Civics Events

2023 Fourth Circuit High School Essay Contest. Essays due May 31, 2023.
Nominate a student or students for the Mount Vernon Prize in Excellence in Civics and History. Applications close June 2, 2023.
Observe a local naturalization ceremony.

We appreciate your civics event suggestions. We will post those that help fulfill our mission.

Learn About the Federal Judiciary

The U.S. Courts were created under Article III of the Constitution to administer justice fairly and impartially, within the jurisdiction established by the Constitution and Congress. Explore these resources to learn about different parts of the Federal Judiciary.

Federal Court System

U.S. Constitution & Bill of Rights

Interactive U.S. Constitution (National Constitution Center)
Bill of Rights (National Archives)

Federal Appeals & District Courts Websites

Federal Judges & Judgeships

Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges, 1789-present
FAQs about Federal Judges & Judgeships
Pathways to the Bench: These videos present the personal, character-building challenges faced by individual judges that prepared them to serve on the bench.

About the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit