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| United States Court of International Trade | |
|---|---|
| (Ct. Int'l Trade or CIT) | |
| Location | James L. Watson Court of International Trade Building 1 Federal Plaza New York,NY 10278 United States |
| Appeals to | Federal Circuit |
| Established | December 18, 1980; 44 years ago (1980-12-18) |
| Authority | Article III court |
| Created by | 28 U.S.C. §§ 251–258 |
| Composition method | Presidential nomination withSenateadvice and consent |
| Judges | 9 |
| Judge term length | Life tenure |
| Chief Judge | Mark A. Barnett |
| cit | |
TheUnited States Court of International Trade (case citations:Ct. Int'l Trade), orCIT,[1] is aU.S. federal court that adjudicatescivil actions arising out of U.S. customs andinternational trade laws.[2] Seated inLower Manhattan,New York City, the court exercises broad jurisdiction over mosttrade-related matters and is permitted to hear and adjudicate cases originating anywhere in the United States as well as internationally.[3]
The court originated with the Customs Administrative Act of 1890, which established theBoard of General Appraisers as aquasi-judicial entity of theU.S. Treasury Department to hear disputes primarily concerning tariffs and import duties.[4] In 1926,Congress replaced the Board with theUnited States Customs Court, anadministrative tribunal with greater judicial functions, which in 1930 was made independent of the Treasury Department. In 1956, the U.S. Customs Court was reconstituted by Congress as anArticle III tribunal, giving it the status and privileges of a federal court. The Customs Courts Act of 1980 established the U.S. Court of International Trade in its current form, granting it jurisdiction over all trade matters and conferring its judges with life tenure.[4]
The court'ssubject matter jurisdiction is limited to particular questions ininternational trade and customs law, though it may also decide any civil action against the U.S. government, its officers, or its agencies arising out of any law connected to international trade. As an Article III tribunal, the U.S. Court of International Trade can decide controversies in both law andequity, and is thus allowed to grant relief in virtually all means available, including money judgments,writs of mandamus, and preliminary or permanent injunctions.
Led by a chief judge, the CIT is composed of nine judges appointed by the U.S. president and confirmed by the Senate. No more than five judges can be of the same political party.[5] Cases are typically heard by just one judge, although trials involving potential constitutional issues or broad legal implications for customs laws may be decided by a three-judge panel.[6] The court operates on procedures and protocols drawn heavily from theFederal Rules of Civil Procedure.
In 1890, theUnited States Congress passed legislation creating the Board of General Appraisers, a quasi-judicial administrative unit within theUnited States Department of the Treasury. The Board had nine members appointed by thePresident of the United States and empowered to review decisions of United States Customs officials concerning the amount of duties to be paid on importations.[7]
