United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
(E.D. Va.)
LocationAlbert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse
(Alexandria)
More locations
Appeals toFourth Circuit
EstablishedSeptember 24, 1789
Judges11
Chief JudgeM. Hannah Lauck
Officers of the court
U.S. AttorneyVacant
U.S. MarshalNick Edward Proffitt
www.vaed.uscourts.gov
The Norfolk courthouse for the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
The Richmond courthouse for the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA; in case citations, E.D. Va.) is one of two United States district courts serving the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its jurisdiction includes over 85 percent of the state's population, including the metropolitan areas of Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and Richmond. Courthouses are located in Alexandria, Norfolk, Richmond, and Newport News.

Known widely as "the rocket docket", the Eastern District of Virginia has been the fastest federal trial court in the country for over 50 years.[1][2] Adopting the maxim that "justice delayed is justice denied" as its unofficial motto, the court aims to complete cases within one year, regardless of complexity. It schedules trials on weekends and holidays and maintains a virtual ban on continuance.[3][4][5] The court utilizes a unique "master docket" to expedite cases: rather than assign individual caseloads, when a motion is up for consideration or a trial is scheduled to start, the matter will be handled by whichever judge is available. Judges are assigned only for patent cases and in rare exceptions.[6]

With a jurisdiction which includes the Pentagon, much of the Intelligence Community, and Naval Station Norfolk, the world's largest naval base, the EDVA is a fixture in U.S. national security law, handling a large portion of the nation's espionage and terrorism cases. More than 1 in 5 terrorism charges filed in the United States since 1995 were filed in the EDVA.[7][8][9] One of the district's senior judges also presides over the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia wields one of the largest federal prosecutor offices in the country, staffed by over 300 attorneys and support staff.[7]

Appeals from the Eastern District of Virginia are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit.

History

The United States District Court for the District of Virginia was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, 1 Stat. 73, on September 24, 1789.[10][11]

On February 13, 1801, the Judiciary Act of 1801, 2 Stat. 89, divided Virginia into three judicial districts: the District of Virginia, which included the counties west of the Tidewater and south of the Rappahannock River; the District of Norfolk, which included the Tidewater counties south of the Rappahannock; and the District of Potomac, which included the counties north and east of the Rappahannock as well as Maryland counties along the Potomac.[11] Just over a year later, on March 8, 1802, the Judiciary Act of 1801 was repealed and Virginia became a single district again, 2 Stat. 132, effective July 1, 1802.[11]

The District of Virginia was subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on February 4, 1819, by 3 Stat. 478.[10][11] At that time, West Virginia was still part of Virginia, and was encompassed in Virginia's Western District, while the Eastern District essentially covered what is now the entire state of Virginia. With the division of West Virginia from Virginia during the American Civil War, the Western District of Virginia became the District of West Virginia, and those parts of the Western District that were not part of West Virginia were combined with the Eastern District to again form a single District of Virginia on June 11, 1864, by 13 Stat. 124.[11] Congress again divided Virginia into the Eastern and Western Districts on February 3, 1871, by 16 Stat. 403.[11]

Courts at Richmond are located in the Spottswood W. Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige Jr. Federal Courthouse,[12] having previously been held in the historic Lewis F. Powell Jr. United States Courthouse.

Most recent acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan was disqualified on November 24, 2025 after being deemed to have been unlawfully appointed in order to prosecute former FBI director James Comey and Attorney General of New York Letitia James, two people who previously led legal cases against U.S. President Trump.[13][14]

The Rocket Docket

The Eastern District of Virginia is the originator of the term "rocket docket", which has since been applied to various other courts at times. The culture of speed was embedded in the EDVA by two judges who served on the court in the 1960's: Albert V. Bryan Jr., who often ruled on cases on the spot after motions were argued, and Walter E. Hoffman, who was known for scheduling trials for weekends, holidays and reportedly once on Christmas Day.[4] Current chief judge Mark S. Davis has said that the current bench is driven in part by a shared belief in the maxim that "justice delayed is justice denied", but that the "expectations of the [EDVA] bar" nevertheless ensure that the court continues to maintain its famed pace.[4]

Jurisdiction

Map of the United States District Courts in Virginia, showing the boundaries of the Eastern and Western Districts, and their divisions.

The Eastern District of Virginia court's jurisdiction covers slightly over six million people, comprising approximately 85% of the state's population. Its jurisdiction is grouped into four geographic divisions:

Alexandria Division

View of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at Alexandria, Virginia.

The Alexandria Division covers the counties of suburban Washington, D.C.: Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, and Stafford, and includes the independent cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Falls Church.

