Peter Randolph was a United States federal judge

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....

.

Born in Nottoway County, Virginia

Nottoway County, Virginia

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,725 people, 5,664 households, and 3,885 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 6,373 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...

, Randolph attended the College of William and Mary

College of William and Mary

The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...

, and read law to enter the bar in 1806. He was in private practice in Nottoway County from 1806 to 1812, during which time he also served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Virginia State Militia from 1807 to 1810, and as a member of 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...

. He was a judge on the General Court of Virginia

Virginia Circuit Court

The Virginia Circuit Courts are the state trial courts of general jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Circuit Courts have jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases. For civil cases, the courts has authority to try cases with an amount in controversy of more than $4,500 and has...

, 5th Circuit, from 1812 to 1820. He then moved to Woodville, Mississippi

Woodville, Mississippi

Woodville is a town in and the county seat of Wilkinson County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,192 at the 2000 census.The Woodville Republican, a weekly newspaper founded in 1823, is the oldest surviving business in Mississippi.-Geography:Woodville is located at .According to...

, where he was a planter

Plantation

A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...

, and continued his private practice from 1820 to 1823.

On June 25, 1823, Randolph 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 President James Monroe

James Monroe

James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...

 to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Mississippi vacated by William Bayard Shields

William Bayard Shields

William Bayard Shields was a United States federal judge.Born in Maryland in 1780, Shields read law to enter the bar. He began a private practice in Wilmington, Delaware, which he continued until 1802, when he became Secretary of State of Delaware. He was in private practice in Natchez,...

. Formally nominated on December 5, 1823, Randolph was 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 December 9, 1823, and received his commission the same day. He served thereafter until his death, in 1832, in Woodville, Mississippi.

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