In 1926, Congress responded to the increasing number and complexity of customs cases by replacing the Board of General Appraisers with the United States Customs Court, an independentArticle I tribunal, retaining the jurisdiction and powers of the Board of General Appraisers. In 1928, the United States Customs Court became the first federal tribunal in the United States to have a woman judge,[8] when PresidentCalvin Coolidge nominatedGenevieve R. Cline to the court.[9] Although many members of theUnited States Senate objected to Cline's appointment, both because of her sex, and because they believed she was self-taught and had no judicial experience, her supporters advocated strongly for her, including Katherine Pike, president of the National Association of Women Lawyers and a number of club-women. Cline won U.S. Senate confirmation on May 25, 1928, received her commission on May 26, 1928, and took her oath of office in the Cleveland Federal Building on June 5, 1928.[10]
On July 14, 1956, Congress made the United States Customs Court anArticle III tribunal, again without changing its jurisdiction, powers, or procedures.[11] After making some procedural changes in the Customs Courts Act of 1970, Congress addressed substantive issues concerning the court's jurisdiction and remedial powers in the Customs Courts Act of 1980, which broadened the power of the court and renamed it the United States Court of International Trade.[7]
On May 28, 2025, a three-judge panel of the court ruled inV.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. United States that PresidentDonald Trump overstepped his authority by using the 1977International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify sweeping tariff hikes under hisLiberation Day trade policy. The court held that the IEEPA does not grant presidents the power to impose such broad import taxes. The judges also struck down a separate set of tariffs the Trump administration had levied on China, Mexico, and Canada, which had been justified as a response to drug trafficking and illegal immigration. The court found that these measures exceeded executive authority.[12][13]

TheJames L. Watson Court of International Trade Building, located onFoley Square inlower Manhattan in New York City, houses the court. Also known as 1 Federal Plaza, it was built in 1968 adjacent to theJacob K. Javits Federal Building.[14] In 2003, the building was named in honor ofJames L. Watson, a judge of the United States Customs Court from 1964 to 1980, and of the Court of International Trade from 1980 to 2001.[15]
The court possesses limitedsubject matter jurisdiction, meaning that it may hear only cases involving particularinternational trade andcustoms law questions. For example, the court hears disputes such as those involving protests filed withU.S. Customs and Border Protection, decisions regardingTrade Adjustment Assistance by theUnited States Department of Labor orUnited States Department of Agriculture, customs broker licensing, and disputes relating to determinations made by theUnited States International Trade Commission and theDepartment of Commerce'sInternational Trade Administration regardinganti-dumping andcountervailing duties.[16]
There is one notable exception to the court's jurisdiction. In cases involving antidumping and countervailing duties imposed on Canadian or Mexican merchandise, an interested party can request that the case be heard before a specialad hoc binational panel organized under Chapter 19 of the 1994North American Free Trade Agreement.
Most cases are heard by a single judge. If a case challenges the constitutionality of a U.S. law or has important implications regarding the administration or interpretation of the customs laws, then it may be heard by a three-judge panel. Many Judges of the Court of International Trade also regularly sitby designation on three-judge panels of theUnited States courts of appeals.[7]
Although the Court maintains its own rules of procedure, they are patterned for the most part on theFederal Rules of Civil Procedure. The court has held that decisions interpreting the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are "instructive" in interpreting its own rules.[7]
