| February 27, 1801 2 Stat. 103 |
This act established the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia and authorized one chief judge and two assistant judges who were to serve during good behavior. Congress granted the court the same powers as the U.S. circuit courts as well as local civil and criminal jurisdiction within the District of Columbia. |
| March 3, 1801 2 Stat. 123 |
Congress authorized the chief judge of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia to hold the U.S. District Court for the Potomac District. |
| March 8, 1802 2 Stat. 132 |
The act abolished the U.S. District Court for the Potomac District, effective July 1, 1802. |
| April 29, 1802 2 Stat. 156 |
The Judiciary Act of 1802 required the chief judge of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia to hold two annual sessions of a district court of the United States in the District of Columbia and declared that the district court would exercise the same jurisdiction and authority vested in other district courts of the United States. |
| July 7, 1838 5 Stat. 306 |
This act established the Criminal Court of the District of Columbia and authorized one judge. Congress granted the Criminal Court the powers of the U.S. circuit courts and the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia in criminal matters. The act of February 20, 1839, 5 Stat. 319, provided that the chief judge of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia would preside in the absence of the Criminal Court judge. |
| July 9, 1846 9 Stat. 35 |
This act retroceded the county of Alexandria in the District of Columbia to the state of Virginia. It provided that the division of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia in the county of Alexandria be abolished upon the formal approval of retrocession, which occurred September 7, 1846. |
| March 3, 1863 12 Stat. 762 |
This act abolished the circuit court, district court, and criminal court of the District of Columbia and established a new court, the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, thus terminating the service of the three U.S. circuit court judges appointed to serve during good behavior. |