Judge Gregory is new chief at 4th Circuit

(AP) Judge Roger L. Gregory will become the new chief judge of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports Gregory succeeds Chief Judge William B. Traxler Jr., whose seven-year term expires Friday.

The Richmond-based court, which has 15 active and two senior judges, handles appeals from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

University of Richmond law school professor Carl Tobias said the active judge with the most seniority — and who’s under age 65 — becomes the new chief judge when the prior chief’s term expires.

Gregory, who joined the court in 2000, is a graduate of Virginia State University and the University of Michigan Law School.

In 1982, he formed the law firm of Wilder & Gregory with former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder.