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List of former United States district courts

The following are former United States district courts, which ceased to exist because they were subdivided into smaller units. With the exception of California, each of these courts initially covered an entire U.S. state, and was subdivided as the jurisdictions which they covered increased in population. Two of the district courts—those of South Carolina and New Jersey—were subdivided but later recreated. Every change to the divisions and boundaries of these courts is effected by an act of the United States Congress, and for each such action, the statutory reference is identified.

Alabama edit

The United States District Court for the District of Alabama was created on April 21, 1820, by 3 Stat. 564.[1][2] It was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on March 10, 1824, by 4 Stat. 9.[1][2] The Middle District was subsequently formed from parts of these two districts on February 6, 1839, by 5 Stat. 315,[1][2][3] with legislation specifying that the Middle District Court was to be held at Tuscaloosa, the Northern District Court at Huntsville, and the Southern District Court at Mobile.[1] The Districts were reorganized on August 7, 1848.[4] Only one judge was ever appointed to the District of Alabama.

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Charles Tait AL 1768–1835 1820–1824 Monroe reassignment to N.D. Ala. and S.D. Ala.

Arkansas edit

Arkansas, originally part of the Louisiana Purchase, became part of the Missouri Territory in 1812, when Louisiana became a state. When Missouri became a state in 1819, a territorial government, including a territorial court, was organized for Arkansas, taking effect on July 4, 1819.[5] The United States District Court for the District of Arkansas was established with a single judge when Arkansas became a state, on June 15, 1836, by 5 Stat. 50, 51.[5][6] The court was subdivided into Eastern and the Western Districts on March 3, 1851, by 9 Stat. 594.[1][6][7]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Benjamin Johnson AR 1784–1849 1836–1849 Jackson death
2 Daniel Ringo AR 1803–1873 1849–1851[8] Taylor reassignment to E.D. Ark. and W.D. Ark.

California edit

The United States District Court for the District of California existed from 1866 to 1886. California was admitted as a state on September 9, 1850, and was initially divided into two districts, the Northern and the Southern, by Act of Congress approved September 28 9 Stat. 521.[9] The boundary line was at the 37th parallel north.[10] The creating act provided that:

In addition to the ordinary jurisdiction and powers of a District Court of the United States, with which the Southern District Court of New York has been invested, the said Courts be and hereby are invested respectively within the limits of its district with the exercise of concurrent jurisdiction and power in all civil cases now exercised by the Circuit Courts of the United States; and that in all cases where said Courts shall exercise such jurisdiction, appeals may be taken from the judgments, orders or decrees of said Courts to the Supreme Court of the United States.

On February 27, 1851, President Millard Fillmore appointed Ogden Hoffman Jr., as the judge presiding over the Northern District. The Act of August 31, 1852, made the Judge of the Northern District be Judge of the Southern District as well until otherwise provided, by 10 Stat. 76, 84,[9] effectively creating a single District in all but name until an Act of January 18, 1854 provided for the appointment of a Judge for the Southern District.[10] The Southern District of California was abolished and the State made to constitute one district by Act of Congress approved July 27, 1866, 14 Stat. 300.[9][10]

Twenty years later, on August 5, 1886, Congress re-created the Southern District of California (and, by extension, the Northern District) by 24 Stat. 308.[10] Hoffman, who had continued serving as the sole district judge, again became judge of the Northern district only, there continuing in service for five more years. Erskine Mayo Ross was appointed Judge of the new Southern District and served until his promotion to the Circuit Judgeship, when he was succeeded by Olin Wellborn.[10]

On March 18, 1966, the Eastern and Central Districts were created from portions of the Northern and Southern Districts by 80 Stat. 75.[9]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Ogden Hoffman Jr. CA 1822–1891 1866–1886[11] Fillmore / Operation of law reassignment to N.D. Cal.

Florida edit

On the same day that Florida was admitted as a state, March 3, 1845, Congress enacted legislation creating the United States District Court for the District of Florida, 5 Stat. 788.[12][13] On February 23, 1847, 9 Stat. 131[12][13] divided the jurisdiction of this court between the Northern District and a Southern District Courts with the boundary between as:

[T]hat part of the State of Florida lying south of a line drawn due east and west from the northern point of Charlotte Harbor, including the islands, keys, reefs, shoals, harbors, bays and inlets, south of said line, shall be erected into a new judicial district, to be called the Southern District of Florida; a District Court shall be held in said Southern District, to consist of one judge, who shall reside at Key West, in said district...

The same statute directed the Northern District to hold court at Apalachicola, Florida, and Pensacola, Florida.

On July 30, 1962, the Middle District was created from portions of the other districts by 76 Stat. 247.[13]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Isaac H. Bronson FL 1802–1855 1846–1847 Polk reassignment to N.D. Fla.

Georgia edit

The United States District Court for the District of Georgia was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, 1 Stat. 73, on September 24, 1789.[14] The District was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on August 11, 1848, by 9 Stat. 280.[1][7][14] The Middle District was formed from portions of those two Districts on May 28, 1926, by 44 Stat. 670.[14]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Nathaniel Pendleton GA 1756–1821 1789–1796 Washington resignation
2 Joseph Clay Jr. GA 1764–1811 1796–1801[15] Washington resignation
3 William Stephens GA 1752–1819 1801–1818[16] Jefferson resignation
4 William Davies GA 1775–1829 1819–1821 Monroe resignation
5 Jeremiah La Touche Cuyler GA 1768–1839 1821–1839[17] Monroe death
6 John Cochran Nicoll GA 1793–1863 1839–1848[18] Van Buren reassignment to N.D. Ga. and S.D. Ga.

Illinois edit

 
Map of the changing Districts of Illinois.

The United States District Court for the District of Illinois was established by a statute passed by the United States Congress on March 3, 1819, 3 Stat. 502.[12][19] The act established a single office for a judge to preside over the court. Initially, the court was not within any existing judicial circuit, and appeals from the court were taken directly to the United States Supreme Court. In 1837, Congress created the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, placing it in Chicago, Illinois and giving it jurisdiction over the District of Illinois, 5 Stat. 176.[19] The District itself was eliminated by a statute passed on February 13, 1855, 10 Stat. 606, under which it was subdivided into the Northern and the Southern Districts.[19] The boundaries of the District and the seats of the courts were set forth in the statute:

The counties of Hancock, McDonough, Peoria, Woodford, Livingston, and Iroquois, and all the counties in the said State north of them, shall compose one district, to be called the northern district of Illinois, and courts shall be held for the said district at the city of Chicago; and the residue of the counties of the said State shall compose another district, to be called the southern district of Illinois, and courts shall be held for the same at the city of Springfield.

The district has since been re-organized several times. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois was created on March 3, 1905, by 33 Stat. 992,[19] by splitting counties out of the Northern and Southern Districts. It was later eliminated in a reorganization on October 2, 1978, which replaced it with a Central District, 92 Stat. 883,[19] also formed from parts of the Northern and Southern Districts.

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Nathaniel Pope IL 1784–1850 1819–1850 Monroe death
2 Thomas Drummond IL 1809–1890 1850–1855 Taylor reassignment to N.D. Ill.

Indiana edit

The United States District Court for the District of Indiana was established on March 3, 1817, by 3 Stat. 390.[20][21] The District was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on April 21, 1928, by 45 Stat. 437.[21] Of all district courts that have been subdivided, Indiana existed for the longest time as a single court, 111 years.

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Benjamin Parke IN 1777–1835 1817–1835 Monroe death
2 Jesse Lynch Holman IN 1784–1842 1835–1842[22] Jackson death
3 Elisha Mills Huntington IN 1806–1862 1842–1862 Tyler death
4 Caleb Blood Smith IN 1808–1864 1862–1864 Lincoln death
5 Albert Smith White IN 1803–1864 1864 Lincoln death
6 David McDonald IN 1803–1869 1864–1869 Lincoln death
7 Walter Q. Gresham IN 1832–1895 1869–1883[23] Grant resignation
8 William Allen Woods IN 1837–1901 1883–1892[24] Arthur elevation to 7th Cir.
9 John Baker IN 1832–1915 1892–1902 B. Harrison retirement
10 Albert B. Anderson IN 1857–1938 1902–1925 T. Roosevelt elevation to 7th Cir.
11 Robert C. Baltzell IN 1879–1950 1925–1928 Coolidge reassignment to S.D. Ind.
12 Thomas Whitten Slick IN 1869–1959 1925–1928 Coolidge reassignment to N.D. Ind.

Iowa edit

The United States District Court for the District of Iowa was established on March 3, 1845, by 5 Stat. 789.[25][26] The District was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on July 20, 1882, by 22 Stat. 172.[26]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 John James Dyer IA 1809–1855 1847–1855 Polk death
2 James M. Love IA 1820–1891 1855–1882[27] Pierce reassignment to S.D. Iowa

Kentucky edit

The United States District Court for the District of Kentucky was part of one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, 1 Stat. 73, on September 24, 1789.[4][28] At the time, Kentucky was not yet a state, but was within the territory of the state of Virginia. The District was unchanged when Kentucky became a state on June 1, 1792. On February 13, 1801, the Judiciary Act of 1801, 2 Stat. 89, abolished the U.S. district court in Kentucky,[28] but the repeal of this Act restored the District on March 8, 1802, 2 Stat. 132.[28] The District was subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on February 12, 1901, by 31 Stat. 781.[28]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Harry Innes KY 1752–1816 1789–1816 Washington death
2 Robert Trimble KY 1776–1828 1817–1826 Madison elevation to Supreme Court
3 John Boyle KY 1774–1834 1826–1834[29] J.Q. Adams death
4 Thomas Bell Monroe KY 1791–1865 1834–1861 Jackson resignation
5 Bland Ballard KY 1819–1879 1861–1879[30] Lincoln death
6 William Hercules Hays KY 1820–1880 1879–1880[31] Hayes death
7 John W. Barr KY 1826–1907 1880–1899 Hayes retirement
8 Walter Evans KY 1842–1923 1899–1901 McKinley reassignment to W.D. Ky.

