1945 | 2002–2016 | — | 2016–present | G.W. Bush |
96 | Senior Judge | Beryl Howell | Washington, D.C. | 1956 | 2010–2024 | 2016–2023 | 2024–present | Obama |
99 | Senior Judge | Amy Berman Jackson | Washington, D.C. | 1954 | 2011–2023 | — | 2023–present | Obama |
- Judge Lamberth has sat with the Western District of Texas for several months each year since 2015.
Former judges
# | Judge | State | Born–died | Active service | Chief Judge | Senior status | Appointed by | Reason for termination |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | David Kellogg Cartter | DC | 1812–1887 | 1863–1887 | 1863–1887 | — | Lincoln | death |
2 | George P. Fisher | DC | 1817–1899 | 1863–1870 | — | — | Lincoln | resignation |
3 | Abram B. Olin | DC | 1808–1879 | 1863–1879 | — | — | Lincoln | retirement |
4 | Andrew Wylie | DC | 1814–1905 | 1863 1863–1885 | — | — | Lincoln Lincoln | confirmation reconsidered retirement |
5 | David Campbell Humphreys | DC | 1817–1879 | 1870–1879 | — | — | Grant | death |
6 | Arthur MacArthur Sr. | DC | 1815–1896 | 1870–1887 | — | — | Grant | retirement |
7 | Alexander Burton Hagner | DC | 1826–1915 | 1879–1903 | — | — | Hayes | retirement |
8 | Walter Smith Cox | DC | 1826–1902 | 1879–1899 | — | — | Hayes | retirement |
9 | Charles Pinckney James | DC | 1818–1899 | 1879–1892 | — | — | Hayes | retirement |
10 | William Matthews Merrick | DC | 1818–1889 | 1885–1889 | — | — | Cleveland | death |
11 | Martin V. Montgomery | DC | 1840–1898 | 1887–1892 | — | — | Cleveland | resignation |
12 | Edward Franklin Bingham | DC | 1828–1907 | 1887–1903 | 1887–1903 | — | Cleveland | retirement |
13 | Andrew Coyle Bradley | DC | 1844–1902 | 1889–1902 | — | — | B. Harrison | death |
14 | Louis E. McComas | DC | 1846–1907 | 1892–1899 | — | — | B. Harrison | resignation |
15 | Charles Cleaves Cole | DC | 1841–1905 | 1893–1901 | — | — | B. Harrison | resignation |
16 | Harry M. Clabaugh | DC | 1856–1914 | 1899–1903 | — | — | McKinley | appointment as chief justice |
16.1 | Harry M. Clabaugh | DC | 1856–1914 | 1903–1914 | 1903–1914 | — | T. Roosevelt | death |
17 | Job Barnard | DC | 1844–1923 | 1899–1914 | — | — | McKinley | retirement |
18 | Thomas H. Anderson | DC | 1848–1916 | 1901–1916 | — | — | McKinley T. Roosevelt | death |
19 | Ashley Mulgrave Gould | DC | 1859–1921 | 1902–1921 | — | — | T. Roosevelt | death |
20 | Jeter Connelly Pritchard | DC | 1857–1921 | 1903–1904 | — | — | T. Roosevelt | elevation to 4th Cir. |
21 | Daniel Thew Wright | DC | 1864–1943 | 1903–1914 | — | — | T. Roosevelt | resignation |
22 | Wendell Phillips Stafford | DC | 1861–1953 | 1904–1931 | — | — | T. Roosevelt | retirement |
23 | J. Harry Covington | DC | 1870–1942 | 1914–1918 | 1914–1918 | — | Wilson | resignation |
24 | Walter I. McCoy | DC | 1859–1933 | 1914–1918 | — | — | Wilson | appointment as chief justice |
24.1 | Walter I. McCoy | DC | 1859–1933 | 1918–1929 | 1918–1929 | — | Wilson | retirement |
25 | Frederick Lincoln Siddons | DC | 1864–1931 | 1915–1931 | — | — | Wilson | death |
26 | William Hitz | DC | 1872–1935 | 1916–1931 | — | — | Wilson | elevation to D.C. Cir. |
27 | Thomas Jennings Bailey | DC | 1867–1963 | 1918–1950 | — | 1950–1963 | Wilson | death |
28 | Adolph A. Hoehling Jr. | DC | 1868–1941 | 1921–1927 | — | — | Harding | resignation |
29 | Peyton Gordon | DC | 1870–1946 | 1928–1941 | — | 1941–1946 | Coolidge | death |
30 | Alfred Adams Wheat | DC | 1867–1943 | 1929–1930 | — | — | Hoover | appointment as chief justice |
30.1 | Alfred Adams Wheat | DC | 1867–1943 | 1930–1941 | 1930–1941 | 1941–1943 | Hoover | death |
31 | Jesse Corcoran Adkins | DC | 1879–1955 | 1930–1946 | — | 1946–1955 | Hoover | death |
32 | Oscar Raymond Luhring | DC | 1879–1944 | 1930–1944 | — | — | Hoover | death |
33 | Joseph Winston Cox | DC | 1875–1939 | 1930–1939 | — | — | Hoover | death |
34 | James McPherson Proctor | DC | 1882–1953 | 1931–1948 | — | — | Hoover | elevation to D.C. Cir. |
35 | F. Dickinson Letts | DC | 1875–1965 | 1931–1961 | 1958–1959 | 1961–1965 | Hoover | death |
36 | Daniel William O'Donoghue | DC | 1876–1948 | 1931–1946 | — | 1946–1948 | Hoover | death |
37 | Bolitha James Laws | DC | 1891–1958 | 1938–1945 | — | — | F. Roosevelt | appointment as chief justice |
