United States District Court for the District of Orleans
Encyclopedia
The United States District Court for the District of Orleans was a United States district court
created on March 26, 1804, by 2 Stat. 283, to resolve disputes in the Territory of Orleans, the portion of the Louisiana Purchase
south of the 33rd parallel
.
This act organized the Territory of Orleans as a judicial district and authorized one judgeship for the court. This was the only time the United States Congress
provided a territory with a district court equal in its authority and jurisdiction
to the district courts in the states. The district court in Orleans, not being assigned to a judicial circuit, was granted the same jurisdiction as United States circuit court
s, except in appeals and writs of error, which were the jurisdiction of the United States Supreme Court.
Only one person - Dominic Augustin Hall
- served as a judge on the court. Hall was nominated to the Court by President Thomas Jefferson
on November 30, 1804, and was confirmed by the United States Senate
on November 30, 1804, receiving his commission on December 11, 1804. The court was abolished on April 8, 1812, by 2 Stat. 701, which organized the State of Louisiana
as a judicial district. Hall's service was thereby terminated, but shortly thereafter, on May 27, 1812, he was successfully nominated by President James Madison
to be a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Louisiana.
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
created on March 26, 1804, by 2 Stat. 283, to resolve disputes in the Territory of Orleans, the portion of the Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of America of of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S...
south of the 33rd parallel
33rd parallel north
The 33rd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 33 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Africa, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America and the Atlantic Ocean....
.
This act organized the Territory of Orleans as a judicial district and authorized one judgeship for the court. This was the only time the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
provided a territory with a district court equal in its authority and jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
to the district courts in the states. The district court in Orleans, not being assigned to a judicial circuit, was granted the same jurisdiction as 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...
s, except in appeals and writs of error, which were the jurisdiction of the United States Supreme Court.
Only one person - Dominic Augustin Hall
Dominic Augustin Hall
Dominic Augustin Hall was a United States federal judge, appointed by two different presidents to four federal judicial positions....
- served as a judge on the court. Hall was nominated to the Court by President 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 November 30, 1804, and 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 November 30, 1804, receiving his commission on December 11, 1804. The court was abolished on April 8, 1812, by 2 Stat. 701, which organized the State of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
as a judicial district. Hall's service was thereby terminated, but shortly thereafter, on May 27, 1812, he was successfully nominated by President James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
to be a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Louisiana.
External links
- U.S. District Courts of Louisiana, Legislative history, Federal Judicial CenterFederal Judicial CenterThe Federal Judicial Center is the education and research agency of the United States federal courts. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1967, at the recommendation of the Judicial Conference of the United States....
.