G. Steven Agee
Encyclopedia
George Steven Agee is a federal judge
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
and a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia
.
, Agee was educated at Bridgewater College
(B.A.), the University of Virginia School of Law
(J.D.) and New York University
(LL.M., Taxation). He has litigated cases in Virginia and federal courts, including arguing for the appellant before the Supreme Court of the United States
in Patterson v. Shumate, 504 U.S. 753 (1992).
From 1982 to 1994, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates
. Opting to pursue the Republican nomination for Attorney General of Virginia
in 1993, he did not seek re-election to the House. In 2001, he became a Judge of the Court of Appeals of Virginia
. In 2003, he was elevated to the Supreme Court of Virginia
, filling the vacancy created by Chief Justice Harry L. Carrico
, who took Senior Justice status.
to fill a vacancy on the Fourth Circuit created by Judge J. Michael Luttig
, who resigned on May 10, 2006. President Bush asked the Senate to consider his nomination swiftly because of the court’s heavy caseloads, and because five of the fifteen seats are vacant. Agee received a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 1, 2008, and was unanimously voted out of committee on May 15, 2008. Agee was confirmed on May 20, 2008, by a vote of 96-0 just over two months after his nomination. Agee was the fourth judge nominated to the Fourth Circuit by Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate
. He received his commission on July 1, 2008, and was sworn in by his colleague and former law professor, Circuit Judge James Harvie Wilkinson III
, on July 2, 2008.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:*District of Maryland*Eastern District of North Carolina...
and a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia
Supreme Court of Virginia
The Supreme Court of Virginia is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It primarily hears appeals from the trial-level city and county Circuit Courts, as well as the criminal law, family law and administrative law cases that go through the Court of Appeals of Virginia. It is one of...
.
Background
Born in Roanoke, VirginiaRoanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
, Agee was educated at Bridgewater College
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater College, is a private, coeducational, four-year liberal-arts college located in Bridgewater, Virginia, a town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States...
(B.A.), the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
(J.D.) and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(LL.M., Taxation). He has litigated cases in Virginia and federal courts, including arguing for the appellant before the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
in Patterson v. Shumate, 504 U.S. 753 (1992).
From 1982 to 1994, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
. Opting to pursue the Republican nomination for Attorney General of Virginia
Attorney General of Virginia
The Attorney General of Virginia is an executive office in the Government of Virginia. Attorneys General are elected for a four-year term in the year following a presidential election . There are no term limits restricting the number of terms someone can serve as Attorney General...
in 1993, he did not seek re-election to the House. In 2001, he became a Judge of the Court of Appeals of Virginia
Court of Appeals of Virginia
The Court of Appeals of Virginia, established January 1, 1985, is an eleven-judge body that hears appeals from decisions of Virginia's circuit courts and the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. The Court sits in panels of at least three judges, and sometimes hears cases en banc...
. In 2003, he was elevated to the Supreme Court of Virginia
Supreme Court of Virginia
The Supreme Court of Virginia is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It primarily hears appeals from the trial-level city and county Circuit Courts, as well as the criminal law, family law and administrative law cases that go through the Court of Appeals of Virginia. It is one of...
, filling the vacancy created by Chief Justice Harry L. Carrico
Harry L. Carrico
Harry Lee Carrico is the former Chief Justice and a current Senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. His tenure as an active Justice of the Court, at more than 42 years, is the longest term of any Justice in the Court's history...
, who took Senior Justice status.
Fourth Circuit nomination and confirmation
Agee was nominated on March 13, 2008 by President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to fill a vacancy on the Fourth Circuit created by Judge J. Michael Luttig
J. Michael Luttig
J. Michael Luttig is an American lawyer and a former federal appellate court judge.-Education and early work:Born in Tyler, Texas, Luttig graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1976. He then attended the University of Virginia School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor degree in...
, who resigned on May 10, 2006. President Bush asked the Senate to consider his nomination swiftly because of the court’s heavy caseloads, and because five of the fifteen seats are vacant. Agee received a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 1, 2008, and was unanimously voted out of committee on May 15, 2008. Agee was confirmed on May 20, 2008, by a vote of 96-0 just over two months after his nomination. Agee was the fourth judge nominated to the Fourth Circuit by Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. He received his commission on July 1, 2008, and was sworn in by his colleague and former law professor, Circuit Judge James Harvie Wilkinson III
James Harvie Wilkinson III
James Harvie Wilkinson III is a federal judge serving on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. His name has been raised at several junctures in the past as a possible nominee to the United States Supreme Court.-Early life and career:...
, on July 2, 2008.
Sources
- Markon, Jerry, "U.S. Appeals Court Gets New Judge," The Washington Post, July 31, 2008.
- Sluss, Michael, "Senate confirms Agee for judgeship," The Roanoke Times, May 20, 2008.
- Schapiro, Jeff, "Agee's move to federal court could spark another Va. political feud," Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 20, 2008
- Simon, Neil H., "Va. Justice Agee Clears Hurdle for Federal Post," Media General News Service, May 15, 2008.
- Marcy, Jessica, "Judge from Salem gets nod for federal post," The Roanoke Times, March 14, 2008.
- Simon, Neil H., "Virginia Supreme Court Justice Agee picked for U.S. court," Richmond Times-Dispatch, March 14, 2008.
- Reichmann, Deb, "Va. Justice Nominated to Appeals Court," Associated Press, March 13, 2008.
- White House Profile of G. Steven Agee
- "Patterson v. Shumate Case Summary and Oral Argument," The Oyez Project.