37.1 | Bolitha James Laws | DC | 1891–1958 | 1945–1948 | 1945–1948 | — | F. Roosevelt | appointment as district judge |
37.2 | Bolitha James Laws | DC | 1891–1958 | 1948–1958 | 1948–1958 | — | operation of law | death |
38 | Thomas Alan Goldsborough | DC | 1877–1951 | 1939–1951 | — | — | F. Roosevelt | death |
39 | James Ward Morris | DC | 1890–1960 | 1939–1960 | — | — | F. Roosevelt | death |
40 | David Andrew Pine | DC | 1891–1970 | 1940–1965 | 1959–1961 | 1965–1970 | F. Roosevelt | death |
41 | Matthew Francis McGuire | DC | 1898–1986 | 1941–1966 | 1961–1966 | 1966–1986 | F. Roosevelt | death |
42 | Edward C. Eicher | DC | 1878–1944 | 1942–1944 | 1942–1944 | — | F. Roosevelt | death |
43 | Henry Albert Schweinhaut | DC | 1902–1970 | 1944–1956 | — | 1956–1970 | F. Roosevelt | death |
44 | Alexander Holtzoff | DC | 1886–1969 | 1945–1967 | — | 1967–1969 | Truman | death |
45 | Richmond Bowling Keech | DC | 1896–1986 | 1946–1966 | 1966 | 1966–1986 | Truman | death |
46 | Edward Matthew Curran | DC | 1903–1988 | 1946–1971 | 1966–1971 | 1971–1988 | Truman | death |
47 | Edward Allen Tamm | DC | 1906–1985 | 1948–1965 | — | — | Truman | elevation to D.C. Cir. |
48 | James Robert Kirkland | DC | 1903–1958 | 1949–1958 | — | — | Truman | death |
49 | Burnita Shelton Matthews | DC | 1894–1988 | 1949–1968 | — | 1968–1988 | Truman | death |
50 | Charles F. McLaughlin | DC | 1887–1976 | 1949–1964 | — | 1964–1976 | Truman | death |
51 | Walter M. Bastian | DC | 1891–1975 | 1950–1954 | — | — | Truman | elevation to D.C. Cir. |
52 | Luther Youngdahl | DC | 1896–1978 | 1951–1966 | — | 1966–1978 | Truman | death |
53 | Joseph Charles McGarraghy | DC | 1897–1975 | 1954–1967 | — | 1967–1975 | Eisenhower | death |
54 | John Sirica | DC | 1904–1992 | 1957–1977 | 1971–1974 | 1977–1992 | Eisenhower | death |
55 | George Luzerne Hart Jr. | DC | 1905–1984 | 1958–1979 | 1974–1975 | 1979–1984 | Eisenhower | death |
56 | Leonard Patrick Walsh | DC | 1904–1980 | 1959–1971 | — | 1971–1980 | Eisenhower | death |
57 | William Blakely Jones | DC | 1907–1979 | 1962–1977 | 1975–1977 | 1977–1979 | Kennedy | death |
58 | Spottswood William Robinson III | DC | 1916–1998 | 1964–1966 | — | — | L. Johnson | elevation to D.C. Cir. |
59 | Howard Francis Corcoran | DC | 1906–1989 | 1965–1977 | — | 1977–1989 | L. Johnson | death |
60 | William B. Bryant | DC | 1911–2005 | 1965–1982 | 1977–1981 | 1982–2005 | L. Johnson | death |
61 | Oliver Gasch | DC | 1906–1999 | 1965–1981 | — | 1981–1999 | L. Johnson | death |
62 | John Lewis Smith Jr. | DC | 1912–1992 | 1966–1983 | 1981–1982 | 1983–1992 | L. Johnson | death |
63 | Aubrey Eugene Robinson Jr. | DC | 1922–2000 | 1966–1992 | 1982–1992 | 1992–2000 | L. Johnson | death |
64 | Joseph Cornelius Waddy | DC | 1911–1978 | 1967–1978 | — | — | L. Johnson | death |
65 | Gerhard Gesell | DC | 1910–1993 | 1967–1993 | — | 1993–1993 | L. Johnson | death |
66 | June Lazenby Green | DC | 1914–2001 | 1968–1984 | — | 1984–2001 | L. Johnson | death |
67 | John H. Pratt | DC | 1910–1995 | 1968–1989 | — | 1989–1995 | L. Johnson | death |
68 | Barrington D. Parker | DC | 1915–1993 | 1969–1985 | — | 1985–1993 | Nixon | death |
69 | Charles Robert Richey | DC | 1923–1997 | 1971–1997 | — | 1997–1997 | Nixon | death |
70 | Thomas Aquinas Flannery | DC | 1918–2007 | 1971–1985 | — | 1985–2007 | Nixon | death |
71 | Louis F. Oberdorfer | DC | 1919–2013 | 1977–1992 | — | 1992–2013 | Carter | death |
72 | Harold H. Greene | DC | 1923–2000 | 1978–1995 | — | 1995–2000 | Carter | death |
73 | John Garrett Penn | DC | 1932–2007 | 1979–1998 | 1992–1997 | 1998–2007 | Carter | death |
74 | Joyce Hens Green | DC | 1928–2024 | 1979–1995 | — | 1995–2024 | Carter | death |
75 | Norma Holloway Johnson | DC | 1932–2011 | 1980–2001 | 1997–2001 | 2001–2003 | Carter | retirement |
76 | Thomas Penfield Jackson | DC | 1937–2013 | 1982–2002 | — | 2002–2004 | Reagan | retirement |
78 | Stanley S. Harris | MD | 1927–2021 | 1983–1996 | — | 1996–2001 | Reagan | retirement |
79 | George Hughes Revercomb | VA | 1929–1993 | 1985–1993 | — | — | Reagan | death |
80 | Stanley Sporkin | MD | 1932–2020 | 1985–1999 | — | 1999–2000 | Reagan | retirement |
82 | Michael Boudin | DC | 1939–2025 | 1990–1992 | — | — | G. H. W. Bush | resignation |
84 | Gladys Kessler | DC | 1938–2023 | 1994–2007 | — | 2007–2023 | Clinton | death |