Louisiana edit

On March 26, 1804, Congress organized the Territory of Orleans and created the United States District Court for the District of Orleans – the first time Congress provided a territory with a district court equal in its authority and jurisdiction to those of the states.[32] The United States District Court for the District of Louisiana was established on April 8, 1812, by 2 Stat. 701,[20][32] several weeks before Louisiana was formally admitted as a state of the union. The District was thereafter subdivided and reformed several times. It was first subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on March 3, 1823, by 3 Stat. 774.[20][32]

On February 13, 1845, Louisiana was reorganized into a single District with one judgeship, by 5 Stat. 722,[32] but was again divided into Eastern and the Western Districts on March 3, 1849, by 9 Stat. 401.[32] Congress again abolished the Western District of Louisiana and reorganized Louisiana as a single judicial district on July 27, 1866, by 14 Stat. 300.[32] On March 3, 1881, by 21 Stat. 507, Louisiana was for a third time divided into Eastern and the Western Districts, with one judgeship authorized for each.[32] The Middle District was formed from portions of those two Districts on December 18, 1971, by 85 Stat. 741.[32]

During the course of its frequent subdivisions and reunifications, four judges served as judge of the District of Louisiana: Dominic Augustin Hall, (1812–1820), John Dick, (1821–1823), Theodore Howard McCaleb (1845–1849), and Edward Henry Durell (1866–1874).[33] Hall was appointed to the District of Louisiana twice. He briefly resigned from the District Court to serve as a Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court. He was shortly thereafter reappointed to the same seat on the District Court, which had remained vacant in his absence.

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Dominic Augustin Hall LA 1765–1820 1812–1813
1813–1820
Madison
Madison
resignation
death
2 John Dick LA 1788–1824 1820–1823 Monroe reassignment to E.D. La. and W.D. La.
3 Theodore Howard McCaleb LA 1810–1864 1845–1849[34] Tyler/Operation of law reassignment to E.D. La.
4 Edward Henry Durell LA 1810–1887 1866–1874[35] Lincoln/Operation of law resignation
5 Edward Coke Billings LA 1829–1893 1876–1881 Grant reassignment to E.D. La.

Michigan edit

The United States District Court for the District of Michigan was established on July 1, 1836, by 5 Stat. 61, with a single judgeship.[36] The district court was not assigned to a judicial circuit, but was granted the same jurisdiction as United States circuit courts, except in appeals and writs of error, which were the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Due to the so-called "Toledo War", a boundary dispute with Ohio, Michigan did not become a state of the Union until January 26, 1837. On March 3, 1837, Congress passed an act that repealed the circuit court jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the District of Michigan, assigned the District of Michigan to the Seventh Circuit, and established a U.S. circuit court for the district, 5 Stat. 176.[36]

On July 15, 1862, Congress reorganized the circuits and assigned Michigan to the Eighth Circuit by 12 Stat. 576,[36] and on January 28, 1863, the Congress again reorganized the Seventh and Eight Circuits and assigned Michigan to the Seventh Circuit, by 12 Stat. 637.[36] On February 24, 1863, Congress divided the District of Michigan into the Eastern and the Western Districts, with one judgeship authorized for each district, by 12 Stat. 660.[36]

Ross Wilkins was the only district judge to serve the District of Michigan. He was nominated by President Andrew Jackson on July 2, 1836, to the newly created seat, and was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 2, 1836. He received his commission on January 26, 1837. Upon termination of the District of Michigan, Wilkins was reassigned to the Eastern District of Michigan.[36][37]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Ross Wilkins MI 1799–1872 1837–1863 Jackson reassignment to E.D. Mich.

Mississippi edit

The United States District Court for the District of Mississippi was established on April 3, 1818, by 3 Stat. 413.[1][38] It existed for over twenty years, and was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on June 18, 1838, by 5 Stat. 247:[1][38]

The State of Mississippi, at the date of the act of March 3, 1837... constituted one district, in which the District Court was invested with the powers of a Circuit Court. By that act the extraordinary jurisdiction of the District Court was abrogated. But by the acts of June 18, 1838, and of February 16, 1839, the district of Mississippi was divided into two districts, the Northern and Southern; and by the latter act the powers of a Circuit Court were conferred on the District Court for the Northern District.[39]
# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 William Bayard Shields MS 1780–1823 1818–1823 Monroe death
2 Peter Randolph MS 1779–1832 1823–1832[40] Monroe death
3 Powhatan Ellis MS 1790–1863 1832–1836 Jackson resignation
4 George Adams MS 1784–1844 1836–1858 Jackson reassignment to N.D. Miss. and S.D. Miss.

Missouri edit

The United States District Court for the District of Missouri was established on March 16, 1822, by 3 Stat. 653.[12][41] However, an act of Congress passed in 1845 and upheld by the United States Supreme Court in 1851, extending federal admiralty jurisdiction to inland waterways, resulted in a substantial increase in the number of admiralty cases arising from traffic on the Mississippi River.[42] These disputes involved "contracts of affreightment, collisions, mariners' wages, and other causes of admiralty jurisdiction", and litigants of matters arising in the port city of St. Louis found it inconvenient to travel far inland to Jefferson City for their cases to be tried.[42] The District was therefore subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on March 3, 1857, by 11 Stat. 197.[41]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 James H. Peck MO 1790–1836 1822–1836 Monroe death
2 Robert William Wells MO 1795–1864 1836–1857 Jackson reassignment to W.D. Mo.

New Jersey edit

The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, 1 Stat. 73, on September 24, 1789.[43] The District was subdivided into the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the Western District of New Jersey on February 13, 1801, by the Judiciary Act of 1801, 2 Stat. 89,[43] with the judicial districts being headquartered in New Brunswick and Burlington, respectively. The repeal of the 1801 Act on March 8, 1802, by 2 Stat. 132, restored New Jersey as a single judicial district.[43] The only judge to serve on the briefly subdivided courts was Robert Morris, who had begun serving as a recess appointment to the District of New Jersey on August 28, 1790 and continued serving after the restoration of the single court, until June 2, 1815.[44]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Robert Morris NJ 1745–1815 1801–1802[45] Washington/Operation of law reassignment to D.N.J.

New York edit

The United States District Court for the District of New York was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, 1 Stat. 73, on September 24, 1789.[46][47] It existed for nearly twenty-five years before, on April 9, 1814, New York was divided into Northern and Southern Districts by 3 Stat. 120.[46][47] These Districts were later further subdivided with the creation of Eastern District on February 25, 1865 by 13 Stat. 438,[47] and the Western District on May 12, 1900, by 31 Stat. 175.[47]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 James Duane NY 1733–1797 1789–1794 Washington resignation
2 John Laurance NY 1750–1810 1794–1796 Washington resignation
3 Robert Troup NY 1757–1832 1796–1798 Washington resignation
4 John Sloss Hobart NY 1738–1805 1798–1805 J. Adams death
5 Matthias B. Tallmadge NY 1774–1819 1805–1812[48] Jefferson reassignment to N.D.N.Y.
6 William P. Van Ness NY 1778–1826 1812–1814 Madison reassignment to S.D.N.Y.

North Carolina edit

The United States District Court for the District of North Carolina has a unique history among defunct district courts. It was established on June 4, 1790, by 1 Stat. 126.[49][50] On June 9, 1794 it was subdivided into three districts by 1 Stat. 395,[50] but on March 3, 1797, the three districts were abolished and the single District restored by 1 Stat. 517,[50] until April 29, 1802, when the state was again subdivided into three different districts by 2 Stat. 156.[49][50]

In both instances, these districts, unlike those with geographic designations that existed in other states, were titled by the names of the cities in which the courts sat. After the first division, they were styled the District of Edenton, the District of New Bern, and the District of Wilmington; after the second division, they were styled the District of Albemarle, the District of Cape Fear, and the District of Pamptico. However, in both instances, only one judge was authorized to serve all three districts, causing them to effectively operate as a single district.[50] The latter combination was occasionally referred to by the cumbersome title of the United States District Court for the Albemarle, Cape Fear & Pamptico Districts of North Carolina. Judge Henry Potter's 55 years of service on this court during the period in which the state contained a single district, from April 1802 to December 1857, represents one of the longest terms ever held by a United States federal judge.

On June 4, 1872, North Carolina was re-divided into two Districts, Eastern and Western, by 17 Stat. 215.[50] The Middle District was created from portions of the Eastern and Western Districts on March 2, 1927, by 44 Stat. 1339.[50]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 John Stokes NC 1756–1790 1790 Washington death
2 John Sitgreaves NC 1757–1802 1790–1802 Washington death
3 Henry Potter NC 1766–1857 1802–1857 Jefferson death
4 Asa Biggs NC 1811–1878 1858–1861 Buchanan resignation
5 George Washington Brooks NC 1821–1882 1865–1872[51] A. Johnson reassignment to E.D.N.C

Ohio edit

The United States District Court for the District of Ohio was established on February 19, 1803, by 2 Stat. 201.[20][52] The District was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on February 10, 1855, by 10 Stat. 604.[52]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Charles Willing Byrd OH 1756–1790 1803–1828 Jefferson death
2 William Creighton Jr. OH 1778–1851 1828–1829[53] J.Q. Adams not confirmed
3 John Wilson Campbell OH 1782–1833 1829–1833 Jackson death
4 Benjamin Tappan OH 1773–1857 1833–1834[54] Jackson not confirmed
5 Humphrey H. Leavitt OH 1796–1873 1834–1855 Jackson reassignment to S.D. Ohio
Term start Term end United States Attorney[55]
1802 1803 William McMillan[56]
1803 1804 Michael Baldwin
1804 1810 William Creighton Jr.
1810 1818 Samuel Herrick
1818 1823 John Crafts Wright
1823 1830 Joseph Benham
1830 1839 Noah Haynes Swayne
1839 1841 Israel Hamilton
1841 1846 Charles Anthony
1846 1850 Thomas W. Bartley
1850 1854 Samson Mason
1854 1855 Daniel O. Morton

Pennsylvania edit

The United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, 1 Stat. 73, on September 24, 1789.[57][58] It was subdivided on April 20, 1818, by 3 Stat. 462,[57][58] into the Eastern and Western Districts, to be headquartered in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, respectively.[57] Portions of these districts were subsequently subdivided into the Middle District on March 2, 1901, by 31 Stat. 880.[58]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Francis Hopkinson PA 1737–1791 1789–1791 Washington death
2 William Lewis PA 1752–1819 1791–1792[59] Washington resignation
3 Richard Peters PA 1744–1828 1792–1818 Washington reassignment to E.D. Pa.

