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title: "William Byrd Traxler Jr. | KnowJudges"
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# William Byrd Traxler Jr.

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, 1998-present
- Judge, District Court, D. South Carolina, 1992-1998
- Resident judge, South Carolina Circuit Court, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, 1985-1992
- Office of the Solicitor, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Greenville County, SC, 1975-1985
- State prosecutor in the 13th Judicial Circuit (1975–1985)
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

### Education

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

### Additional information

- Senior status: Assumed August 31, 2018, while continuing to hear cases
- Chief Judge: 2009–2016
- Appointed: July 10, 1998, by President Bill Clinton to replace Donald S. Russell
- Confirmed by Senate: September 28, 1998
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina (1992–1998) — nominated by George H. W. Bush, confirmed February 27, 1992
- South Carolina Circuit Court (1985–1992) — elected by the General Assembly
- solicitor, 1981-1985
- deputy solicitor, 1978-1981
- assistant solicitor, 1975-1978
- U.S. Army Reserve adjutant general, 1970-1978
- Private practice, Greenville, SC, 1973-1974
- Date of birth: 1948-01-01
- Birth place: Greenville, SC

## 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/1388906)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1388906)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1388906)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3255/william-byrd-traxler-jr/)
- [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/3255/william-byrd-traxler-jr/)
- [Wikidata: William Byrd Traxler, Jr.](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8006240)

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