As of July 8, 2025[update]:
| # | Title | Judge | Duty station | Born | Term of service | Appointed by | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Chief | Senior | ||||||
| 24 | Chief Judge | Mark A. Barnett | New York City | 1963 | 2013–present[Note 1] | 2021–present | — | Obama |
| 25 | Judge | Claire R. Kelly | New York City | 1965 | 2013–present | — | — | Obama |
| 26 | Judge | Jennifer Choe-Groves | New York City | 1969 | 2016–present | — | — | Obama |
| 27 | Judge | Gary Katzmann | New York City | 1953 | 2016–present | — | — | Obama |
| 28 | Judge | Timothy M. Reif | New York City | 1959 | 2019–present | — | — | Trump |
| 29 | Judge | M. Miller Baker | New York City | 1962 | 2019–present | — | — | Trump |
| 31 | Judge | Lisa Wang | New York City | 1980 | 2024–present | — | — | Biden |
| 32 | Judge | Joseph A. Laroski | New York City | 1971 | 2024–present | — | — | Biden |
| 33 | Judge | Vacant | New York City | – | – | — | — | – |
| 11 | Senior Judge | Jane A. Restani | New York City | 1948 | 1983–2015 | 2003–2010 | 2015–present | Reagan |
| 13 | Senior Judge | Thomas J. Aquilino | New York City | 1939 | 1985–2004 | — | 2004–present | Reagan |
| 19 | Senior Judge | Judith Barzilay | inactive | 1944 | 1998–2011 | — | 2011–present | Clinton |
| 20 | Senior Judge | Delissa A. Ridgway | inactive | 1955 | 1998–2019 | — | 2019–present | Clinton |
| 21 | Senior Judge | Richard K. Eaton | New York City | 1948 | 1999–2014 | — | 2014–present | Clinton |
| 22 | Senior Judge | Timothy C. Stanceu | New York City | 1951 | 2003–2021 | 2014–2021 | 2021–present | G.W. Bush |
| 23 | Senior Judge | Leo M. Gordon | New York City | 1952 | 2006–2019 | — | 2019–present | G.W. Bush |
| Seat | Prior Judge's Duty Station | Seat last held by | Vacancy reason | Date of vacancy | Nominee | Date of nomination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | New York City | Stephen Vaden | Resignation | July 7, 2025 | – | – |
| # | Judge | State | Born–died | Active service | Chief Judge | Senior status | Appointed by | Reason for termination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Samuel Murray Rosenstein | NY | 1909–1995 | — | — | 1980–1995[Note 1] | L. Johnson / Operation of law | death |
| 1 | Paul Peter Rao | NY | 1899–1988 | 1980–1988[Note 1] | — | — | Truman / Operation of law | death |
| 2 | Morgan Ford | NY | 1911–1992 | 1980–1985[Note 1] | — | 1985–1992 | Truman / Operation of law | death |
| 3 | Scovel Richardson | NY | 1912–1982 | 1980–1982[Note 1] | — | — | Eisenhower / Operation of law | death |
| 4 | Frederick Landis Jr. | NY | 1912–1990 | 1980–1983[Note 1] | — | 1983–1990 | L. Johnson / Operation of law | death |
| 5 | James Lopez Watson | NY | 1922–2001 | 1980–1991[Note 1] | — | 1991–2001 | L. Johnson / Operation of law | death |
| 6 | Herbert N. Maletz | NY | 1913–2002 | 1980–1982[Note 1] | — | 1982–2002 | L. Johnson / Operation of law | death |
| 7 | Bernard Newman | NY | 1907–1999 | 1980–1983[Note 1] | — | 1983–1999 | L. Johnson / Operation of law | death |
| 8 | Edward D. Re | NY | 1920–2006 | 1980–1991[Note 1] | 1980–1991 | — | L. Johnson / Operation of law | retirement |
| 9 | Nils Boe | NY | 1913–1992 | 1980–1984[Note 1] | — | 1984–1992 | Nixon / Operation of law | death |
| 10 | Gregory W. Carman | NY | 1937–2020 | 1983–2014 | 1996–2003 | 2014–2020 | Reagan | death |
| 12 | Dominick L. DiCarlo | NY | 1928–1999 | 1984–1996 | 1991–1996 | 1996–1999 | Reagan | death |
| 14 | Nicholas Tsoucalas | NY | 1926–2018 | 1986–1996 | — | 1996–2018 | Reagan | death |
| 15 | R. Kenton Musgrave | CA | 1927–2023 | 1987–1997 | — | 1997–2023 | Reagan | death |