South Carolina edit

The United States District Court for the District of South Carolina was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, 1 Stat. 73, on September 24, 1789.[60] It was subdivided into the United States District Court for the Eastern District of South Carolina and the United States District Court for the Western District of South Carolina Districts on February 21, 1823 by 3 Stat. 726.[60] The Eastern District was headquartered at Florence,[61] and the Western District was headquartered in Greenville.[62] The division was solely for the purposes of holding court – a single judge presided over both districts, and the act authorized no additional court staff.[60]

In 1898 the United States Supreme Court held in Barrett v. United States[63] that South Carolina legally constituted a single judicial district. Congress made a more explicit effort to subdivide the District on March 3, 1911, by 36 Stat. 1087, 36 Stat. 1123. South Carolina was again Eastern and the Western Districts, with one judgeship authorized to serve both districts, effective January 1, 1912.[60] Congress finally authorized an additional judgeship for the Western District, and assigned the sitting judge exclusively to the Eastern District, on March 3, 1915, by 38 Stat. 961.[60] However, on October 7, 1965, by 79 Stat. 951, South Carolina was reorganized as a single judicial district with four judgeships authorized for the district court,[60] and it has since remained a single District.

Judges of the Eastern District of South Carolina:

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Henry Augustus Middleton Smith SC 1853–1923 1912–1923[64][65] Taft/Operation of law death
2 Ernest Ford Cochran SC 1865–1934 1923–1934[66] Coolidge death
3 John Lyles Glenn Jr. SC 1892–1938 1929–1938[67] Hoover death
4 Francis Kerschner Myers SC 1874–1940 1934–1940 F. Roosevelt death
5 Alva M. Lumpkin SC 1886–1941 1939–1941[67] F. Roosevelt death
6 George Bell Timmerman Sr. SC 1881–1966 1942–1962[67] 1952–1962 1962–1965 F. Roosevelt reassignment to D.S.C.
7 Julius Waties Waring SC 1880–1968 1942–1952 1948–1952 1952–1965 F. Roosevelt reassignment to D.S.C.
8 Ashton Hilliard Williams SC 1891–1962 1952–1962 Truman death
9 James Robert Martin Jr. SC 1909–1984 1961–1965[67] Kennedy reassignment to D.S.C.
10 Robert W. Hemphill SC 1915–1984 1964–1965[67] 1964–1965 L. Johnson reassignment to D.S.C.
11 Charles Earl Simons Jr. SC 1916–1999 1964–1965 L. Johnson reassignment to D.S.C.
Chief Judge
Waring 1948–1952
Timmerman 1952–1962
Hemphill 1964–1965
Abolished on November 1, 1965 by 79 Stat. 951

Judges of the Western District of South Carolina:

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Henry Augustus Middleton Smith SC 1853–1923 1912–1915[64][67] Taft/Operation of law seat abolished
2 Joseph T. Johnson SC 1858–1919 1915–1919[68] Wilson death
3 Henry Hitt Watkins SC 1866–1947 1919–1936 1936–1947 Wilson death
4 John Lyles Glenn Jr. SC 1892–1938 1929–1938[67] Hoover death
4 Charles Cecil Wyche SC 1885–1966 1937–1965 1948–1962 F. Roosevelt reassignment to D.S.C.
5 Alva M. Lumpkin SC 1886–1941 1939–1941[67] F. Roosevelt death
6 George Bell Timmerman Sr. SC 1881–1966 1942–1962[67] 1962–1965 F. Roosevelt reassignment to D.S.C.
7 James Robert Martin Jr. SC 1909–1984 1961–1965[67] 1962–1965 Kennedy reassignment to D.S.C.
8 Robert W. Hemphill SC 1915–1984 1964–1965[67] L. Johnson reassignment to D.S.C.
Chief Judge
Wyche 1948–1962
Martin 1962–1965
Abolished on November 1, 1965 by 79 Stat. 951

Tennessee edit

The United States District Court for the District of Tennessee was established with one judgeship on January 31, 1797, by 1 Stat. 496.[4][69] The judgeship was filled by President George Washington's appointment of John McNairy. Since Congress failed to assign the district to a circuit, the court had the jurisdiction of both a district court and a circuit court. Appeals from this one district court went directly to the United States Supreme Court.

On February 13, 1801, in the famous "Midnight Judges" Act of 1801, 2 Stat. 89, Congress abolished the U.S. district court in Tennessee,[69] and expanded the number of circuits to six, provided for independent circuit court judgeships, and abolished the necessity of Supreme Court Justices riding the circuits. It was this legislation which created the grandfather of the present Sixth Circuit. The act provided for a "Sixth Circuit" comprising two districts in the State of Tennessee, one district in the State of Kentucky and one district, called the Ohio District, composed of the Ohio and Indiana territories (the latter including the present State of Michigan). The new Sixth Circuit Court was to be held at "Bairdstown" in the District of Kentucky, at Knoxville in the District of East Tennessee, at Nashville in the District of West Tennessee, and at Cincinnati in the District of Ohio. Unlike the other circuits which were provided with three circuit judges, the Sixth Circuit was to have only one circuit judge with district judges from Kentucky and Tennessee comprising the rest of the court. Any two judges constituted a quorum. New circuit judgeships were to be created as district judgeships in Kentucky and Tennessee became vacant.[70]

The repeal of this Act restored the District on March 8, 1802, 2 Stat. 132.[69] The District was divided into the Eastern and Western Districts on April 29, 1802.[4] On February 24, 1807, Congress again abolished the two districts and created the United States Circuit for the District of Tennessee. On March 3, 1837, Congress assigned the judicial district of Tennessee to the Eighth Circuit. On June 18, 1839, by 5 Stat. 313, Congress divided Tennessee into three districts, Eastern, Middle, and Western.[4][39][69] Again, only one judgeship was allotted for all three districts. On July 15, 1862, Congress reassigned appellate jurisdiction to the Sixth Circuit. Finally, on June 14, 1878, Congress authorized a separate judgeship for each district of Tennessee.

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 John McNairy TN 1762–1837 1797–1802 Washington reassignment to E.D. Tenn. and W.D. Tenn.

Texas edit

 
The oldest federal civil building in Texas, the 1861 Customs and Courthouse in Galveston, once housed the Southern District of Texas.

The United States District Court for the District of Texas was established on December 29, 1845, by 9 Stat. 1. and based in Galveston, then the largest city in the state.[25][71] John Charles Watrous, appointed to the court by President James K. Polk in May 1846, was the only federal judge to sit for the district.[72] The District was subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on February 21, 1857, by 11 Stat. 164.[71] When the District was subdivided, Watrous continued as judge for the Eastern District only, while Thomas Howard DuVal[73] was appointed to the Western District. Watrous continued serving in the Eastern District until 1870. From these Districts, Texas was further subdivided with the creation of a Northern District on February 24, 1879, by 20 Stat. 318.[71] The new Southern District was created on March 11, 1902, by 32 Stat. 64.[71]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 John Charles Watrous TX 1801–1874 1846–1857 Polk reassignment to E.D. Tex.

Virginia edit

The United States District Court for the District of Virginia was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, 1 Stat. 73, on September 24, 1789.[57][74]

On February 13, 1801, the Judiciary Act of 1801, 2 Stat. 89, divided Virginia into three judicial districts: the District of Virginia, which included the counties west of the Tidewater and south of the Rappahannock River; the District of Norfolk, which included the Tidewater counties south of the Rappahannock; and the District of Potomac, which included the counties north and east of the Rappahannock as well as Maryland counties along the Potomac.[74] Just over a year later, on March 8, 1802, the Judiciary Act of 1801 was repealed and Virginia became a single District again, 2 Stat. 132, effective July 1, 1802.[74]

The District of Virginia was subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on February 4, 1819, by 3 Stat. 478.[57][74] At that time, West Virginia was still part of Virginia, and was encompassed in Virginia's Western District. With the division of West Virginia from Virginia during the American Civil War, the Western District of Virginia became the District of West Virginia, and those parts of the Western District that were not part of West Virginia were combined with the Eastern District to again form a single District of Virginia on June 11, 1864, by 13 Stat. 124.[74] Congress again divided Virginia into Eastern and the Western Districts on February 3, 1871, by 16 Stat. 403.[74]

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Cyrus Griffin VA 1748–1810 1789–1810[75] Washington death
2 John Tyler Sr. VA 1747–1812 1811–1813 Madison death
3 St. George Tucker VA 1810–1864 1813–1819 Madison reassignment to E.D. Va.
4 John Curtiss Underwood VA 1809–1873 1864–1871[76] Lincoln/Operation of law reassignment to E.D. Va.

