Recent Changes at Maryland’s Federal Courts
The Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland recently announced changes in leadership. By federal statute, selection of the chief judge of the circuit and district courts is based on seniority and age. In each court, the most senior active judge under the age of 65 years may serve as chief judge for a period of seven years.[1]
In July, Chief Judge Roger L. Gregory of the Fourth Circuit completed his 7-year term. His successor, Chief Judge Albert Diaz is the first Hispanic judge to serve as chief of the Fourth Circuit.[2]
Earlier this month, Chief Judge James K. Bredar of the U.S. District Court announced his intent to take senior status and end his tenure as leader of this State’s federal bench at the end of April 2024.[3] Judge George L. Russell III will succeed him.
In September, the Fourth Circuit’s Clerk of Court Patricia Connor retired after nearly 30 years,[4] and was succeeded by Nwamaka C. Anowi, who previously served as clerk of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County and the federal district court in Baltimore.[5]
Finally, a post about recent changes in the Maryland federal courts would not be complete without acknowledging the passing of Judge J. Frederick Motz last week, after serving on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland since 1985. In the past week, Judge Motz has been celebrated and remembered by the U.S. District Court, his colleagues and litigants.[6]
[1] 28 U.S.C. §§ 45, 136.
[2] U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, “News & Announcements: Baton Passing Brings New Chief Judge to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals” (July 10, 2023), https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/news-announcements/article/2023/07/10/baton-passing-brings-new-chief-judge-to-the-fourth-circuit-court-of-appeals.
[3] Madeleine O’Neill, “Bredar to move to senior status, Russell to be new chief federal judge in Maryland,” Maryland Daily Record (Oct. 12, 2023), https://thedailyrecord.com/2023/10/12/bredar-to-move-to-senior-status-russell-to-become-chief-federal-judge-in-maryland/.
[4] Brad Kutner, “Fourth Circuit’s ‘Tip of the Spear’ Sets Plan to Retire This Year,” National Law Journal (Jan. 10, 2023), https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2023/01/10/fourth-circuits-tip-of-the-spear-sets-plan-to-retire-this-year/.
[5]U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, “News & Announcements: Chief Judge Gregory Announces Selection of Nwamaka C. Anowi as Clerk of Court for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals” (March 21, 2023), https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/news-announcements/article/2023/03/21/chief-judge-gregory-announces-selection-of-nwamaka-c.-anowi-as-clerk-of-court-for-the-fourth-circuit-court-of-appeals.
[6] U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, “The Honorable J. Frederick Motz” (Oct. 23, 2023), https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/news/honorable-j-frederick-motz-2023-10-23t000000; Dan Belson and Dillon Mullan, “J. Frederick Motz, senior judge at Baltimore’s federal courthouse and former U.S. attorney for Maryland, dies,” The Baltimore Sun (Oct. 24, 2023), https://www.baltimoresun.com/obituaries/bs-md-ob-us-district-judge-motz-20231023-gk7px47rerfu5hvxsdtdz2onxa-story.html.
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