86 | Ricardo M. Urbina | DC | 1946–2024 | 1994–2011 | — | 2011–2012 | Clinton | retirement |
87 | James Robertson | DC | 1938–2019 | 1994–2008 | — | 2008–2010 | Clinton | retirement |
97 | Robert L. Wilkins | DC | 1963–present | 2010–2014 | — | — | Obama | elevation to D.C. Cir. |
101 | Ketanji Brown Jackson | DC | 1970–present | 2013–2021 | — | — | Obama | elevation to D.C. Cir. |
110 | Florence Y. Pan | DC | 1966–present | 2021–2022 | — | — | Biden | elevation to D.C. Cir. |
- Confirmed by the United States Senate on March 12, 1863; confirmation was reconsidered on March 13, 1863, with no subsequent vote; his nomination expired March 14, 1863.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated January 5, 1864; confirmed by the Senate on January 20 and received commission the same day.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 1, 1879, confirmed by the Senate December 10, 1879, and received commission the same day.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 14, 1885, confirmed by the Senate March 15, 1856, and received commission the same day.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 20, 1887, confirmed by the Senate January 26, 1888, and received commission the same day.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 20, 1887, confirmed by the Senate January 23, 1888, and received commission the same day.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 6, 1892, confirmed by the Senate January 25, 1893, and received commission the same day.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on November 10, 1903, confirmed by the Senate November 16, 1903, and received commission the same day.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated December 11, 1899, confirmed by the Senate December 19, 1899, and received commission the same day.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated December 5, 1901, confirmed by the Senate February 4, 1902, and received commission February 6, 1902.
- Judge Anderson was given a recess appointment by President McKinley.
- Judge Anderson was nominated by President McKinley but was appointed to the Court by (i.e., received his commission from) President Roosevelt.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated December 6, 1904, confirmed by the Senate December 13, 1904, and received commission the same day.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated December 15, 1916, confirmed by the Senate January 2, 1917, and received commission the same day.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated December 15, 1931, confirmed by the Senate February 17, 1932, and received commission February 20, 1932.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated December 15, 1931, confirmed by the Senate January 26, 1932, and received commission February 23, 1932.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated January 8, 1947, confirmed by the Senate January 22, 1947, and received commission January 24, 1947.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated January 8, 1947, confirmed by the Senate February 3, 1947, and received commission February 5, 1947.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated January 13, 1949, confirmed by the Senate March 29, 1949, and received commission April 1, 1949.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated January 5, 1950, confirmed by the Senate March 8, 1950, and received commission March 9, 1950.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated January 5, 1950, confirmed by the Senate April 4, 1950, and received commission April 7, 1950.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated January 5, 1950, confirmed by the Senate February 27, 1950, and received commission March 1, 1950.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated November 27, 1950, confirmed by the Senate December 14, 1950, and received commission December 22, 1950.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated January 17, 1959, confirmed by the Senate September 9, 1959, and received commission September 10, 1959.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated February 3, 1964, confirmed by the Senate July 1, 1964, and received commission July 2, 1964.