Washington edit

The United States District Court for the District of Washington was established on April 5, 1890, by 26 Stat. 45.[77] The District was subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on March 2, 1905, by 33 Stat. 824.[77] Only one judge was ever appointed to the District of Washington.

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Cornelius H. Hanford WA 1849–1926 1890–1905 B. Harrison reassignment to W.D. Wash.

West Virginia edit

West Virginia split from the state of Virginia during the American Civil War. At that time, Virginia was already divided into an Eastern and Western District. Congress reorganized the Western District of Virginia to conform to the boundaries of the new state of West Virginia, renaming it the United States District Court for the District of West Virginia on June 11, 1864, by 13 Stat. 124.[78] This District was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on January 22, 1901, by 31 Stat. 736.[78]

John Jay Jackson Jr., who had been appointed by Abraham Lincoln to what was then the Western District of Virginia, became the first judge of the District of West Virginia. He remained the only judge on that court until its subdivision.

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 John Jay Jackson Jr. WV 1824–1907 1864–1901[79] Lincoln/Operation of law reassignment to N.D. W. Va.

Wisconsin edit

The United States District Court for the District of Wisconsin was established on May 29, 1848, by 9 Stat. 233.[25][80] It was subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on June 30, 1870, by 16 Stat. 171.[80] Only one judge was ever appointed to the District of Wisconsin.

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Andrew G. Miller WI 1801–1874 1848–1870 Polk reassignment to E.D. Wis.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 390.
  2. ^ a b c U.S. District Courts of Alabama, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  3. ^ Alfred Conkling, A Treatise on the Organization, Jurisdiction and Practice of the Courts of the United States (1864), p. 178.
  4. ^ a b c d e Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 391.
  5. ^ a b Lynn Foster, Their Pride and Ornament: Judge Benjamin Johnson and the Federal Courts in Early Arkansas, 22 U. Ark. Little Rock L. Rev. 21 (1999).
  6. ^ a b U.S. District Courts of Arkansas, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  7. ^ a b Alfred Conkling, A Treatise on the Organization, Jurisdiction and Practice of the Courts of the United States (1864), p. 179.
  8. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 21, 1849, confirmed by the United States Senate on June 10, 1850, and received commission on June 10, 1850.
  9. ^ a b c d U.S. District Courts of California, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  10. ^ a b c d e Willoughby Rodman, History of the Bench and Bar of Southern California (1909), p. 46.
  11. ^ Reassigned from the Northern District of California.
  12. ^ a b c d Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 393.
  13. ^ a b c U.S. District Courts of Florida, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  14. ^ a b c U.S. District Courts of Georgia, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  15. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 21, 1796, confirmed by the United States Senate on December 27, 1796, and received commission on January 2, 1797.
  16. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 6, 1802, confirmed by the United States Senate on January 26, 1802, and received commission on January 26, 1802.
  17. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 19, 1821, confirmed by the United States Senate on January 10, 1822, and received commission on January 10, 1822.
  18. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 23, 1840, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 17, 1840, and received commission on February 17, 1840.
  19. ^ a b c d e U.S. District Courts of Illinois, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  20. ^ a b c d Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 392.
  21. ^ a b U.S. District Courts of Indiana, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  22. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on March 21, 1836, confirmed by the United States Senate on March 29, 1836, and received commission on March 29, 1836.
  23. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 6, 1869, confirmed by the United States Senate on December 21, 1869, and received commission on December 21, 1869.
  24. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 18, 1883, confirmed by the United States Senate on January 7, 1884, and received commission on January 7, 1884.
  25. ^ a b c Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 394.
  26. ^ a b U.S. District Courts of Iowa, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  27. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on February 7, 1856, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 25, 1856, and received commission on December 21, 1856.
  28. ^ a b c d U.S. District Courts of Kentucky, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  29. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 13, 1826, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 12, 1827, and received commission on February 12, 1827.
  30. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 9, 1861, confirmed by the United States Senate on January 22, 1862, and received commission on January 22, 1862.
  31. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 1, 1879, confirmed by the United States Senate on December 10, 1879, and received commission on December 10, 1879.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h U.S. District Courts of Louisiana, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  33. ^ Judges of the District of Louisiana, Federal Judicial Center.
  34. ^ Reassigned from the Eastern District of Louisiana and the Western District of Louisiana.
  35. ^ Reassigned from the Eastern District of Louisiana.
  36. ^ a b c d e f U.S. District Courts of Michigan, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  37. ^ Judges of the District of Michigan 2008-09-16 at the Wayback Machine, Federal Judicial Center.
  38. ^ a b U.S. District Courts of Mississippi, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  39. ^ a b Alfred Conkling, A Treatise on the Organization, Jurisdiction and Practice of the Courts of the United States (1842), p. 42.
  40. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 5, 1823, confirmed by the United States Senate on December 9, 1823, and received commission on December 9, 1823.
  41. ^ a b U.S. District Courts of Missouri, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  42. ^ a b Broadhead, James O. (March 5, 1887). "Address of Col. J. O. Broadhead". In Bar Association of St. Louis (ed.). Proceedings of the Saint Louis bar on the retirement of Hon. Samuel Treat. St. Louis: Nixon-Jones printing co. pp. 10–17.
  43. ^ a b c U.S. District Courts of New Jersey, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  44. ^ Robert Morris, Federal Judicial Center.
  45. ^ Reassigned from the District of New Jersey.
  46. ^ a b Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 386.
  47. ^ a b c d U.S. District Courts of New York, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  48. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 20, 1805, confirmed by the United States Senate on December 23, 1805, and received commission on January 17, 1806.
  49. ^ a b Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 389.
  50. ^ a b c d e f g U.S. District Courts of North Carolina, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  51. ^ Recess appointment; Johnson appointed him on August 19, 1865. He was confirmed by the Senate on January 22, 1866, and received commission on January 22, 1866.
  52. ^ a b U.S. District Courts of Ohio, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  53. ^ Recess appointment; the United States Senate later rejected the appointment.
  54. ^ Recess appointment; the United States Senate later rejected the appointment.
  55. ^ "History of the U.S. Attorney Southern District of Ohio". United States Attorney's Office Southern District of Ohio. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  56. ^ did not serve due to illness
  57. ^ a b c d e Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 388.
  58. ^ a b c U.S. District Courts of Pennsylvania, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  59. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on October 31, 1791, confirmed by the United States Senate on November 7, 1791, and received commission on November 7, 1791.
  60. ^ a b c d e f U.S. District Courts of South Carolina, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  61. ^ The Florence, South Carolina courthouse, Federal Judicial Center.
  62. ^ The Greenville, South Carolina courthouse, Federal Judicial Center.
  63. ^ Barrett v. United States, 169 U.S. 219 (1898).
  64. ^ a b Reassigned from the District of South Carolina.
  65. ^ From 1912 to 1915, Judge Smith was jointly appointed to the Western District of South Carolina.
  66. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 15, 1923, confirmed by the United States Senate on January 17, 1924, and received commission on January 21, 1924.
  67. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Jointly appointed to the Eastern and Western Districts of South Carolina.
  68. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 4, 1916, confirmed by the United States Senate on January 24, 1916, and received commission on January 24, 1916.
  69. ^ a b c d U.S. District Courts of Tennessee, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  70. ^ The Honorable Harry Phillips, "History of the Sixth Circuit 2007-01-11 at the Wayback Machine".
  71. ^ a b c d U.S. District Courts of Texas, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  72. ^ Biography of John Charles Watrous, Federal Judicial Center.
  73. ^ Biography of Thomas Howard DuVal, Federal Judicial Center.
  74. ^ a b c d e f U.S. District Courts of Virginia, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  75. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on February 8, 1790, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 10, 1790, and received commission on February 10, 1790.
  76. ^ Reassigned from the Eastern District of Virginia.
  77. ^ a b U.S. District Courts of Washington, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  78. ^ a b U.S. District Courts of West Virginia, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  79. ^ Reassigned from the Western District of Virginia.
  80. ^ a b U.S. District Courts of Wisconsin, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.

