The History of the D.C. Circuit Courts
1800
U.S. v. Bollman: A Noble Beginning for the D.C. Circuit Court
"Rarely has a federal judge spoken so frankly and personally to the President of the United States -- and perhaps never to the president who appointed him to office," writes Professor N. Kent Newmyer in this insightful article about the dissenting judge in U.S. v. Bollman.
1801
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One year after Congress moved to Washington, D.C., the Federalist-controlled Congress passed—and President John Adams signed—the Judiciary Act of 1801.
The Creation
One year after Congress moved to Washington, D.C., the Federalist-controlled Congress passed—and President John Adams signed—the Judiciary Act of 1801.
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The earliest judges to ever be appointed were William Cranch, Thomas Johnson (who refused to serve), and James Marshall, in 1801. Buckner Thruston, a former U.S. Senator, was appointed in 1809, and James Morsell joined in 1815.
The Earliest Judges
The earliest judges to ever be appointed were William Cranch, Thomas Johnson (who refused to serve), and James Marshall, in 1801. Buckner Thruston, a former U.S. Senator, was appointed in 1809, and James Morsell joined in 1815.
1801
Scandalous Fees
The 1801 Act creating the D.C. Courts also authorized the President to appoint a Marshal for the District of Columbia. In addition to serving subpoenas, summonses, writs, and warrants, the Marshal of D.C. was responsible for the jail, served as Marshal of the U.S. Supreme Court, maintained order at public functions in and around the presidential mansion, and by James Monroe's second term became a social aide to the President.
1814
“Firebrand: U.S. Marshal Tench Ringgold and Early American Politics”
Tench Ringgold was a marshal for the old Circuit Court and, like all marshals, was the long-arm of the law. But as David Turk, historian for the U.S. Marshals Service, tells us, Ringgold was more than this.
1820
A Familiar Way to Cut the Civil Caseload
Because of population growth and the unanticipated litigiousness of the District's citizens, the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia was able to handle only half of its cases by 1820. More than a thousand lawsuits were awaiting trial. Congress dealt with this by increasing the jurisdictional amount from $20 to $50. As a result, in just two years the business of the Circuit Court fell from 1300 civil actions to 150.
1821
An Early Civil Rights Victory in a D.C. Court
In 1821 - long before the civil rights movement - a free black man living in Washington won an historic victory for racial justice in a court of the District of Columbia.
1831
Francis Scott Key, Lawyer and Poet
Francis Scott Key started his law practice in Frederick, Maryland and shared an office with his brother-in-law, future Chief Justice Roger Taney. Later, Key moved to Washington D.C. and practiced before the Circuit Court for the District of Columbia. He is, of course, most famous for writing the words of "The Star Spangled Banner."
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Think efforts to limit the death penalty are a relatively recent development? Not true. Acting at the request of President Andrew Jackson, Congress in 1831 abolished capital punishment in the District of Columbia except for treason, murder, piracy, and rape committed by slaves.
D.C. Ahead of its Time
Think efforts to limit the death penalty are a relatively recent development? Not true. Acting at the request of President Andrew Jackson, Congress in 1831 abolished capital punishment in the District of Columbia except for treason, murder, piracy, and rape committed by slaves.
1835
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When writer Jim Johnston researched National Archives' records of the 1835 trial of Richard Lawrence, who tried to assassinate President Andrew Jackson, he stumbled onto a treasure trove in the records of other cases in the criminal docket that year.
Against the Peace and Government of the United States: The Criminal Docket of 1835
When writer Jim Johnston researched National Archives' records of the 1835 trial of Richard Lawrence, who tried to assassinate President Andrew Jackson, he stumbled onto a treasure trove in the records of other cases in the criminal docket that year.
1835: Would-be Presidential Assassin Found Insane
The first known attempt to assassinate a president in Washington occurred on January 30, 1835 when Richard Lawrence, an English-born immigrant and unemployed drifter, fired two pistols at Andrew Jackson as the President was leaving the Capitol after a funeral. Both pistols misfired.
1837
Judicial Temperament
Acting on the complaint of members of the bar, Congress in 1837 established an ad hoc committee to investigate charges that D.C. Circuit Court judge Buckner Thruston was rude, inattentive and quarrelsome. The record showed he was often two to three hours late for court sessions.
1840
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Fourteen-year-old Nancy Jones was scared. She had been stopped by a policeman while walking down a Washington, D.C. street, and he had asked to see her papers.
The Dark Days of the Black Codes
Fourteen-year-old Nancy Jones was scared. She had been stopped by a policeman while walking down a Washington, D.C. street, and he had asked to see her papers.
1842
DO YOU KNOW
Washington was policed by constables supervised by the D.C. Circuit Court until 1842?
1843
A First Step for Racial Equality in the Circuit Court of Washington
In 1843, when Nancy Hillman, the only surviving heir of Georgetown's most prominent free black man, tried to collect on money he was owed for 20 years, she faced two obstacles in the Circuit Court.
1850
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Think current punishment for crimes is excessive? When the courts of the District of Columbia opened for business in 1801, penalties included whipping, the pillory, and branding with a great key heated to a white glow by a jailer.
Getting Tough on Crime
Think current punishment for crimes is excessive? When the courts of the District of Columbia opened for business in 1801, penalties included whipping, the pillory, and branding with a great key heated to a white glow by a jailer.
Now On Exhibit:
The History of the Courts of the D.C. Circuit
Created amidst the controversy over President John Adams’s appointment of the so-called “Midnight Judges,” the Courts of the District of Columbia Circuit have been transformed and transformative over the two centuries of their existence.
Visit the exhibit to learn how the D.C. Circuit Courts were formed and the challenges overcome in their creation.
Calmly to Poise The Scales of Justice:
A History of the Courts of the D.C. Circuit
Purchase the book now for $30
or send a check to:
The Historical Society of the D.C. Circuit
Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse
333 Constitution Ave NW, Room 4714
Washington, D.C. 20001