United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
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The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of two United States district courts serving the Commonwealth of Virginia.
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[edit] History
During the 1960s, Judge Albert V. Bryan Jr. ran the Alexandria court, often ruled cases on the spot after motions were argued. The court earned the nickname, the "rocket docket", for the speed and efficiency for which it processes its cases. Since 1997, the court has processed civil cases the fastest of the 94 federal districts, and eighth fastest in dealing with criminal cases. <ref>Markon, Jerry. "A Double Dose of Molasses in the Rocket Docket", The Washington Post, 2004, October 3.</ref>
[edit] Jurisdiction
The Eastern District of Virginia has within its jurisdiction the following counties and independent cities:
Counties: Accomack , Amelia, Arlington, Brunswick, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Gloucester, Goochland, Greensville, Hanover, Henrico, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Loudoun, Lunenburg, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, New Kent, Northampton, Northumberland, Nottoway, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Richmond, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland, York County, along with the cities of Alexandria, Chesapeake, Colonial Heights, Emporia, Fairfax, Falls Church, Franklin, Fredericksburg, Hampton, Hopewell, Manassas, Manassas Park, Newport News, Norfolk, Petersburg, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Richmond, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg.
[edit] United States Attorney
Chuck Rosenberg is the current U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, serving 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 (part of a nationwide program), and is involved with federal initiatives on drug trafficking, terrorism, cybercrime, and the prevention/combating of elder care abuse. <ref>U.S. Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia - Priorities</ref> Paul McNulty previously served as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, until he was nominated on October 21, 2005 to become Deputy Attorney General at the United States Department of Justice. <ref>White House press release - October 21, 2005.</ref>
[edit] Courthouses
Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 3 <ref>Local Civil Rule 3</ref>, the district is grouped into four divisions, and is served by four courthouses:
[edit] Alexandria
The Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse in Alexandria currently has three judges, including Judge T.S. Ellis, III, Leonie Brinkema, and Gerald Bruce Lee, along with two Senior Judges, James C. Cacheris and Claude M. Hilton, and four magistrate judges; Barry R. Poretz, T. Rawles Jones,Jr.,Theresa C. Buchanan, and Liam O'Grady. On August 2, 2006, President George W. Bush nominated magistrate Judge Liam O'Grady to fill the District Court judgeship vacated by Claude M. Hilton, who assumed senior status in December, 2005. Senior status judges may take, if they so choose, a reduced docket. <ref>U.S. Courts - Alexandria courthouse</ref>
[edit] Newport News
[edit] Norfolk
The Walter E. Hoffman United States Courthouse in Norfolk has four judges, Judge Rebecca Beach Smith, Raymond A. Jackson, Jerome B. Friedman, Walter D. Kelley, Jr., two Senior Judges, Robert G. Doumar, Henry Coke Morgan, Jr., and four magistrate judges. <ref>U.S. Courts - Norfolk courthouse</ref>
[edit] Richmond
Chief Judge James R. Spencer, Judges Robert E. Payne and Henry E. Hudson, and Senior Judge Richard L. Williams, along with two magistrate judges; Judge Dennis Dohnal and Judge M. Hannah Lauck, serve the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Richmond. <ref>U.S. Courts - Richmond courthouse</ref>
[edit] Notable cases
The Eastern District of Virginia has handled many notable cases including the ongoing cases of United States v. Zacarias Moussaoui, and United States v. Ahmed Omar Abu Ali. The court also handled the cases of United States v. Masoud Khan, et. al., United States v. Jay Lentz, United States v. John Walker Lindh, and Yaser Hamdi v. Donald Rumsfeld. <ref>U.S. Courts, Eastern District of Virginia - Notable cases</ref> The court also handled the case of former New York Times journalist, Judith Miller.
In the patent field, the court handled the case of NTP Inc. v. Research In Motion, Ltd. (E.D. VA., No. 3:01cf767 (Nov 21, 2002) This is the famous "BlackBerry Case".
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Official Website
- United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Official Website
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