list, former, united, states, district, courts, following, former, united, states, district, courts, which, ceased, exist, because, they, were, subdivided, into, smaller, units, with, exception, california, each, these, courts, initially, covered, entire, stat. The following are former United States district courts which ceased to exist because they were subdivided into smaller units With the exception of California each of these courts initially covered an entire U S state and was subdivided as the jurisdictions which they covered increased in population Two of the district courts those of South Carolina and New Jersey were subdivided but later recreated Every change to the divisions and boundaries of these courts is effected by an act of the United States Congress and for each such action the statutory reference is identified Contents 1 Alabama 2 Arkansas 3 California 4 Florida 5 Georgia 6 Illinois 7 Indiana 8 Iowa 9 Kentucky 10 Louisiana 11 Michigan 12 Mississippi 13 Missouri 14 New Jersey 15 New York 16 North Carolina 17 Ohio 18 Pennsylvania 19 South Carolina 20 Tennessee 21 Texas 22 Virginia 23 Washington 24 West Virginia 25 Wisconsin 26 See also 27 ReferencesAlabama editThe United States District Court for the District of Alabama was created on April 21 1820 by 3 Stat 564 1 2 It was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on March 10 1824 by 4 Stat 9 1 2 The Middle District was subsequently formed from parts of these two districts on February 6 1839 by 5 Stat 315 1 2 3 with legislation specifying that the Middle District Court was to be held at Tuscaloosa the Northern District Court at Huntsville and the Southern District Court at Mobile 1 The Districts were reorganized on August 7 1848 4 Only one judge was ever appointed to the District of Alabama Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Charles Tait AL 1768 1835 1820 1824 Monroe reassignment to N D Ala and S D Ala Seat 1Seat established on April 21 1820 by 3 Stat 564Tait 1820 1824Seat reassigned to Northern and Southern Districts on March 10 1824 by 4 Stat 9Arkansas editArkansas originally part of the Louisiana Purchase became part of the Missouri Territory in 1812 when Louisiana became a state When Missouri became a state in 1819 a territorial government including a territorial court was organized for Arkansas taking effect on July 4 1819 5 The United States District Court for the District of Arkansas was established with a single judge when Arkansas became a state on June 15 1836 by 5 Stat 50 51 5 6 The court was subdivided into Eastern and the Western Districts on March 3 1851 by 9 Stat 594 1 6 7 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Benjamin Johnson AR 1784 1849 1836 1849 Jackson death2 Daniel Ringo AR 1803 1873 1849 1851 8 Taylor reassignment to E D Ark and W D Ark Seat 1Seat established on June 15 1836 by 5 Stat 50Johnson 1836 1849Ringo 1849 1851Seat reassigned to Eastern and Western Districts on March 3 1851 by 9 Stat 594California editThe United States District Court for the District of California existed from 1866 to 1886 California was admitted as a state on September 9 1850 and was initially divided into two districts the Northern and the Southern by Act of Congress approved September 28 9 Stat 521 9 The boundary line was at the 37th parallel north 10 The creating act provided that In addition to the ordinary jurisdiction and powers of a District Court of the United States with which the Southern District Court of New York has been invested the said Courts be and hereby are invested respectively within the limits of its district with the exercise of concurrent jurisdiction and power in all civil cases now exercised by the Circuit Courts of the United States and that in all cases where said Courts shall exercise such jurisdiction appeals may be taken from the judgments orders or decrees of said Courts to the Supreme Court of the United States On February 27 1851 President Millard Fillmore appointed Ogden Hoffman Jr as the judge presiding over the Northern District The Act of August 31 1852 made the Judge of the Northern District be Judge of the Southern District as well until otherwise provided by 10 Stat 76 84 9 effectively creating a single District in all but name until an Act of January 18 1854 provided for the appointment of a Judge for the Southern District 10 The Southern District of California was abolished and the State made to constitute one district by Act of Congress approved July 27 1866 14 Stat 300 9 10 Twenty years later on August 5 1886 Congress re created the Southern District of California and by extension the Northern District by 24 Stat 308 10 Hoffman who had continued serving as the sole district judge again became judge of the Northern district only there continuing in service for five more years Erskine Mayo Ross was appointed Judge of the new Southern District and served until his promotion to the Circuit Judgeship when he was succeeded by Olin Wellborn 10 On March 18 1966 the Eastern and Central Districts were created from portions of the Northern and Southern Districts by 80 Stat 75 9 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Ogden Hoffman Jr CA 1822 1891 1866 1886 11 Fillmore Operation of law reassignment to N D Cal Seat 1Seat established on July 27 1866 by 14 Stat 300Hoffman Jr 1866 1886Seat reassigned to Northern District on August 5 1886 by 24 Stat 308Florida editOn the same day that Florida was admitted as a state March 3 1845 Congress enacted legislation creating the United States District Court for the District of Florida 5 Stat 788 12 13 On February 23 1847 9 Stat 131 12 13 divided the jurisdiction of this court between the Northern District and a Southern District Courts with the boundary between as T hat part of the State of Florida lying south of a line drawn due east and west from the northern point of Charlotte Harbor including the islands keys reefs shoals harbors bays and inlets south of said line shall be erected into a new judicial district to be called the Southern District of Florida a District Court shall be held in said Southern District to consist of one judge who shall reside at Key West in said district The same statute directed the Northern District to hold court at Apalachicola Florida and Pensacola Florida On July 30 1962 the Middle District was created from portions of the other districts by 76 Stat 247 13 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Isaac H Bronson FL 1802 1855 1846 1847 Polk reassignment to N D Fla Seat 1Seat established on March 3 1845 by 5 Stat 788Bronson 1846 1847Seat reassigned to Northern District on February 23 1847 by 9 Stat 131Georgia editThe United States District Court for the District of Georgia was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789 1 Stat 73 on September 24 1789 14 The District was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on August 11 1848 by 9 Stat 280 1 7 14 The Middle District was formed from portions of those two Districts on May 28 1926 by 44 Stat 670 14 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Nathaniel Pendleton GA 1756 1821 1789 1796 Washington resignation2 Joseph Clay Jr GA 1764 1811 1796 1801 15 Washington resignation3 William Stephens GA 1752 1819 1801 1818 16 Jefferson resignation4 William Davies GA 1775 1829 1819 1821 Monroe resignation5 Jeremiah La Touche Cuyler GA 1768 1839 1821 1839 17 Monroe death6 John Cochran Nicoll GA 1793 1863 1839 1848 18 Van Buren reassignment to N D Ga and S D Ga Seat 1Seat established on September 24 1789 by 1 Stat 73Pendleton 1789 1796Clay 1796 1801Stephens 1801 1818Davies 1819 1821Cuyler 1821 1839Nicoll 1839 1848Seat reassigned to Northern and Southern Districts on August 11 1848 by 9 Stat 280 Further information United States Attorney for the District of GeorgiaIllinois edit nbsp Map of the changing Districts of Illinois The United States District Court for the District of Illinois was established by a statute passed by the United States Congress on March 3 1819 3 Stat 502 12 19 The act established a single office for a judge to preside over the court Initially the court was not within any existing judicial circuit and appeals from the court were taken directly to the United States Supreme Court In 1837 Congress created the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit placing it in Chicago Illinois and giving it jurisdiction over the District of Illinois 5 Stat 176 19 The District itself was eliminated by a statute passed on February 13 1855 10 Stat 606 under which it was subdivided into the Northern and the Southern Districts 19 The boundaries of the District and the seats of the courts were set forth in the statute The counties of Hancock McDonough Peoria Woodford Livingston and Iroquois and all the counties in the said State north of them shall compose one district to be called the northern district of Illinois and courts shall be held for the said district at the city of Chicago and the residue of the counties of the said State shall compose another district to be called the southern district of Illinois and courts shall be held for the same at the city of Springfield The district has since been re organized several times The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois was created on March 3 1905 by 33 Stat 992 19 by splitting counties out of the Northern and Southern Districts It was later eliminated in a reorganization on October 2 1978 which replaced it with a Central District 92 Stat 883 19 also formed from parts of the Northern and Southern Districts Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Nathaniel Pope IL 1784 1850 1819 1850 Monroe death2 Thomas Drummond IL 1809 1890 1850 1855 Taylor reassignment to N D Ill Seat 1Seat established on March 3 1819 by 3 Stat 502Pope 1819 1850Drummond 1850 1855Seat reassigned to Northern District on February 13 1855 by 10 Stat 606Indiana editThe United States District Court for the District of Indiana was established on March 3 1817 by 3 Stat 390 20 21 The District was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on April 21 1928 by 45 Stat 437 21 Of all district courts that have been subdivided Indiana existed for the longest time as a single court 111 years Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Benjamin Parke IN 1777 1835 1817 1835 Monroe death2 Jesse Lynch Holman IN 1784 1842 1835 1842 22 Jackson death3 Elisha Mills Huntington IN 1806 1862 1842 1862 Tyler death4 Caleb Blood Smith IN 1808 1864 1862 1864 Lincoln death5 Albert Smith White IN 1803 1864 1864 Lincoln death6 David McDonald IN 1803 1869 1864 1869 Lincoln death7 Walter Q Gresham IN 1832 1895 1869 1883 23 Grant resignation8 William Allen Woods IN 1837 1901 1883 1892 24 Arthur elevation to 7th Cir 9 John Baker IN 1832 1915 1892 1902 B Harrison retirement10 Albert B Anderson IN 1857 1938 1902 1925 T Roosevelt elevation to 7th Cir 11 Robert C Baltzell IN 1879 1950 1925 1928 Coolidge reassignment to S D Ind 12 Thomas Whitten Slick IN 1869 1959 1925 1928 Coolidge reassignment to N D Ind Seat 1Seat established on March 3 1817 by 3 Stat 390Parke 1817 1835Holman 1835 1842Huntington 1842 1862Smith 1862 1864White 1864McDonald 1864 1869Gresham 1869 1883Woods 1883 1892Baker 1892 1902Anderson 1902 1925Baltzell 1925 1928Seat reassigned to Southern District on April 21 1928 by 45 Stat 437 Seat 2Seat established on January 16 1925 by 43 Stat 751Slick 