In a surprise announcement, Fourth Circuit Judge Andre Davis is leaving the court.  Judge Davis will become Baltimore City’s new Solicitor General on September 1, 2017.  Having already heard his last oral argument, Judge Davis will be working over the summer to finish up cases previously assigned to him.   Because Judge Davis had previously taken senior status, his resignation will not create a new vacancy on the Fourth Circuit.

As a gifted legal writer and long-time champion of civil rights, Judge Davis will be missed on the Fourth Circuit.  (Check out the Maryland Appellate Blog’s tribute to Judge Davis, which includes excerpts from some of his greatest hits.)  However, Judge Davis will bring leadership and direction to a city–and a legal department–that has been in the news over the the past few years.

We  thank Judge Davis for his long-time service to the federal judiciary and wish him well in his new endeavor.

–Beth Scherer