Richmond Division

The Richmond Division comprises the counties of Amelia, Brunswick, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Essex, Goochland, Greensville, Hanover, Henrico, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Nottoway, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Surry, Sussex, and Westmoreland, as well as independent cities such as Colonial Heights and Fredericksburg.[15]

Norfolk Division

Norfolk Division includes the counties of Accomack, Northampton, Isle of Wight, Southampton, and independent cities such as Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.

Newport News Division

The Newport News Division includes the counties of Gloucester, Mathews, York County, James City and cities such as Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg.

United States Attorney

The U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia serves as prosecution for criminal cases brought by the federal government, and representing the United States in civil cases in the court. The U.S. Attorney's office also manages the Project Safe Neighborhoods program within the district to reduce gun violence, and is involved with federal initiatives on drug trafficking, terrorism, cybercrime, and the prevention of elder care abuse.[16]

Current judges

As of December 4, 2025:

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
44 Chief Judge M. Hannah Lauck Richmond 1963 2014–present 2025–present — Obama
33 District Judge Leonie Brinkema Alexandria 1944 1993–present — — Clinton
40 District Judge Mark Steven Davis Norfolk
Newport News 		1962 2008–present 2018–2025 — G.W. Bush
43 District Judge Arenda Wright Allen Norfolk
Newport News 		1960 2011–present — — Obama
45 District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Alexandria 1957 2019–present — — Trump
46 District Judge David J. Novak Richmond 1961 2019–present — — Trump
47 District Judge Roderick C. Young Richmond 1966 2020–present — — Trump
48 District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles Alexandria 1973 2021–present — — Biden
49 District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff Alexandria 1968 2021–present — — Biden
50 District Judge Elizabeth Hanes Norfolk
Newport News 		1978 2022–present — — Biden
51 District Judge Jamar K. Walker Norfolk
Newport News 		1986 2023–present — — Biden
27 Senior Judge Claude M. Hilton inactive 1940 1985–2005 1997–2004 2005–present Reagan
30 Senior Judge Rebecca Beach Smith Norfolk
Newport News 		1949 1989–2019 2011–2018 2019–present G.H.W. Bush
32 Senior Judge Robert E. Payne Richmond 1941 1992–2007 — 2007–present G.H.W. Bush
34 Senior Judge Raymond Alvin Jackson Norfolk
Newport News 		1949 1993–2021 — 2021–present Clinton
37 Senior Judge Henry E. Hudson Richmond 1947 2002–2018 — 2018–present G.W. Bush
41 Senior Judge Anthony Trenga Alexandria 1949 2008–2021 — 2021–present G.W. Bush
42 Senior Judge John A. Gibney Jr. Richmond 1951 2010–2021 — 2021–present Obama


Former judges

# Judge Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 St. George Tucker 1752–1827 1813–1825[Note 1] — — Madison resignation
2 George Hay 1765–1830 1825–1830[Note 2] — — J.Q. Adams death
3 Philip P. Barbour 1783–1841 1830–1836[Note 3] — — Jackson elevation
4 Peter Vivian Daniel 1784–1860 1836–1841 — — Jackson elevation
5 John Y. Mason 1799–1859 1841–1844 — — Van Buren resignation
6 James Halyburton 1803–1879 1844–1861 — — Tyler resignation
7 John Curtiss Underwood 1809–1873 1863–1864[Note 4]
1871–1873[Note 5] 		— — Lincoln
Operation of law 		reassignment
death
8 Robert William Hughes 1821–1901 1874–1898 — — Grant retirement
9 Edmund Waddill Jr. 1855–1931 1898–1921 — — McKinley elevation
10 Duncan Lawrence Groner 1873–1957 1921–1931 — — Harding elevation
11 Luther B. Way 1879–1943 1931–1943 — — Hoover death
12 Robert Nelson Pollard 1880–1954 1936–1947 — 1947–1954 F. Roosevelt death
13 Charles Hutcheson 1894–1969 1944–1959 1948–1959 1959–1969 F. Roosevelt death
14 Albert Vickers Bryan 1899–1984 1947–1961 1959–1961 — Truman elevation
15 Walter Edward Hoffman 1907–1996 1954–1974 1961–1973 1974–1996 Eisenhower death
16 Oren Ritter Lewis 1902–1983 1960–1974 — 1974–1983 Eisenhower death
17 John D. Butzner Jr. 1917–2006 1962–1967 — — Kennedy elevation
18 Richard Boykin Kellam 1909–1996 1967–1981 1973–1979 1981–1996 L. Johnson death
19 John Ashton MacKenzie 1917–2010 1967–1985 1979–1985 1985–1998 L. Johnson retirement
20 Robert R. Merhige Jr. 1919–2005 1967–1986 — 1986–1998 L. Johnson retirement
21 Albert Vickers Bryan Jr. 1926–2019 1971–1991 1985–1991 1991–2019 Nixon death
22 David Dortch Warriner 1929–1986 1974–1986 — — Nixon death
23 Joseph Calvitt Clarke Jr. 1920–2004 1974–1991 — 1991–2004 Ford death
24 Richard Leroy Williams 1923–2011 1980–1992 — 1992–2011 Carter death
25 James C. Cacheris 1933–2025 1981–1998 1991–1997 1998–2018 Reagan retirement
26 Robert G. Doumar 1930–2023 1981–1996 — 1996–2023 Reagan death
28 James R. Spencer 1949–present 1986–2014 2004–2011 2014–2017 Reagan retirement
29 T. S. Ellis III 1940–2025 1987–2007 — 2007–2025 Reagan death
31 Henry Coke Morgan Jr. 1935–2022 1992–2004 — 2004–2022 G.H.W. Bush death
35 Jerome B. Friedman 1943–present 1997–2010 — 2010–2011 Clinton retirement
36 Gerald Bruce Lee 1952–present 1998–2017 — — Clinton retirement
38 Walter D. Kelley Jr. 1955–present 2004–2008 — — G.W. Bush resignation
39 Liam O'Grady 1950–present 2007–2020 — 2020–2023 G.W. Bush retirement
  1. ^ Initially appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Virginia, reassigned by operation of law to the Eastern District of Virginia on February 4, 1819.
  2. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 13, 1825, confirmed by the United States Senate on March 31, 1826, and received commission the same day.
  3. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 14, 1830, confirmed by the Senate on December 16, 1830, and received commission the same day.
  4. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1864, confirmed by the Senate on January 25, 1864, and received commission the same day.
  5. ^ Reassigned from the United States District Court for the District of Virginia on June 11, 1864.

