Steven Agee | |
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.jpg) Agee in 2022 | |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit | |
| Assumed office July 1, 2008 | |
| Appointed by | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | J. Michael Luttig |
| Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court | |
| In office March 1, 2003 – June 30, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Harry L. Carrico |
| Succeeded by | LeRoy F. Millette Jr. |
| Judge of theVirginia Court of Appeals | |
| In office January 1, 2001 – March 1, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Sam Coleman |
| Succeeded by | Elizabeth A. McClanahan |
| Member of theVirginia House of Delegates | |
| In office January 13, 1982 – January 12, 1994 Serving with Richard Cranwell until 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Raymond Robrecht |
| Succeeded by | Morgan Griffith |
| Constituency |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | George Steven Agee (1952-11-12)November 12, 1952 (age 73) Roanoke, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Nancy Howell |
| Education | |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1986–1997 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | J.A.G. Corps |
George Steven Agee (born November 12, 1952) is aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and a former justice of theSupreme Court of Virginia.
Born inRoanoke,Virginia, Agee was educated atBridgewater College (Bachelor of Arts), theUniversity of Virginia School of Law (Juris Doctor) andNew York University School of Law (Master of Laws, Taxation). He has litigated cases in Virginia and federal courts, including arguing for the appellant before theSupreme Court of the United States inPatterson v. Shumate, 504 U.S. 753 (1992).
From 1982 to 1994, he served in theVirginia House of Delegates. Opting to pursue the Republican nomination forAttorney General of Virginia in 1993, he did not seek re-election to the House.
In 2001, he became a Judge of theVirginia Court of Appeals. In 2003, he was elevated to theVirginia Supreme Court, filling the vacancy created by Chief JusticeHarry L. Carrico, who took Senior Justice status.
Agee was nominated on March 13, 2008 by PresidentGeorge W. Bush to fill a vacancy on the Fourth Circuit created by JudgeJ. Michael Luttig, who resigned on May 10, 2006. President Bush asked the Senate to consider his nomination swiftly because of the court’s heavy caseloads, and because five of the fifteen seats were vacant.[1] Agee received a hearing before theSenate Judiciary Committee on May 1, 2008, and was unanimously voted out of committee on May 15, 2008. Agee was confirmed on May 20, 2008, by a 96–0 vote.[2] He received his commission on July 1, 2008,[3] and was sworn in by his colleague and former law professor, United States Circuit JudgeJames Harvie Wilkinson III, on July 2, 2008.
In 2016, Agee found thatsectarian prayers offered byRowan County, North Carolina commissioners at their meetings did not violate theEstablishment Clause of theUnited States Constitution, over the dissent of Judge Wilkinson. That judgment was then rejected by the full circuiten banc by a vote of 10-5, with Wilkinson now writing for the majority while Agee andPaul V. Niemeyer authored dissents.[4][5] In June 2018, theSupreme Court of the United States denied review, over the written dissent of JusticeClarence Thomas joined byNeil Gorsuch.[6][7]
| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit 2008–present | Incumbent |