| 16 | Richard W. Goldberg | ND | 1927–2023 | 1991–2001 | — | 2001–2023 | G.H.W. Bush | death |
| 17 | Donald C. Pogue | CT | 1947–2016 | 1995–2014 | 2010–2014 | 2014–2016 | Clinton | death |
| 18 | Evan Wallach | NV | 1949–present | 1995–2011 | — | — | Clinton | elevation toFed. Cir. |
| 30 | Stephen Vaden | TN | 1982–present | 2020–2025 | — | — | Trump | resignation |
| # | Judge | State | Born–died | Active service | Chief Judge | Senior status | Appointed by | Reason for termination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Barberie Howell | NY | 1865–1927 | 1926–1927[Note 1] | 1926–1927 | — | McKinley / Operation of law | death |
| 2 | Israel F. Fischer | NY | 1858–1940 | 1926–1932[Note 1] | 1927–1932 | — | McKinley / Operation of law | retirement |
| 3 | Byron Sylvester Waite | NY | 1852–1930 | 1926–1930[Note 1] | — | — | T. Roosevelt / Operation of law | retirement |
| 4 | Charles Paul McClelland | NY | 1854–1944 | 1926–1939[Note 1] | 1934–1939 | — | T. Roosevelt / Operation of law | retirement |
| 5 | Jerry Bartholomew Sullivan | NY | 1859–1948 | 1926–1939[Note 1] | — | — | Wilson / Operation of law | retirement |
| 6 | George Stewart Brown | NY | 1871–1941 | 1926–1941[Note 1] | 1939–1940 | — | Wilson / Operation of law | retirement |
| 7 | William C. Adamson | NY | 1854–1929 | 1926–1928[Note 1] | — | — | Wilson / Operation of law | retirement |
| 8 | George Emery Weller | NY | 1857–1932 | 1926–1930[Note 1] | — | — | Wilson / Operation of law | retirement |
| 9 | George M. Young | NY | 1870–1932 | 1926–1932[Note 1] | 1932 | — | Coolidge / Operation of law | death |
| 10 | William Josiah Tilson | NY | 1871–1949 | 1928–1949 | 1932–1934 | — | Coolidge | death |
| 11 | Genevieve R. Cline | NY | 1877–1959 | 1928–1953 | — | — | Coolidge | retirement |
| 12 | David Hayes Kincheloe | NY | 1877–1950 | 1930–1948[Note 2] | — | — | Hoover | retirement |
| 13 | Walter Howard Evans | NY | 1870–1959 | 1931–1941 | — | — | Hoover | retirement |
| 14 | Frederick W. Dallinger | NY | 1871–1955 | 1932–1942 | — | — | Hoover | retirement |
| 15 | William John Keefe | NY | 1873–1955 | 1933–1947 | — | — | F. Roosevelt | retirement |
| 16 | Thomas Joseph Walker | NY | 1877–1945 | 1940–1945 | — | — | F. Roosevelt | death |
| 17 | Webster Oliver | NY | 1888–1969 | 1940–1967 | 1940–1965 | 1967–1969 | F. Roosevelt | death |
| 18 | William A. Ekwall | NY | 1887–1956 | 1942–1956 | — | — | F. Roosevelt | death |
| 19 | William Purington Cole Jr. | NY | 1889–1957 | 1942–1952 | — | — | F. Roosevelt | elevation toC.C.P.A. |
| 20 | Charles Drummond Lawrence | NY | 1878–1975 | 1943–1965 | — | 1965–1975 | F. Roosevelt | death |
| 21 | Irvin Charles Mollison | NY | 1898–1962 | 1945–1962 | — | — | Truman | death |
| 22 | Jed Johnson | NY | 1888–1963 | 1947–1963 | — | — | Truman | death |
| 23 | Paul Peter Rao | NY | 1899–1988 | 1948–1980[Note 3] | 1965–1971 | — | Truman | reassignment to Intl. Trade |
| 24 | Morgan Ford | NY | 1911–1992 | 1949–1980 | — | — | Truman | reassignment to Intl. Trade |
| 25 | David John Wilson | NY | 1887–1976 | 1954–1966 | — | 1966–1976 | Eisenhower | death |
| 26 | Mary Donlon Alger | NY | 1893–1977 | 1955–1966 | — | 1966–1977 | Eisenhower | death |
| 27 | Scovel Richardson | NY | 1912–1982 | 1957–1980 | — | — | Eisenhower | reassignment to Intl. Trade |
| 28 | Philip Nichols Jr. | NY | 1907–1990 | 1964–1966 | — | — | L. Johnson | elevation toCt. Cl. |
| 29 | Frederick Landis Jr. | NY | 1912–1990 | 1965–1980 | — | — | L. Johnson | reassignment to Intl. Trade |
| 30 | James Lopez Watson | NY | 1922–2001 | 1966–1980 | — | — | L. Johnson | reassignment to Intl. Trade |
| 31 | Lindley Beckworth | NY | 1913–1984 | 1967–1968 | — | — | L. Johnson | resignation |