Chief judges

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

Notable cases

The Eastern District of Virginia has handled many notable cases, including:

United States Attorneys

List of U.S. Attorneys since 1831:[21][22]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ Rossi, Gene (2023). "Appearing in the Red Glare of the Rocket Docket" (PDF). Litigation. 49 (12). American Bar Association.
  2. ^ Carr, Dabney (February 13, 2023). "Why the Original 'Rocket Docket' Will Likely Resume Its Pace". Troutman Pepper Locke. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  3. ^ Glover, R.H. (April 1993). "ROCKET DOCKET". Trial. 29 (4): 45–46, 49–50 – via NCJRS Virtual Library. The court routinely denies all continuances of any kind, and lawyers cannot expect extensions unless they are dead or have a medical certificate that assures death within a few days
  4. ^ a b c Tata, Robert M. (June 25, 2024). "After A Brief Hiccup, The 'Rocket Docket' Soars Back To No. 1". Hunton Andrews Kurth. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  5. ^ "The Rocket Docket: The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia" (PDF). DiMuro Ginsburg P.C. 2012.
  6. ^ Faulkner, York M. (April 23, 2024). "EDVA Rocket Docket - A Wild Ride Through Genteel Virginia". Mondaq. Archived from the original on October 13, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  7. ^ a b MacFarlane, Scott (October 2, 2025). "DOJ fires 2 key prosecutors in eastern Virginia amid turmoil in office that charged Comey - CBS News". CBS News. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  8. ^ "Eastern District of Virginia Civil Division". U.S. Department of Justice. March 18, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  9. ^ "One in Five International Terrorism Prosecutions in Eastern Virginia". Tracreports. August 8, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 388.
  11. ^ a b c d e f U.S. District Courts of Virginia, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  12. ^ "Richmond Courthouse". Archived from the original on March 21, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
  13. ^ Cheney, Kyle; Gerstein, Josh; Kanu, Hassan Ali (November 24, 2025). "Comey, James cases dismissed as judge disqualifies interim US attorney Lindsey Halligan". Politico. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  14. ^ Lucas, Ryan (November 24, 2025). "Judge tosses Comey, James cases after finding prosecutor unlawfully appointed". NPR. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  15. ^ 28 U.S.C. § 127(a)
  16. ^ U.S. Attorney's Office – Eastern District of Virginia – Priorities
  17. ^ West v. Bliley, 33 F.2d 177 (E.D. Va. June 5, 1929).
  18. ^ a b c d "United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Notable cases". Archived from the original on December 19, 2005. Retrieved March 28, 2006.
  19. ^ "Soudní jednání o vydání Kevina Dahlgrena začne 12. září" (in Czech). Týden. August 13, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  20. ^ "Petition of Nemetz, 485 F. Supp. 470 (E.D. Va. 1980)". Justia Law. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  21. ^ "Bicentennial Celebration" (PDF). www.justice.gov. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  22. ^ "The Political Graveyard: U.S. District Attorneys in Virginia".
  • Peters, John O. (2013). From Marshall to Moussaoui: Federal Justice in the Eastern District of Virginia. The Dietz Press. ISBN 9780875171432.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._District_Court_for_Eastern_Virginia