---
title: "Henry Franklin Floyd | KnowJudges"
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# Henry Franklin Floyd

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

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- State: National federal courts
- Role: U.S. Circuit Judge
- Service status: senior
- Last verified: 2026-07-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2011-present
- Judge, District Court, D. South Carolina, 2003-2011
- Judge, South Carolina Circuit Court, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, 1992-2003
- Judge, 13th Judicial Circuit Court of South Carolina, 1992–2003
- County attorney, Pickens County, SC, 1986-1992
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

### Education

- University of South Carolina School of Law — J.D. (1973)
- Wofford College — B.A. (1970)

### Additional information

- Colleton County Sheriff’s Office (2026) and Delsonya Wilkins-Bailey v.
- Essity Professional Hygiene North America, LLC (2026).
- Assumed senior status December 31, 2021.
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (2011–2021) Nominated by President Barack Obama on January 26, 2011; confirmed October 3, 2011, by a 96–0 Senate vote.
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina (2003–2011) Nominated by President George W. Bush on May 15, 2003; confirmed September 22, 2003; commissioned September 24, 2003.
- Bush (2005), Floyd ruled that President Bush lacked authority to detain José Padilla as an enemy combatant.
- Private practice, Pickens, SC, 1973-1992
- State Representative (Democrat), South Carolina House of Representatives, 1972–1978
- Date of birth: 1947-01-01
- As a senior judge, Floyd continues to hear and decide cases on the Fourth Circuit, with recent opinions including Colby Crosby v.
- Notably, in Padilla v.
- Birth place: Brevard, NC

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### appellate oral argument

Scope: courtwide

In federal courts of appeals, oral argument is allowed unless a three-judge panel unanimously finds one of Rule 34's specified grounds for dispensing with it; the clerk provides the date, time, place, and time allocation.

Evidence excerpt: Oral argument must be allowed in every case unless a panel of three judges who have examined the briefs and record unanimously agrees that oral argument is unnecessary

[Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391986)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391986)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391986)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1080/henry-franklin-floyd/)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1080/henry-franklin-floyd/)
- [Wikidata: Henry Franklin Floyd](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5721574)

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