Chief judges
Chief | |||
---|---|---|---|
as Chief Justice | |||
Cartter | 1863–1887 | ||
Bingham | 1887–1903 | ||
Clabaugh | 1903–1914 | ||
Covington | 1914–1918 | ||
McCoy | 1918–1929 | ||
Wheat | 1930–1941 | ||
Eicher | 1942–1944 | ||
Laws | 1945–1948 | ||
as Chief Judge | |||
Laws | 1948–1958 | ||
Letts | 1958–1959 | ||
Pine | 1959–1961 | ||
McGuire | 1961–1966 | ||
Keech | 1966 | ||
Curran | 1966–1971 | ||
Sirica | 1971–1974 | ||
Hart | 1974–1975 | ||
Jones | 1975–1977 | ||
Bryant | 1977–1981 | ||
Smith | 1981–1982 | ||
A. Robinson | 1982–1992 | ||
Penn | 1992–1997 | ||
Johnson | 1997–2001 | ||
Hogan | 2001–2008 | ||
Lamberth | 2008–2013 | ||
Roberts | 2013–2016 | ||
Howell | 2016–2023 | ||
Boasberg | 2023–present |
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
- Associate Justices Clabaugh, McCoy, Wheat and Laws were elevated to Chief Justice.
- Chief Justice Laws was assigned to the new Seat 13 by operation of law upon the abolition of the Chief Justice Seat 1.
- Judge Chutkan was assigned to the new Seat 17 as Judge Bates assumed duties as Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts ( ). Seat 11 was then abolished as Bates assumed senior status, then Bates returned full-time to the court as senior judge.
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List of U.S. Attorneys
- United States Attorney for the District of Columbia
See also
- Courts of the United States
- List of current United States district judges
- List of United States federal courthouses in the District of Columbia
References
- https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-08-1124T U.S. Government Accountability Office. AMERICAN SAMOA: Issues Associated with Some Federal Court Options. September 18, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
- "United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves to Step Down January 16, 2025" (Press release). United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. December 30, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
- "U.S. District Courts for the District of Columbia and the District of Potomac: Legislative History - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
- "Press Releases - pr_06-11-13 - Supreme Court of the United States". www.supremecourt.gov. June 11, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate". whitehouse.gov (Press release). December 19, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016 – via National Archives.
- "Bates, John D. | Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- "Press Releases - pr_11-04-14 - Supreme Court of the United States". www.supremecourt.gov. November 4, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
External links
- Official website
- Official Courthouse History
- Federal Judicial Center's History of the Court
Author: www.NiNa.Az
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The United States District Court for the District of Columbia in case citations D D C is a federal district court in Washington D C Along with the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii and the High Court of American Samoa it also sometimes handles federal issues that arise in the territory of American Samoa which has no local federal court or territorial court United States District Court for the District of Columbia D D C Location of the U S District Court for the District of ColumbiaLocationE Barrett Prettyman U S Courthouse Washington D C U S Appeals toDistrict of Columbia CircuitEstablishedMarch 3 1863Judges15Chief JudgeJames BoasbergOfficers of the courtU S AttorneyEd Martin acting U S Marshal acting www dcd uscourts gov Appeals from the District Court are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit except for patent claims and claims against the U S government under the Tucker Act which are appealed to the Federal Circuit The acting United States attorney for the District of Columbia is Edward R Martin Jr after Matthew M Graves resigned HistoryE Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse at 333 Constitution Avenue N W in Washington D C The court was established by Congress in 1863 as the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia replacing the abolished circuit and district courts of the District of Columbia that had been in place since 1801 The court consisted of four justices including a chief justice and was granted the same powers and jurisdiction as the earlier circuit court Any of the justices could convene a United States circuit court or a local criminal court In 1936 Congress renamed the court the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia Its current name was adopted in 1948 and from then on justices were known as judges Originally housed