Fourth Circuit / Appointed 1980 / Served to 1999

Samuel James Ervin III

Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 and confirmed by voice vote, Samuel James Ervin III was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1951. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, May 21, 1980

Appointed by
Jimmy Carter, 1980
Confirmed
by voice vote
Education
Davidson College 1948 · Harvard Law School 1951
Succeeded by
Allyson Kay Duncan
Federal judicial service
YearCourtAppointed byVote
1980Fourth CircuitCarter (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
Sources

19 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).