1925 1928Seat reassigned to Northern District on April 21 1928 by 45 Stat 437 Further information United States Attorney for the District of IndianaIowa editThe United States District Court for the District of Iowa was established on March 3 1845 by 5 Stat 789 25 26 The District was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on July 20 1882 by 22 Stat 172 26 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 John James Dyer IA 1809 1855 1847 1855 Polk death2 James M Love IA 1820 1891 1855 1882 27 Pierce reassignment to S D IowaSeat 1Seat established on March 3 1845 by 5 Stat 789Dyer 1847 1855Love 1855 1882Seat reassigned to Southern District on July 20 1882 by 22 Stat 172Kentucky editThe United States District Court for the District of Kentucky was part of one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789 1 Stat 73 on September 24 1789 4 28 At the time Kentucky was not yet a state but was within the territory of the state of Virginia The District was unchanged when Kentucky became a state on June 1 1792 On February 13 1801 the Judiciary Act of 1801 2 Stat 89 abolished the U S district court in Kentucky 28 but the repeal of this Act restored the District on March 8 1802 2 Stat 132 28 The District was subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on February 12 1901 by 31 Stat 781 28 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Harry Innes KY 1752 1816 1789 1816 Washington death2 Robert Trimble KY 1776 1828 1817 1826 Madison elevation to Supreme Court3 John Boyle KY 1774 1834 1826 1834 29 J Q Adams death4 Thomas Bell Monroe KY 1791 1865 1834 1861 Jackson resignation5 Bland Ballard KY 1819 1879 1861 1879 30 Lincoln death6 William Hercules Hays KY 1820 1880 1879 1880 31 Hayes death7 John W Barr KY 1826 1907 1880 1899 Hayes retirement8 Walter Evans KY 1842 1923 1899 1901 McKinley reassignment to W D Ky Seat 1Seat established on September 24 1789 by 1 Stat 73Innes 1789 1816Trimble 1817 1826Boyle 1826 1834Monroe 1834 1861Ballard 1861 1879Hays 1879 1880Barr 1880 1899Evans 1899 1901Seat reassigned to Western District on July 1 1901 by 31 Stat 781Louisiana editOn March 26 1804 Congress organized the Territory of Orleans and created the United States District Court for the District of Orleans the first time Congress provided a territory with a district court equal in its authority and jurisdiction to those of the states 32 The United States District Court for the District of Louisiana was established on April 8 1812 by 2 Stat 701 20 32 several weeks before Louisiana was formally admitted as a state of the union The District was thereafter subdivided and reformed several times It was first subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on March 3 1823 by 3 Stat 774 20 32 On February 13 1845 Louisiana was reorganized into a single District with one judgeship by 5 Stat 722 32 but was again divided into Eastern and the Western Districts on March 3 1849 by 9 Stat 401 32 Congress again abolished the Western District of Louisiana and reorganized Louisiana as a single judicial district on July 27 1866 by 14 Stat 300 32 On March 3 1881 by 21 Stat 507 Louisiana was for a third time divided into Eastern and the Western Districts with one judgeship authorized for each 32 The Middle District was formed from portions of those two Districts on December 18 1971 by 85 Stat 741 32 During the course of its frequent subdivisions and reunifications four judges served as judge of the District of Louisiana Dominic Augustin Hall 1812 1820 John Dick 1821 1823 Theodore Howard McCaleb 1845 1849 and Edward Henry Durell 1866 1874 33 Hall was appointed to the District of Louisiana twice He briefly resigned from the District Court to serve as a Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court He was shortly thereafter reappointed to the same seat on the District Court which had remained vacant in his absence Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Dominic Augustin Hall LA 1765 1820 1812 18131813 1820 Madison Madison resignationdeath2 John Dick LA 1788 1824 1820 1823 Monroe reassignment to E D La and W D La 3 Theodore Howard McCaleb LA 1810 1864 1845 1849 34 Tyler Operation of law reassignment to E D La 4 Edward Henry Durell LA 1810 1887 1866 1874 35 Lincoln Operation of law resignation5 Edward Coke Billings LA 1829 1893 1876 1881 Grant reassignment to E D La Seat 1Seat established on April 8 1812 by 2 Stat 701Hall 1812 1813Hall 1813 1820Dick 1821 1823Seat reassigned to Eastern and Western Districts on March 3 1823 by 3 Stat 774Seat reassigned from Eastern and Western Districts on February 13 1845 by 5 Stat 772McCaleb 1845 1849Seat reassigned to Eastern District on March 3 1849 by 9 Stat 401Seat reassigned from Eastern District on July 27 1866 by 14 Stat 300Durell 1866 1874Billings 1876 1881Seat reassigned to Eastern District on March 3 1881 by 21 Stat 507 Further information United States Attorney for the District of LouisianaMichigan editThe United States District Court for the District of Michigan was established on July 1 1836 by 5 Stat 61 with a single judgeship 36 The district court was not assigned to a judicial circuit but was granted the same jurisdiction as United States circuit courts except in appeals and writs of error which were the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court Due to the so called Toledo War a boundary dispute with Ohio Michigan did not become a state of the Union until January 26 1837 On March 3 1837 Congress passed an act that repealed the circuit court jurisdiction of the U S District Court for the District of Michigan assigned the District of Michigan to the Seventh Circuit and established a U S circuit court for the district 5 Stat 176 36 On July 15 1862 Congress reorganized the circuits and assigned Michigan to the Eighth Circuit by 12 Stat 576 36 and on January 28 1863 the Congress again reorganized the Seventh and Eight Circuits and assigned Michigan to the Seventh Circuit by 12 Stat 637 36 On February 24 1863 Congress divided the District of Michigan into the Eastern and the Western Districts with one judgeship authorized for each district by 12 Stat 660 36 Ross Wilkins was the only district judge to serve the District of Michigan He was nominated by President Andrew Jackson on July 2 1836 to the newly created seat and was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 2 1836 He received his commission on January 26 1837 Upon termination of the District of Michigan Wilkins was reassigned to the Eastern District of Michigan 36 37 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Ross Wilkins MI 1799 1872 1837 1863 Jackson reassignment to E D Mich Seat 1Seat established on July 1 1836 by 5 Stat 61Wilkins 1837 1863Seat reassigned to Eastern District on February 24 1863 by 12 Stat 660 Further information United States Attorney for the District of MichiganMississippi editThe United States District Court for the District of Mississippi was established on April 3 1818 by 3 Stat 413 1 38 It existed for over twenty years and was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on June 18 1838 by 5 Stat 247 1 38 The State of Mississippi at the date of the act of March 3 1837 constituted one district in which the District Court was invested with the powers of a Circuit Court By that act the extraordinary jurisdiction of the District Court was abrogated But by the acts of June 18 1838 and of February 16 1839 the district of Mississippi was divided into two districts the Northern and Southern and by the latter act the powers of a Circuit Court were conferred on the District Court for the Northern District 39 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 William Bayard Shields MS 1780 1823 1818 1823 Monroe death2 Peter Randolph MS 1779 1832 1823 1832 40 Monroe death3 Powhatan Ellis MS 1790 1863 1832 1836 Jackson resignation4 George Adams MS 1784 1844 1836 1858 Jackson reassignment to N D Miss and S D Miss Seat 1Seat established on April 3 1818 by 3 Stat 413Shields 1818 1823Randolph 1823 1832Ellis 1832 1836Adams 1836 1838Seat reassigned to Northern and Southern Districts on June 18 1838 by 5 Stat 247 Further information United States Attorney for the District of MississippiMissouri editThe United States District Court for the District of Missouri was established on March 16 1822 by 3 Stat 653 12 41 However an act of Congress passed in 1845 and upheld by the United States Supreme Court in 1851 extending federal admiralty jurisdiction to inland waterways resulted in a substantial increase in the number of admiralty cases arising from traffic on the Mississippi River 42 These disputes involved contracts of affreightment collisions mariners wages and other causes of admiralty jurisdiction and litigants of matters arising in the port city of St Louis found it inconvenient to travel far inland to Jefferson City for their cases to be tried 42 The District was therefore subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on March 3 1857 by 11 Stat 197 41 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 James H Peck MO 1790 1836 1822 1836 Monroe death2 Robert William Wells MO 1795 1864 1836 1857 Jackson reassignment to W D Mo Seat 1Seat established on March 16 1822 by 3 Stat 653Peck 1822 1836Wells 1836 1857Seat reassigned to Western District on March 3 1857 by 11 Stat 197New Jersey editThe United States District Court for the District of New Jersey was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789 1 Stat 73 on September 24 1789 43 The District was subdivided into the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the Western District of New Jersey on February 13 1801 by the Judiciary Act of 1801 2 Stat 89 43 with the judicial districts being headquartered in New Brunswick and Burlington respectively The repeal of the 1801 Act on March 8 1802 by 2 Stat 132 restored New Jersey as a single judicial district 43 The only judge to serve on the briefly subdivided courts was Robert Morris who had begun serving as a recess appointment to the District of New Jersey on August 28 1790 and continued serving after the restoration of the single court until June 2 1815 44 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Robert Morris NJ 1745 1815 1801 1802 45 Washington Operation of law reassignment to D N J Seat 1Seat reassigned from the District of New Jersey on February 13 1801 by 2 Stat 89Morris 1801 1802Seat reassigned to the District of New Jersey on June 1 1802 by 2 Stat 132New York editThe United States District Court for the District of New York was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789 1 Stat 73 on September 24 1789 46 47 It existed for nearly twenty five years before on April 9 1814 New York was divided into Northern and Southern Districts by 3 Stat 120 46 47 These Districts were later further subdivided with the creation of Eastern District on February 25 1865 by 13 Stat 438 47 and the Western District on May 12 1900 by 31 Stat 175 47 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 James Duane NY 1733 1797 1789 1794 Washington resignation2 John Laurance NY 1750 1810 1794 1796 Washington resignation3 Robert Troup NY 1757 1832 1796 1798 Washington resignation4 John Sloss Hobart NY 1738 1805 1798 1805 J Adams death5 Matthias B Tallmadge NY 1774 1819 1805 1812 48 Jefferson reassignment to N D N Y 6 William P Van Ness NY 1778 1826 1812 1814 Madison reassignment