[1] Widener was nominated by President Nixon on September 25, 1972, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated by Judge Albert Vickers Bryan.

He was the last federal appeals court judge in active service to have been appointed by President Nixon.

[citation needed] William J. Haynes II had been nominated to succeed Widener but was never given a vote in the Senate.

[citation needed] In January 2007, Haynes withdrew his candidacy for nomination to replace Widener on the Fourth Circuit.

[citation needed] Widener died at his home outside Abingdon on September 19, 2007, after a year-long battle with lung cancer.