in the former District of Columbia City Hall the court now sits in the E Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse located at 333 Constitution Avenue N W in Washington D C The District has no local district attorney or equivalent and so local prosecutorial matters also fall into the jurisdiction of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Assistant United States attorneys AUSAs are tasked with prosecution of not only federal crimes but also crimes that would normally be left to the state prosecutor s discretion The District Court has the largest U S Attorney s Office in the nation with around 250 assistant U S attorneys Current judgesAs of January 2 2025 update Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by Active Chief Senior 98 Chief Judge James Boasberg Washington D C 1963 2011 present 2023 present Obama 100 District Judge Rudolph Contreras Washington D C 1962 2012 present Obama 102 District Judge Christopher R Cooper Washington D C 1966 2014 present Obama 103 District Judge Tanya Chutkan Washington D C 1962 2014 present Obama 104 District Judge Randolph Moss Washington D C 1961 2014 present Obama 105 District Judge Amit Mehta Washington D C 1971 2014 present Obama 106 District Judge Timothy J Kelly Washington D C 1969 2017 present Trump 107 District Judge Trevor N McFadden Washington D C 1978 2017 present Trump 108 District Judge Dabney L Friedrich Washington D C 1967 2017 present Trump 109 District Judge Carl J Nichols Washington D C 1970 2019 present Trump 111 District Judge Jia M Cobb Washington D C 1980 2021 present Biden 112 District Judge Ana C Reyes Washington D C 1974 2023 present Biden 113 District Judge Loren AliKhan Washington D C 1983 2023 present Biden 114 District Judge Amir Ali Washington D C 1985 2024 present Biden 115 District Judge Sparkle L Sooknanan Washington D C 1983 2025 present Biden 77 Senior Judge Thomas F Hogan inactive 1938 1982 2008 2001 2008 2008 present Reagan 81 Senior Judge Royce Lamberth Washington D C San Antonio Texas 1943 1987 2013 2008 2013 2013 present Reagan 83 Senior Judge Paul L Friedman Washington D C 1944 1994 2009 2009 present Clinton 85 Senior Judge Emmet G Sullivan Washington D C 1947 1994 2021 2021 present Clinton 88 Senior Judge Colleen Kollar Kotelly Washington D C 1943 1997 2023 2023 present Clinton 89 Senior Judge Henry H Kennedy Jr inactive 1948 1997 2011 2011 present Clinton 90 Senior Judge Richard W Roberts inactive 1953 1998 2016 2013 2016 2016 present Clinton 91 Senior Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle inactive 1948 1999 2014 2014 present Clinton 92 Senior Judge Reggie Walton Washington D C 1949 2001 2015 2015 present G W Bush 93 Senior Judge John D Bates Washington D C 1946 2001 2014 2014 present G W Bush 94 Senior Judge Richard J Leon Washington D C 1949 2002 2016 2016 present G W Bush 95 Senior Judge Rosemary M Collyer inactive 1945 2002 2016 2016 present G W Bush 96 Senior Judge Beryl Howell Washington D C 1956 2010 2024 2016 2023 2024 present Obama 99 Senior Judge Amy Berman Jackson Washington D C 1954 2011 2023 2023 present Obama Judge Lamberth has sat with the Western District of Texas for several months each year since 2015 Former judges Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for termination 1 David Kellogg Cartter DC 1812 1887 1863 1887 1863 1887 Lincoln death 2 George P Fisher DC 1817 1899 1863 1870 Lincoln resignation 3 Abram B Olin DC 1808 1879 1863 1879 Lincoln retirement 4 Andrew Wylie DC 1814 1905 1863 1863 1885 Lincoln Lincoln confirmation reconsidered retirement 5 David Campbell Humphreys DC 1817 1879 1870 1879 Grant death 6 Arthur MacArthur Sr DC 1815 1896 1870 1887 Grant retirement 7 Alexander Burton Hagner DC 1826 1915 1879 1903 Hayes retirement 8 Walter Smith Cox DC 1826 1902 1879 1899 Hayes retirement 9 Charles Pinckney James DC 1818 1899 1879 1892 Hayes retirement 10 William Matthews Merrick DC 1818 1889 1885 1889 Cleveland death 11 Martin V Montgomery DC 1840 1898 1887 1892 Cleveland resignation 12 Edward Franklin Bingham DC 1828 1907 1887 1903 1887 1903 Cleveland retirement 13 Andrew Coyle Bradley DC 1844 1902 1889 1902 B Harrison death 14 Louis E McComas DC 1846 1907 1892 1899 B Harrison resignation 15 Charles Cleaves Cole DC 1841 1905 1893 1901 B Harrison resignation 16 Harry M Clabaugh DC 1856 1914 1899 1903 McKinley appointment as chief justice 16 1 Harry M Clabaugh DC 1856 1914 1903 1914 1903 1914 T Roosevelt death 17 Job Barnard DC 1844 1923 1899 1914 McKinley retirement 18 Thomas H Anderson DC 1848 1916 1901 1916 McKinley T Roosevelt death 19 Ashley Mulgrave Gould DC 1859 1921 1902 1921 T Roosevelt death 20 Jeter Connelly Pritchard DC 1857 1921 1903 1904 T Roosevelt elevation to 4th Cir 21 Daniel