to S D N Y Seat 1Seat established on September 24 1789 by 1 Stat 73Duane 1789 1794Laurance 1794 1796Troup 1796 1798Hobart 1798 1805Tallmadge 1805 1814Seat reassigned to Northern District on April 9 1814 by 3 Stat 120 Seat 2Seat established on April 29 1812 by 2 Stat 719Van Ness 1812 1814Seat reassigned to Southern District on April 9 1814 by 3 Stat 120 Further information United States Attorney for the District of New YorkNorth Carolina editThe United States District Court for the District of North Carolina has a unique history among defunct district courts It was established on June 4 1790 by 1 Stat 126 49 50 On June 9 1794 it was subdivided into three districts by 1 Stat 395 50 but on March 3 1797 the three districts were abolished and the single District restored by 1 Stat 517 50 until April 29 1802 when the state was again subdivided into three different districts by 2 Stat 156 49 50 In both instances these districts unlike those with geographic designations that existed in other states were titled by the names of the cities in which the courts sat After the first division they were styled the District of Edenton the District of New Bern and the District of Wilmington after the second division they were styled the District of Albemarle the District of Cape Fear and the District of Pamptico However in both instances only one judge was authorized to serve all three districts causing them to effectively operate as a single district 50 The latter combination was occasionally referred to by the cumbersome title of the United States District Court for the Albemarle Cape Fear amp Pamptico Districts of North Carolina Judge Henry Potter s 55 years of service on this court during the period in which the state contained a single district from April 1802 to December 1857 represents one of the longest terms ever held by a United States federal judge On June 4 1872 North Carolina was re divided into two Districts Eastern and Western by 17 Stat 215 50 The Middle District was created from portions of the Eastern and Western Districts on March 2 1927 by 44 Stat 1339 50 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 John Stokes NC 1756 1790 1790 Washington death2 John Sitgreaves NC 1757 1802 1790 1802 Washington death3 Henry Potter NC 1766 1857 1802 1857 Jefferson death4 Asa Biggs NC 1811 1878 1858 1861 Buchanan resignation5 George Washington Brooks NC 1821 1882 1865 1872 51 A Johnson reassignment to E D N CSeat 1Seat established on June 4 1790 by 1 Stat 126Stokes 1790Sitgreaves 1790 1802Potter 1802 1857Biggs 1858 1861Brooks 1865 1872Seat reassigned to Eastern District on June 4 1872 by 17 Stat 215 Further information United States Attorney for the District of North CarolinaOhio editThe United States District Court for the District of Ohio was established on February 19 1803 by 2 Stat 201 20 52 The District was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on February 10 1855 by 10 Stat 604 52 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Charles Willing Byrd OH 1756 1790 1803 1828 Jefferson death2 William Creighton Jr OH 1778 1851 1828 1829 53 J Q Adams not confirmed3 John Wilson Campbell OH 1782 1833 1829 1833 Jackson death4 Benjamin Tappan OH 1773 1857 1833 1834 54 Jackson not confirmed5 Humphrey H Leavitt OH 1796 1873 1834 1855 Jackson reassignment to S D OhioSeat 1Seat established on February 19 1803 by 2 Stat 201Byrd 1803 1828Creighton 1828 1829Campbell 1829 1833Tappan 1833 1834Leavitt 1834 1855Seat reassigned to Southern District on February 10 1855 by 10 Stat 604 Term start Term end United States Attorney 55 1802 1803 William McMillan 56 1803 1804 Michael Baldwin1804 1810 William Creighton Jr 1810 1818 Samuel Herrick1818 1823 John Crafts Wright1823 1830 Joseph Benham1830 1839 Noah Haynes Swayne1839 1841 Israel Hamilton1841 1846 Charles Anthony1846 1850 Thomas W Bartley1850 1854 Samson Mason1854 1855 Daniel O MortonPennsylvania editThe United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789 1 Stat 73 on September 24 1789 57 58 It was subdivided on April 20 1818 by 3 Stat 462 57 58 into the Eastern and Western Districts to be headquartered in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh respectively 57 Portions of these districts were subsequently subdivided into the Middle District on March 2 1901 by 31 Stat 880 58 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Francis Hopkinson PA 1737 1791 1789 1791 Washington death2 William Lewis PA 1752 1819 1791 1792 59 Washington resignation3 Richard Peters PA 1744 1828 1792 1818 Washington reassignment to E D Pa Seat 1Seat established on September 24 1789 by 1 Stat 73Hopkinson 1789 1791Lewis 1791 1792Peters 1792 1818Seat reassigned to Eastern District on April 20 1818 by 3 Stat 462South Carolina editThe United States District Court for the District of South Carolina was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789 1 Stat 73 on September 24 1789 60 It was subdivided into the United States District Court for the Eastern District of South Carolina and the United States District Court for the Western District of South Carolina Districts on February 21 1823 by 3 Stat 726 60 The Eastern District was headquartered at Florence 61 and the Western District was headquartered in Greenville 62 The division was solely for the purposes of holding court a single judge presided over both districts and the act authorized no additional court staff 60 In 1898 the United States Supreme Court held in Barrett v United States 63 that South Carolina legally constituted a single judicial district Congress made a more explicit effort to subdivide the District on March 3 1911 by 36 Stat 1087 36 Stat 1123 South Carolina was again Eastern and the Western Districts with one judgeship authorized to serve both districts effective January 1 1912 60 Congress finally authorized an additional judgeship for the Western District and assigned the sitting judge exclusively to the Eastern District on March 3 1915 by 38 Stat 961 60 However on October 7 1965 by 79 Stat 951 South Carolina was reorganized as a single judicial district with four judgeships authorized for the district court 60 and it has since remained a single District Judges of the Eastern District of South Carolina Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Henry Augustus Middleton Smith SC 1853 1923 1912 1923 64 65 Taft Operation of law death2 Ernest Ford Cochran SC 1865 1934 1923 1934 66 Coolidge death3 John Lyles Glenn Jr SC 1892 1938 1929 1938 67 Hoover death4 Francis Kerschner Myers SC 1874 1940 1934 1940 F Roosevelt death5 Alva M Lumpkin SC 1886 1941 1939 1941 67 F Roosevelt death6 George Bell Timmerman Sr SC 1881 1966 1942 1962 67 1952 1962 1962 1965 F Roosevelt reassignment to D S C 7 Julius Waties Waring SC 1880 1968 1942 1952 1948 1952 1952 1965 F Roosevelt reassignment to D S C 8 Ashton Hilliard Williams SC 1891 1962 1952 1962 Truman death9 James Robert Martin Jr SC 1909 1984 1961 1965 67 Kennedy reassignment to D S C 10 Robert W Hemphill SC 1915 1984 1964 1965 67 1964 1965 L Johnson reassignment to D S C 11 Charles Earl Simons Jr SC 1916 1999 1964 1965 L Johnson reassignment to D S C Chief JudgeWaring 1948 1952Timmerman 1952 1962Hemphill 1964 1965Abolished on November 1 1965 by 79 Stat 951Seat 1Seat reassigned from the District of South Carolina on January 1 1912 by 36 Stat 1087 concurrent with Western District Seat reassigned solely to the Eastern District on March 3 1915 by 38 Stat 961Smith 1912 1923Cochran 1923 1934Myers 1934 1940Waring 1942 1952Williams 1952 1962Simons 1962 1965Seat reassigned to the District of South Carolina on November 1 1965 by 79 Stat 951 Seat 2Seat established on February 26 1929 by 45 Stat 1319 concurrent with Western District Glenn 1929 1938Lumpkin 1939 1941Timmerman 1942 1962Hemphill 1964 1965Seat reassigned to the District of South Carolina on November 1 1965 by 79 Stat 951 Seat 3Seat established on May 19 1961 by 75 Stat 80 concurrent with Western District Martin 1961 1965Seat reassigned to the District of South Carolina on November 1 1965 by 79 Stat 951 Judges of the Western District of South Carolina Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Henry Augustus Middleton Smith SC 1853 1923 1912 1915 64 67 Taft Operation of law seat abolished2 Joseph T Johnson SC 1858 1919 1915 1919 68 Wilson death3 Henry Hitt Watkins SC 1866 1947 1919 1936 1936 1947 Wilson death4 John Lyles Glenn Jr SC 1892 1938 1929 1938 67 Hoover death4 Charles Cecil Wyche SC 1885 1966 1937 1965 1948 1962 F Roosevelt reassignment to D S C 5 Alva M Lumpkin SC 1886 1941 1939 1941 67 F Roosevelt death6 George Bell Timmerman Sr SC 1881 1966 1942 1962 67 1962 1965 F Roosevelt reassignment to D S C 7 James Robert Martin Jr SC 1909 1984 1961 1965 67 1962 1965 Kennedy reassignment to D S C 8 Robert W Hemphill SC 1915 1984 1964 1965 67 L Johnson reassignment to D S C Chief JudgeWyche 1948 1962Martin 1962 1965Abolished on November 1 1965 by 79 Stat 951Seat 1Seat reassigned from the District of South Carolina on January 1 1912 by 36 Stat 1087 concurrent with Eastern District Smith 1912 1915Seat reassigned solely to the Eastern District on March 3 1915 by 38 Stat 961 Seat 2Seat established on March 3 1915 by 38 Stat 961Johnson 1915 1919Watkins 1919 1936Wyche 1937 1965Seat reassigned to the District of South Carolina on November 1 1965 by 79 Stat 951 Seat 3Seat established on February 26 1929 by 45 Stat 1319 concurrent with Eastern District Glenn 1929 1938Lumpkin 1939 1941Timmerman 1942 1962Hemphill 1964 1965Seat reassigned to the District of South Carolina on November 1 1965 by 79 Stat 951 Seat 4Seat established on May 19 1961 by 75 Stat 80 concurrent with Eastern District Martin 1961 1965Seat reassigned to the District of South Carolina on November 1 1965 by 79 Stat 951Tennessee editThe United States District Court for the District of Tennessee was established with one judgeship on January 31 1797 by 1 Stat 496 4 69 The judgeship was filled by President George Washington s appointment of John McNairy Since Congress failed to assign the district to a circuit the court had the jurisdiction of both a district court and a circuit court Appeals from this one district court went directly to the United States Supreme Court On February 13 1801 in the famous Midnight Judges Act of 1801 2 Stat 89 Congress abolished the U S district court in Tennessee 69 and expanded the number of circuits to six provided for independent circuit court judgeships and abolished the necessity of Supreme Court Justices riding the circuits It was this legislation which created the grandfather of the present Sixth Circuit The act provided for a Sixth Circuit comprising two districts in the State of Tennessee one district in the State of Kentucky and one district called the Ohio District composed of the Ohio and Indiana territories the latter including the present State of Michigan The new Sixth Circuit Court was to be held at Bairdstown in the District of Kentucky at Knoxville in the District of East Tennessee at Nashville in the District of West Tennessee and at Cincinnati in the District of Ohio Unlike the other circuits which were provided with three circuit judges the Sixth Circuit was to have only one circuit judge with district judges from Kentucky and Tennessee comprising the rest of the court Any two judges constituted a quorum New circuit judgeships were to be created as district