Charles R. Wilson (judge)

Charles R. Wilson (born October 14, 1954) is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Wilson was born in Pensacola, Florida in 1954. He is a graduate of Jesuit High School of Tampa. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1976 and his J.D. from Notre Dame Law School in 1979.

Following graduation from law school, he served as a law clerk for Judge Joseph W. Hatchett of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 1979 to 1980. From 1980 to 1981, he served as an Assistant County Attorney in Hillsborough County, Florida. Following a five-year stint in private practice based in Tampa, Florida, he was appointed as a County State Judge in Hillsborough County in 1986, serving in that capacity until 1990, when he was appointed as a magistrate judge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, serving as a magistrate judge until 1994. From 1994 to 1999, he served as United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.

President Bill Clinton nominated Wilson to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on May 27, 1999 to replace the vacancy created when Joseph W. Hatchett, his former boss who had since been transferred from the 5th Circuit to the 11th Circuit, retired.

Wilson's nomination was relatively uncontroversial, earning bipartisan support from both of his state's U.S. Senators, Bob Graham and Connie Mack III. Wilson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by voice vote on July 30, 1999. He received his commission on August 9, 1999.