Henry Potter (judge)
Encyclopedia
Henry Potter was the longest serving United States federal judge
to sit on a single court, and the longest serving active judge. He served on the United States circuit court
for the Fifth Circuit from May 1801 until April 1802, and then served (through various redistricting schemes) as the sole judge of the United States District Court for the District of North Carolina from 1802 to 1857.
Born in Mecklenburg County, Virginia
, Potter became an attorney by reading law
sometime around 1790, and had a private practice in Raleigh, North Carolina
from about 1792 to 1802. He received a recess appointment
from Thomas Jefferson
on May 9, 1801, to a new seat on the Fifth Circuit created by 2 Stat. 89. He was formally nominated to that seat on January 6, 1802, confirmed by the United States Senate
on January 26, 1802, and received his commission that day. On April 6, 1802, he was nominated by Jefferson to a seat vacated by John Sitgreaves
on what was then known as the United States District Courts, Albemarle, Cape Fear & Pamptico Districts of North Carolina. He was confirmed by the Senate on April 7, 1802 (thus terminating his service on the Fifth Circuit in favor of his new position), and received his commission the same day. He thereafter served as a District Court judge for over 55 years, until his death on December 20, 1857.
Potter became a trustee of the University of North Carolina
in 1799, and held that position until his death, in Fayetteville, North Carolina
. He published various books, including an 1816 tract on the Duties of a Justice of the Peace, and, with John Louis Taylor
and Bartlett Yancey
, an 1821 revision of the two-volume Law of the State of North Carolina.
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....
to sit on a single court, and the longest serving active judge. He served on the United States circuit court
United States circuit court
The United States circuit courts were the original intermediate level courts of the United States federal court system. They were established by the Judiciary Act of 1789. They had trial court jurisdiction over civil suits of diversity jurisdiction and major federal crimes. They also had appellate...
for the Fifth Circuit from May 1801 until April 1802, and then served (through various redistricting schemes) as the sole judge of the United States District Court for the District of North Carolina from 1802 to 1857.
Born in Mecklenburg County, Virginia
Mecklenburg County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 32,727 people, 12,951 households, and 8,962 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile . There were 17,403 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
, Potter became an attorney by reading law
Reading law
Reading law is the method by which persons in common law countries, particularly the United States, entered the legal profession before the advent of law schools. This usage specifically refers to a means of entering the profession . A small number of U.S...
sometime around 1790, and had a private practice in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
from about 1792 to 1802. He received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
on May 9, 1801, to a new seat on the Fifth Circuit created by 2 Stat. 89. He was formally nominated to that seat on January 6, 1802, 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...
on January 26, 1802, and received his commission that day. On April 6, 1802, he was nominated by Jefferson to a seat vacated by John Sitgreaves
John Sitgreaves
John Sitgreaves was a British-born American lawyer and jurist from New Bern, North Carolina. He was a delegate for North Carolina to the Continental Congress in 1785...
on what was then known as the United States District Courts, Albemarle, Cape Fear & Pamptico Districts of North Carolina. He was confirmed by the Senate on April 7, 1802 (thus terminating his service on the Fifth Circuit in favor of his new position), and received his commission the same day. He thereafter served as a District Court judge for over 55 years, until his death on December 20, 1857.
Potter became a trustee of the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in 1799, and held that position until his death, in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
. He published various books, including an 1816 tract on the Duties of a Justice of the Peace, and, with John Louis Taylor
John Louis Taylor
John Louis Taylor was an American jurist and first Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.Born in London, he is the only foreign-born Chief Justice in state history...
and Bartlett Yancey
Bartlett Yancey
Bartlett Yancey, Jr. was a Democratic-Republican U.S. Congressman from North Carolina, USA, between 1813 and 1817....
, an 1821 revision of the two-volume Law of the State of North Carolina.