Thew Wright DC 1864 1943 1903 1914 T Roosevelt resignation 22 Wendell Phillips Stafford DC 1861 1953 1904 1931 T Roosevelt retirement 23 J Harry Covington DC 1870 1942 1914 1918 1914 1918 Wilson resignation 24 Walter I McCoy DC 1859 1933 1914 1918 Wilson appointment as chief justice 24 1 Walter I McCoy DC 1859 1933 1918 1929 1918 1929 Wilson retirement 25 Frederick Lincoln Siddons DC 1864 1931 1915 1931 Wilson death 26 William Hitz DC 1872 1935 1916 1931 Wilson elevation to D C Cir 27 Thomas Jennings Bailey DC 1867 1963 1918 1950 1950 1963 Wilson death 28 Adolph A Hoehling Jr DC 1868 1941 1921 1927 Harding resignation 29 Peyton Gordon DC 1870 1946 1928 1941 1941 1946 Coolidge death 30 Alfred Adams Wheat DC 1867 1943 1929 1930 Hoover appointment as chief justice 30 1 Alfred Adams Wheat DC 1867 1943 1930 1941 1930 1941 1941 1943 Hoover death 31 Jesse Corcoran Adkins DC 1879 1955 1930 1946 1946 1955 Hoover death 32 Oscar Raymond Luhring DC 1879 1944 1930 1944 Hoover death 33 Joseph Winston Cox DC 1875 1939 1930 1939 Hoover death 34 James McPherson Proctor DC 1882 1953 1931 1948 Hoover elevation to D C Cir 35 F Dickinson Letts DC 1875 1965 1931 1961 1958 1959 1961 1965 Hoover death 36 Daniel William O Donoghue DC 1876 1948 1931 1946 1946 1948 Hoover death 37 Bolitha James Laws DC 1891 1958 1938 1945 F Roosevelt appointment as chief justice 37 1 Bolitha James Laws DC 1891 1958 1945 1948 1945 1948 F Roosevelt appointment as district judge 37 2 Bolitha James Laws DC 1891 1958 1948 1958 1948 1958 operation of law death 38 Thomas Alan Goldsborough DC 1877 1951 1939 1951 F Roosevelt death 39 James Ward Morris DC 1890 1960 1939 1960 F Roosevelt death 40 David Andrew Pine DC 1891 1970 1940 1965 1959 1961 1965 1970 F Roosevelt death 41 Matthew Francis McGuire DC 1898 1986 1941 1966 1961 1966 1966 1986 F Roosevelt death 42 Edward C Eicher DC 1878 1944 1942 1944 1942 1944 F Roosevelt death 43 Henry Albert Schweinhaut DC 1902 1970 1944 1956 1956 1970 F Roosevelt death 44 Alexander Holtzoff DC 1886 1969 1945 1967 1967 1969 Truman death 45 Richmond Bowling Keech DC 1896 1986 1946 1966 1966 1966 1986 Truman death 46 Edward Matthew Curran DC 1903 1988 1946 1971 1966 1971 1971 1988 Truman death 47 Edward Allen Tamm DC 1906 1985 1948 1965 Truman elevation to D C Cir 48 James Robert Kirkland DC 1903 1958 1949 1958 Truman death 49 Burnita Shelton Matthews DC 1894 1988 1949 1968 1968 1988 Truman death 50 Charles F McLaughlin DC 1887 1976 1949 1964 1964 1976 Truman death 51 Walter M Bastian DC 1891 1975 1950 1954 Truman elevation to D C Cir 52 Luther Youngdahl DC 1896 1978 1951 1966 1966 1978 Truman death 53 Joseph Charles McGarraghy DC 1897 1975 1954 1967 1967 1975 Eisenhower death 54 John Sirica DC 1904 1992 1957 1977 1971 1974 1977 1992 Eisenhower death 55 George Luzerne Hart Jr DC 1905 1984 1958 1979 1974 1975 1979 1984 Eisenhower death 56 Leonard Patrick Walsh DC 1904 1980 1959 1971 1971 1980 Eisenhower death 57 William Blakely Jones DC 1907 1979 1962 1977 1975 1977 1977 1979 Kennedy death 58 Spottswood William Robinson III DC 1916 1998 1964 1966 L Johnson elevation to D C Cir 59 Howard Francis Corcoran DC 1906 1989 1965 1977 1977 1989 L Johnson death 60 William B Bryant DC 1911 2005 1965 1982 1977 1981 1982 2005 L Johnson death 61 Oliver Gasch DC 1906 1999 1965 1981 1981 1999 L Johnson death 62 John Lewis Smith Jr DC 1912 1992 1966 1983 1981 1982 1983 1992 L Johnson death 63 Aubrey Eugene Robinson Jr DC 1922 2000 1966 1992 1982 1992 1992 2000 L Johnson death 64 Joseph Cornelius Waddy DC 1911 1978 1967 1978 L Johnson death 65 Gerhard Gesell DC 1910 1993 1967 1993 1993 1993 L Johnson death 66 June Lazenby Green DC 1914 2001 1968 1984 1984 2001 L Johnson death 67 John H Pratt DC 1910 1995 1968 1989 1989 1995 L Johnson death 68 Barrington D Parker DC 1915 1993 1969 1985 1985 1993 Nixon death 69 Charles Robert Richey DC 1923 1997 1971 1997 1997 1997 Nixon death 70 Thomas Aquinas Flannery DC 1918 2007 1971 1985 1985 2007 Nixon death 71 Louis F Oberdorfer DC 1919 2013 1977 1992 1992 2013 Carter death 72 Harold H Greene DC 1923 2000 1978 1995 1995 2000 Carter death 73 John Garrett Penn DC 1932 2007 1979 1998 1992 1997 1998 2007 Carter death 74 Joyce Hens Green DC 1928 2024 1979 1995 1995 2024 Carter death 75 Norma Holloway Johnson DC 1932 2011 1980 2001 1997 2001 2001 2003 Carter retirement 76 Thomas Penfield Jackson DC 1937 2013 1982 2002 2002 2004 Reagan retirement 78 Stanley S Harris MD 1927 2021 1983 1996 1996 2001 Reagan retirement 79 George Hughes Revercomb VA 1929 1993 1985 1993 Reagan death 80 Stanley Sporkin MD 1932 2020 1985 1999 1999 2000 Reagan retirement 82 Michael Boudin DC 1939 2025 1990 1992 G H W Bush resignation 84 Gladys Kessler DC 1938 2023 1994 2007 2007 2023 