Fourth Circuit / Appointed 1978 / Served to 2017
James Dickson Phillips Jr.
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 and confirmed by voice vote, James Dickson Phillips Jr. was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He earned a law degree from University of North Carolina School of Law in 1948. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, August 11, 1978
- Appointed by
- Jimmy Carter, 1978
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Education
- Davidson College 1943 · University of North Carolina Law 1948
- Succeeded
- James Braxton Craven Jr.
- Succeeded by
- James Andrew Wynn Jr.
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Fourth Circuit · succeeded James Braxton Craven Jr. | Carter (D) | voice |
A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
Education
| Davidson College | B.S. | 1943 |
| University of North Carolina School of Law | J.D. | 1948 |
Sources
39 years on the Fourth Circuit. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).