Case Explained: MICHAEL CHATMAN v. PETER B. HEGSETH, Secretary of Defense; CHRISTINE E. WORMUTH Secretary of the Army; LT. GEN DAVID G. BASSETT, Defense Contract Management Agency

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Filed: 2026-07-28 The fourth-circuit dismissed Michael Chatman’s appeal from the district court’s grant of summary judgment on his Title VII and Age Discrimination in Employment Act claims for lack of jurisdiction. The court held that the timely filing of a notice of appeal is a jurisdictional requirement under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a)(1)(B), which mandates that appeals involving the United States or its agencies be filed within 60 days of the district court’s final order. Because Chatman filed his notice of appeal 35 days after the expiration of the 60-day period, and failed to obtain a timely extension under Rule 4(a)(5) or demonstrate delayed notice required for reopening under Rule 4(a)(6), the appeal was untimely. Consequently, the court dismissed the appeal without oral argument. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.