Samuel James Ervin III
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 ↓
- Lived
- 1926–1999
- Appointed by
- Jimmy Carter, 1980
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Chief judge
- Fourth Circuit, 1989 to 1996
- Education
- Davidson College 1948 · Harvard Law School 1951
- Succeeded by
- Allyson Kay Duncan
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Fourth Circuit chief judge 1989 to 1996 | Carter (D) | Voice vote |
Party letters show the appointing president’s party, not the judge’s own. A voice vote means the chamber approved aloud. No senator-by-senator tally is recorded.
Confirmation vote
Voice vote
The Senate approved this confirmation aloud, with no senator-by-senator tally recorded. Recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989.
Education
| Davidson College | B.S. | 1948 |
| Harvard Law School | LL.B. | 1951 |
Before the bench
Professional career before and outside the federal bench, as recorded by the Federal Judicial Center.
| U.S. Army lieutenant | 1944-1946, 1951-1952 |
| Private practice, Morganton, North Carolina | 1952-1967 |
| Solicitor, Burke County [North Carolina] Board of Commissioners | 1954-1956 |
| State representative, North Carolina | 1965-1967 |
| Judge, North Carolina Superior Court | 1967-1980 |
| Member, Judicial Conference of the United States | 1989-1995 |
Questions & answers
- Who appointed Samuel James Ervin III?
- President Jimmy Carter appointed Samuel James Ervin III to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in 1980.
- Was Samuel James Ervin III appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?
- Samuel James Ervin III was appointed by President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.
- What was Samuel James Ervin III's confirmation vote?
- Samuel James Ervin III was confirmed by voice vote on May 21, 1980. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.
- Which court was Samuel James Ervin III on?
- Samuel James Ervin III was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Sources
Each fact on this page traces to a primary public record.
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19 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Data as of 2026-09-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).