Clinton death 86 Ricardo M Urbina DC 1946 2024 1994 2011 2011 2012 Clinton retirement 87 James Robertson DC 1938 2019 1994 2008 2008 2010 Clinton retirement 97 Robert L Wilkins DC 1963 present 2010 2014 Obama elevation to D C Cir 101 Ketanji Brown Jackson DC 1970 present 2013 2021 Obama elevation to D C Cir 110 Florence Y Pan DC 1966 present 2021 2022 Biden elevation to D C Cir Confirmed by the United States Senate on March 12 1863 confirmation was reconsidered on March 13 1863 with no subsequent vote his nomination expired March 14 1863 Recess appointment formally nominated January 5 1864 confirmed by the Senate on January 20 and received commission the same day Recess appointment formally nominated on December 1 1879 confirmed by the Senate December 10 1879 and received commission the same day Recess appointment formally nominated on December 14 1885 confirmed by the Senate March 15 1856 and received commission the same day Recess appointment formally nominated on December 20 1887 confirmed by the Senate January 26 1888 and received commission the same day Recess appointment formally nominated on December 20 1887 confirmed by the Senate January 23 1888 and received commission the same day Recess appointment formally nominated on December 6 1892 confirmed by the Senate January 25 1893 and received commission the same day Recess appointment formally nominated on November 10 1903 confirmed by the Senate November 16 1903 and received commission the same day Recess appointment formally nominated December 11 1899 confirmed by the Senate December 19 1899 and received commission the same day Recess appointment formally nominated December 5 1901 confirmed by the Senate February 4 1902 and received commission February 6 1902 Judge Anderson was given a recess appointment by President McKinley Judge Anderson was nominated by President McKinley but was appointed to the Court by i e received his commission from President Roosevelt Recess appointment formally nominated December 6 1904 confirmed by the Senate December 13 1904 and received commission the same day Recess appointment formally nominated December 15 1916 confirmed by the Senate January 2 1917 and received commission the same day Recess appointment formally nominated December 15 1931 confirmed by the Senate February 17 1932 and received commission February 20 1932 Recess appointment formally nominated December 15 1931 confirmed by the Senate January 26 1932 and received commission February 23 1932 Recess appointment formally nominated January 8 1947 confirmed by the Senate January 22 1947 and received commission January 24 1947 Recess appointment formally nominated January 8 1947 confirmed by the Senate February 3 1947 and received commission February 5 1947 Recess appointment formally nominated January 13 1949 confirmed by the Senate March 29 1949 and received commission April 1 1949 Recess appointment formally nominated January 5 1950 confirmed by the Senate March 8 1950 and received commission March 9 1950 Recess appointment formally nominated January 5 1950 confirmed by the Senate April 4 1950 and received commission April 7 1950 Recess appointment formally nominated January 5 1950 confirmed by the Senate February 27 1950 and received commission March 1 1950 Recess appointment formally nominated November 27 1950 confirmed by the Senate December 14 1950 and received commission December 22 1950 Recess appointment formally nominated January 17 1959 confirmed by the Senate September 9 1959 and received commission September 10 1959 Recess appointment formally nominated February 3 1964 confirmed by the Senate July 1 1964 and received commission July 2 1964 Chief judgesChief as Chief Justice Cartter 1863 1887 Bingham 1887 1903 Clabaugh 1903 1914 Covington 1914 1918 McCoy 1918 1929 Wheat 1930 1941 Eicher 1942 1944 Laws 1945 1948 as Chief Judge Laws 1948 1958 Letts 1958 1959 Pine 1959 1961 McGuire 1961 1966 Keech 1966 Curran 1966 1971 Sirica 1971 1974 Hart 1974 1975 Jones 1975 1977 Bryant 1977 1981 Smith 1981 1982 A Robinson 1982 1992 Penn 1992 1997 Johnson 1997 2001 Hogan 2001 2008 Lamberth 2008 2013 Roberts 2013 2016 Howell 2016 2023 Boasberg 2023 present 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 seatsAssociate Justices Clabaugh McCoy Wheat and Laws were elevated to Chief Justice Chief Justice Laws was assigned to the new Seat 13 by operation of law upon the abolition of the Chief Justice Seat 1 Judge Chutkan was assigned to the new Seat 17 as Judge Bates assumed duties as Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts 28 U S C 133 b Seat 11 was then abolished as Bates assumed senior status then Bates returned full time to the court as senior judge Seat 1 Seat established on March 3 1863 