Judge Diana Motz to Take Senior Status

The U.S. Courts website shows that, on December 13, Fourth Circuit Judge Diana Gribbon Motz announced her intent to take senior status upon confirmation of her successor. The Baltimore-based judge served on the Court of Special Appeals from 1991 to 1994, until her nomination to the Fourth Circuit by President Clinton and confirmation by the Senate on a voice vote.

Judge Motz’s pre-bench career included service in the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, as an Assistant Attorney General (1972-81) and Chief of Litigation (1981-86). She worked in private practice with Piper & Marbury (1968-71) and Frank, Bernstein & Conaway (1986-91).

This vacancy is the first Maryland seat on the 15-member Fourth Circuit to open under President Biden, and the first since Judge Andre Davis took senior status in 2014 upon the confirmation of Judge Pamela Harris.

As a senior judge, Judge Motz will remain eligible to hear cases by designation, but she will not be able to participate in votes to hear cases en banc or to participate in en banc decisions (unless she was a member of the three-judge panel that originally heard the case).

As when Judge Davis took senior status, the blog will give updates on the process for nominating and selecting Judge Motz’s successor.