The Courts and Their Jurisdiction
The U.S. circuit courts had jurisdiction over all prosecutions under the Sedition Act. The circuit courts were established by the Judiciary Act of 1789 to serve as the most important trial courts in the federal judiciary. These courts, which operated until 1911, had jurisdiction over most federal crimes, over suits between citizens from different states (known as diversity jurisdiction), and over most cases in which the federal government was a party. The circuit courts also heard some appeals from the district courts. Since the Sedition Act authorized criminal penalties of greater than six months’ imprisonment or $100 fine, the circuit courts had jurisdiction rather than the district courts.
Except for a brief period from 1801–1802, the circuit courts before 1869 had no judges of their own. Each justice of the Supreme Court was assigned to a regional circuit and, along with the local district judge, presided over the circuit court that met in each district within the circuit.
U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Vermont
When Vermont joined the Union in 1791, Congress established the state as a single judicial district and assigned it to the Eastern Circuit, which consisted of the other New England states and New York. The U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Vermont convened in Windsor, Vermont, each May and in Rutland, Vermont, each October. Justice William Paterson served as the circuit justice in 1798. The district judge who sat with Paterson in 1798 was Samuel Hitchcock, who was appointed to the court by George Washington in 1793. Hitchcock served on the district court until 1801, when President Adams appointed him to the new (and short-lived) judgeship of the U.S. Circuit Court for the Second Circuit.
U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Pennsylvania
Congress established the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Pennsylvania in the Judiciary Act of 1789 and assigned the district to the Middle Circuit, which also included Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia. The court convened in Philadelphia each April and October. Justice Samuel Chase served as the circuit justice in 1800. The district judge who sat with Chase in 1800 was Richard Peters, who was appointed by George Washington in 1792. Peters served as a district judge until his death in 1828.
U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Virginia
Congress established the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Virginia in the Judiciary Act of 1789 and assigned the district to the Middle Circuit, which also included Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The court convened in Richmond each May and November. Justice Samuel Chase served as the circuit justice in 1800. The district judge who sat with Chase in 1800 was Cyrus Griffin, who was appointed by George Washington in 1789. Griffin served as a district judge until his death in 1810.
The Sedition Act Trials — Historical Background and Documents