| 32 | Herbert N. Maletz | NY | 1913–2002 | 1967–1980 | — | — | L. Johnson | reassignment to Intl. Trade |
| 33 | Bernard Newman | NY | 1907–1999 | 1968–1980 | — | — | L. Johnson | reassignment to Intl. Trade |
| 34 | Samuel Murray Rosenstein | NY | 1909–1995 | 1968–1970 | — | 1970–1980 | L. Johnson | reassignment to Intl. Trade |
| 35 | Edward D. Re | NY | 1920–2006 | 1968–1980 | 1977–1980 | — | L. Johnson | reassignment to Intl. Trade |
| 36 | Nils Boe | NY | 1913–1992 | 1971–1980 | 1971–1977 | — | Nixon | reassignment to Intl. Trade |
| # | Member | State | Born/Died | Active service | President | Senior status | Appointed by | Reason for termination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles H. Ham | NY | 1831–1902 | 1890–1902 | 1897–1902 | — | B. Harrison | resignation |
| 2 | George C. Tichenor | NY | 1838–1902 | 1890–1902 | 1890–1897 | — | B. Harrison | death |
| 3 | Joseph Biddle Wilkinson Jr. | NY | 1845–1915 | 1890–1899 | — | — | B. Harrison | resignation |
| 4 | James A. Jewell | NY | c. 1840–1912 | 1890–1903 | — | — | B. Harrison | resignation |
| 5 | Henderson M. Somerville | NY | 1837–1915 | 1890–1915 | 1910–1914 | — | B. Harrison | death |
| 6 | Ferdinand N. Shurtleff | NY | 1837–1903 | 1890–1899 | — | — | B. Harrison | removal[Note 1] |
| 7 | Joseph Lewis Stackpole | NY | 1838–1904 | 1890–1890 | — | — | B. Harrison | resignation |
| 8 | Thaddeus S. Sharretts | NY | 1850–1926 | 1890–1913 | — | — | B. Harrison | removal[Note 2] |
| 9 | George H. Sharpe | NY | 1828–1900 | 1890–1899 | — | — | B. Harrison | resignation |
| 10 | Wilbur Fisk Lunt | NY | 1848–1908 | 1891–1908 | — | — | B. Harrison | death |
| 11 | William Barberie Howell | NY | 1865–1927 | 1899–1926 | 1925–1926 | — | McKinley | reassignment toCust Ct. |
| 12 | Israel F. Fischer | NY | 1858–1940 | 1899–1926[Note 3] | 1902–1905 | — | McKinley | reassignment toCust Ct. |
| 13 | Marion De Vries | NY | 1865–1939 | 1900–1910[Note 4] | 1906–1910 | — | McKinley | elevation toC.C.P.A. |
| 14 | Byron Sylvester Waite | NY | 1852–1930 | 1902–1926 | — | — | T. Roosevelt | reassignment toCust Ct. |
| 15 | Charles P. McClelland | NY | 1854–1944 | 1903–1926[Note 5] | — | — | T. Roosevelt | reassignment toCust Ct. |
| 16 | Eugene Gano Hay | NY | 1853–1933 | 1903–1923[Note 6] | — | — | T. Roosevelt | retirement |
| 17 | Roy Chamberlain | NY | 1861–1953 | 1908–1913[Note 7] | — | — | T. Roosevelt | removal[Note 2] |
| 18 | Samuel B. Cooper | NY | 1850–1918 | 1910–1918 | — | — | Taft | death |
| 19 | Jerry Bartholomew Sullivan | NY | 1859–1948 | 1913–1926 | 1914–1925 | — | Wilson | reassignment toCust Ct. |
| 20 | George Stewart Brown | NY | 1871–1941 | 1913–1926 | — | — | Wilson | reassignment toCust Ct. |
| 21 | William C. Adamson | NY | 1854–1929 | 1917–1926 | — | — | Wilson | reassignment toCust Ct. |
| 22 | George Emery Weller | NY | 1857–1932 | 1919–1926 | — | — | Wilson | reassignment toCust Ct. |
| 23 | George M. Young | NY | 1870–1932 | 1924–1926 | — | — | Coolidge | reassignment toCust Ct. |
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Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to the Court of International Trade, and preside over any panel on which they serve unless circuit judges are also on the panel.[7] Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge. A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.
Under the Board of General Appraisers, the position of Chief Judge was entitled "President". When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire on what has since 1958 been known as senior status or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.
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