---
title: "James Harvie Wilkinson III | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-harvie-wilkinson-iii"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# James Harvie Wilkinson III

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: active
- 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, 1984-present
- American attorney and jurist who has held the role of a United States Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit since 1984
- Judge on the Fourth Circuit; held the role of Chief Judge from 1996 to 2003
- Professor, University of Virginia School of Law (1973–1978, 1983–1984)
- Deputy assistant attorney general, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1982-1983
- Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, DOJ (1982–1983)
- Law clerk, Hon. Lewis F. Powell, Supreme Court of the United States, 1972-1973
- Law clerk to Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. (1972–1973)

### Education

- University of Virginia School of Law — J.D. (1972)
- Yale University — B.A. (1967)
- Yale College

### Additional information

- Faculty, University of Virginia School of Law, 1983-present
- professor, 1983-present
- Married to Lossie Grist Noell (since 1973); two children.
- Republican candidate for U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia, 1970-present
- Fellow, American Academy of Arts & Sciences (2009)
- Lawrenceville Medal (2008)
- Thomas Jefferson Medal (University of Virginia, 2004)
- Board member, Federal Judicial Center (1992–1996)
- Appointment: Nominated by President Ronald Reagan on January 30, 1984, to replace John Decker Butzner Jr.
- Confirmation: Senate vote of 58–39; commissioned August 13, 1984
- Editorial page editor, Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, 1978-1981
- Faculty, University of Virginia School of Law, 1973-1978
- associate professor, 1973-1978
- U.S. Army service, 1968–1969
- Born September 29, 1944, New York City.
- Date of birth: 1944-01-01
- Current status: Active on the Fourth Circuit bench
- St. Christopher's School
- Lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.
- Birth place: New York, NY

## 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/1389796)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1389796)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1389796)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3477/james-harvie-wilkinson-iii/)
- [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/3477/james-harvie-wilkinson-iii/)
- [Wikidata: J. Harvie Wilkinson III](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15512910)

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