by 12 Stat 762 Chief Justice Cartter 1863 1887 Bingham 1887 1903 Clabaugh Chief 1903 1914 Covington 1914 1918 McCoy Chief 1918 1929 Wheat Chief 1930 1941 Eicher 1942 1944 Laws Chief 1945 1948 Chief Justice abolished on September 1 1948 by 62 Stat 869 985 Seat 2 Seat established on March 3 1863 by 12 Stat 762 Fisher 1863 1870 Humphreys 1870 1879 James 1879 1892 Cole 1893 1901 Anderson 1902 1916 Hitz 1917 1931 Proctor 1931 1948 Tamm 1949 1965 Gasch 1965 1981 T Jackson 1982 2002 Collyer 2002 2016 Kelly 2017 present Seat 3 Seat established on March 3 1863 by 12 Stat 762 Olin 1863 1879 Hagner 1879 1903 Wright 1903 1914 Siddons 1915 1931 O Donoghue 1932 1946 Curran 1947 1971 Richey 1971 1997 Roberts 1998 2016 Nichols 2019 present Seat 4 Seat established on March 3 1863 by 12 Stat 762 Wylie 1863 1885 Merrick 1885 1889 Bradley 1889 1902 Gould 1902 1921 Hoehling Jr 1921 1927 Gordon 1928 1941 McGuire 1941 1966 A Robinson Jr 1966 1992 Urbina 1994 2011 Contreras 2012 present Seat 5 Seat established on June 21 1870 by 16 Stat 160 MacArthur Sr 1870 1887 Montgomery 1888 1892 McComas 1893 1899 Clabaugh Associate 1899 1903 Pritchard 1903 1904 Stafford 1904 1931 Letts 1932 1961 Jones 1962 1977 Oberdorfer 1977 1992 Sullivan 1994 2021 Cobb 2021 present Seat 6 Seat established on February 25 1879 by 20 Stat 320 W Cox 1879 1899 Barnard 1899 1914 McCoy Associate 1914 1918 Bailey 1918 1950 Bastian 1950 1954 McGarraghy 1954 1967 Parker 1969 1985 Lamberth 1987 2013 Cooper 2014 present Seat 7 Seat established on December 20 1928 by 45 Stat 1056 Wheat Associate 1929 1930 Adkins 1930 1946 Keech 1947 1966 Waddy 1967 1978 Penn 1979 1998 Huvelle 1999 2014 Mehta 2014 present Seat 8 Seat established on June 19 1930 by 46 Stat 785 Luhring 1930 1944 Schweinhaut 1944 1956 Sirica 1957 1977 Greene 1978 1995 Kollar Kotelly 1997 2023 Reyes 2023 present Seat 9 Seat established on June 19 1930 by 46 Stat 785 J Cox 1930 1939 Pine 1940 1965 Bryant 1965 1982 Hogan 1982 2008 Boasberg 2011 present Seat 10 Seat established on May 31 1938 by 52 Stat 584 Laws Associate 1938 1945 Holtzoff 1945 1967 Pratt 1968 1989 Boudin 1990 1992 Kessler 1994 2007 A Jackson 2011 2023 AliKhan 2023 present Seat 11 Seat established on May 31 1938 by 52 Stat 584 Goldsborough 1939 1951 Youngdahl 1951 1966 Smith Jr 1966 1983 Harris 1983 1996 Bates 2001 2014 Seat 11 abolished on October 12 2014 Bates assumed senior status Seat 12 Seat established on May 31 1938 by 52 Stat 584 Morris 1939 1960 S Robinson III 1964 1966 Gesell 1967 1993 Friedman 1994 2009 Howell 2010 2024 Ali 2024 present Seat 13 Seat established on September 1 1948 by 62 Stat 869 Laws Judge 1948 1958 Walsh 1959 1971 Flannery 1971 1985 Revercomb 1985 1993 Robertson 1994 2008 Wilkins 2010 2014 Moss 2014 present Seat 14 Seat established on August 3 1949 by 63 Stat 493 McLaughlin 1949 1964 Corcoran 1965 1977 J H Green 1979 1995 Kennedy Jr 1997 2011 K Jackson 2013 2021 Pan 2021 2022 Sooknanan 2025 present Seat 15 Seat established on August 3 1949 by 63 Stat 493 Matthews 1950 1968 J L Green 1968 1984 Sporkin 1985 1999 Walton 2001 2015 Friedrich 2017 present Seat 16 Seat established on August 3 1949 by 63 Stat 493 Kirkland 1950 1958 Hart Jr 1959 1979 Johnson 1980 2001 Leon 2002 2016 McFadden 2017 present Seat 17 Seat established on July 1 2013 pursuant to 104 Stat 5089 Judge Bates assumed duties as Director of the Administrative Office Chutkan 2014 presentList of U S AttorneysUnited States Attorney for the District of ColumbiaSee alsoCourts of the United States List of current United States district judges List of United States federal courthouses in the District of ColumbiaReferenceshttps www gao gov products GAO 08 1124T U S Government Accountability Office AMERICAN SAMOA Issues Associated with Some Federal Court Options September 18 2008 Retrieved September 7 2019 United States Attorney Matthew M Graves to Step Down January 16 2025 Press release United States Attorney s Office for the District of Columbia December 30 2024 Retrieved January 20 2025 U S District Courts for the District of Columbia and the District of Potomac Legislative History Federal Judicial Center www fjc gov Press Releases pr 06 11 13 Supreme Court of the United States www supremecourt gov June 11 2013 Retrieved October 23 2024 Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate whitehouse gov Press release December 19 2013 Archived from the original on November 10 2016 via National Archives Bates John D Federal Judicial Center www fjc gov Retrieved October 23 2024 Press Releases pr 11 04 14 Supreme Court of the United States www supremecourt gov November 4 2014 Retrieved October 23 2024 External linksOfficial website Official Courthouse History Federal Judicial Center s History of the Court