judgeships in Kentucky and Tennessee became vacant 70 The repeal of this Act restored the District on March 8 1802 2 Stat 132 69 The District was divided into the Eastern and Western Districts on April 29 1802 4 On February 24 1807 Congress again abolished the two districts and created the United States Circuit for the District of Tennessee On March 3 1837 Congress assigned the judicial district of Tennessee to the Eighth Circuit On June 18 1839 by 5 Stat 313 Congress divided Tennessee into three districts Eastern Middle and Western 4 39 69 Again only one judgeship was allotted for all three districts On July 15 1862 Congress reassigned appellate jurisdiction to the Sixth Circuit Finally on June 14 1878 Congress authorized a separate judgeship for each district of Tennessee Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 John McNairy TN 1762 1837 1797 1802 Washington reassignment to E D Tenn and W D Tenn Seat 1Seat established on January 31 1797 by 1 Stat 496McNairy 1797 1802Seat reassigned to Eastern and Western Districts on April 29 1802 by 2 Stat 165 Further information United States Attorney for the District of TennesseeTexas edit nbsp The oldest federal civil building in Texas the 1861 Customs and Courthouse in Galveston once housed the Southern District of Texas The United States District Court for the District of Texas was established on December 29 1845 by 9 Stat 1 and based in Galveston then the largest city in the state 25 71 John Charles Watrous appointed to the court by President James K Polk in May 1846 was the only federal judge to sit for the district 72 The District was subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on February 21 1857 by 11 Stat 164 71 When the District was subdivided Watrous continued as judge for the Eastern District only while Thomas Howard DuVal 73 was appointed to the Western District Watrous continued serving in the Eastern District until 1870 From these Districts Texas was further subdivided with the creation of a Northern District on February 24 1879 by 20 Stat 318 71 The new Southern District was created on March 11 1902 by 32 Stat 64 71 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 John Charles Watrous TX 1801 1874 1846 1857 Polk reassignment to E D Tex Seat 1Seat established on December 29 1845 by 9 Stat 1Watrous 1846 1857Seat reassigned to Eastern District on February 21 1857 by 11 Stat 164Further information United States Attorney for the District of TexasVirginia editThe United States District Court for the District of Virginia was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789 1 Stat 73 on September 24 1789 57 74 On February 13 1801 the Judiciary Act of 1801 2 Stat 89 divided Virginia into three judicial districts the District of Virginia which included the counties west of the Tidewater and south of the Rappahannock River the District of Norfolk which included the Tidewater counties south of the Rappahannock and the District of Potomac which included the counties north and east of the Rappahannock as well as Maryland counties along the Potomac 74 Just over a year later on March 8 1802 the Judiciary Act of 1801 was repealed and Virginia became a single District again 2 Stat 132 effective July 1 1802 74 The District of Virginia was subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on February 4 1819 by 3 Stat 478 57 74 At that time West Virginia was still part of Virginia and was encompassed in Virginia s Western District With the division of West Virginia from Virginia during the American Civil War the Western District of Virginia became the District of West Virginia and those parts of the Western District that were not part of West Virginia were combined with the Eastern District to again form a single District of Virginia on June 11 1864 by 13 Stat 124 74 Congress again divided Virginia into Eastern and the Western Districts on February 3 1871 by 16 Stat 403 74 Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Cyrus Griffin VA 1748 1810 1789 1810 75 Washington death2 John Tyler Sr VA 1747 1812 1811 1813 Madison death3 St George Tucker VA 1810 1864 1813 1819 Madison reassignment to E D Va 4 John Curtiss Underwood VA 1809 1873 1864 1871 76 Lincoln Operation of law reassignment to E D Va Seat 1Seat established on September 24 1789 by 1 Stat 73Griffin 1789 1810Tyler 1811 1813Tucker 1813 1819Seat reassigned to Eastern District on February 4 1819 by 3 Stat 478Seat reassigned from Eastern District on June 11 1864 by 13 Stat 124Underwood 1864 1871Seat reassigned to Eastern District on February 3 1871 by 16 Stat 403 Further information United States Attorney for the District of VirginiaWashington editThe United States District Court for the District of Washington was established on April 5 1890 by 26 Stat 45 77 The District was subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on March 2 1905 by 33 Stat 824 77 Only one judge was ever appointed to the District of Washington Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Cornelius H Hanford WA 1849 1926 1890 1905 B Harrison reassignment to W D Wash Seat 1Seat established on April 5 1890 by 25 Stat 676Hanford 1890 1905Seat reassigned to Western District on March 2 1905 by 33 Stat 824 Further information United States Attorney for the District of WashingtonWest Virginia editWest Virginia split from the state of Virginia during the American Civil War At that time Virginia was already divided into an Eastern and Western District Congress reorganized the Western District of Virginia to conform to the boundaries of the new state of West Virginia renaming it the United States District Court for the District of West Virginia on June 11 1864 by 13 Stat 124 78 This District was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on January 22 1901 by 31 Stat 736 78 John Jay Jackson Jr who had been appointed by Abraham Lincoln to what was then the Western District of Virginia became the first judge of the District of West Virginia He remained the only judge on that court until its subdivision Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 John Jay Jackson Jr WV 1824 1907 1864 1901 79 Lincoln Operation of law reassignment to N D W Va Seat 1Seat reassigned from Western District of Virginia on June 11 1864 by 13 Stat 124Jackson 1864 1901Seat reassigned to Northern District on July 1 1901 by 31 Stat 736Wisconsin editThe United States District Court for the District of Wisconsin was established on May 29 1848 by 9 Stat 233 25 80 It was subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on June 30 1870 by 16 Stat 171 80 Only one judge was ever appointed to the District of Wisconsin Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason fortermination1 Andrew G Miller WI 1801 1874 1848 1870 Polk reassignment to E D Wis Seat 1Seat established on May 29 1848 by 9 Stat 56Miller 1848 1870Seat reassigned to Eastern District on June 30 1870 by 16 Stat 171 Further information United States Attorney for the District of WisconsinSee also editList of courts of the United States List of United States district and territorial courts List of United States federal courthousesReferences edit a b c d e f g h Asbury Dickens A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America 1852 p 390 a b c U S District Courts of Alabama Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Alfred Conkling A Treatise on the Organization Jurisdiction and Practice of the Courts of the United States 1864 p 178 a b c d e Asbury Dickens A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America 1852 p 391 a b Lynn Foster Their Pride and Ornament Judge Benjamin Johnson and the Federal Courts in Early Arkansas 22 U Ark Little Rock L Rev 21 1999 a b U S District Courts of Arkansas Legislative history Federal Judicial Center a b Alfred Conkling A Treatise on the Organization Jurisdiction and Practice of the Courts of the United States 1864 p 179 Recess appointment formally nominated on December 21 1849 confirmed by the United States Senate on June 10 1850 and received commission on June 10 1850 a b c d U S District Courts of California Legislative history Federal Judicial Center a b c d e Willoughby Rodman History of the Bench and Bar of Southern California 1909 p 46 Reassigned from the Northern District of California a b c d Asbury Dickens A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America 1852 p 393 a b c U S District Courts of Florida Legislative history Federal Judicial Center a b c U S District Courts of Georgia Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Recess appointment formally nominated on December 21 1796 confirmed by the United States Senate on December 27 1796 and received commission on January 2 1797 Recess appointment formally nominated on January 6 1802 confirmed by the United States Senate on January 26 1802 and received commission on January 26 1802 Recess appointment formally nominated on December 19 1821 confirmed by the United States Senate on January 10 1822 and received commission on January 10 1822 Recess appointment formally nominated on January 23 1840 confirmed by the United States Senate on February 17 1840 and received commission on February 17 1840 a b c d e U S District Courts of Illinois Legislative history Federal Judicial Center a b c d Asbury Dickens A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America 1852 p 392 a b U S District Courts of Indiana Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Recess appointment formally nominated on March 21 1836 confirmed by the United States Senate on March 29 1836 and received commission on March 29 1836 Recess appointment formally nominated on December 6 1869 confirmed by the United States Senate on December 21 1869 and received commission on December 21 1869 Recess appointment formally nominated on December 18 1883 confirmed by the United States Senate on January 7 1884 and received commission on January 7 1884 a b c Asbury Dickens A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America 1852 p 394 a b U S District Courts of Iowa Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Recess appointment formally nominated on February 7 1856 confirmed by the United States Senate on February 25 1856 and received commission on December 21 1856 a b c d U S District Courts of Kentucky Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Recess appointment formally nominated on December 13 1826 confirmed by the United States Senate on February 12 1827 and received commission on February 12 1827 Recess appointment formally nominated on December 9 1861 confirmed by the United States Senate on January 22 1862 and received commission on January 22 1862 Recess appointment formally nominated on December 1 1879 confirmed by the United States Senate on December 10 1879 and received commission on December 10 1879 a b c d e f g h U S District Courts of Louisiana Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Judges of the District of Louisiana Federal Judicial Center Reassigned from the Eastern District of Louisiana and the Western District of Louisiana Reassigned from the Eastern District of Louisiana a b c d e f U S District Courts of Michigan Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Judges of the District of Michigan Archived 2008 09 16 at the Wayback Machine Federal Judicial Center a b U S District Courts of Mississippi Legislative history Federal Judicial Center a b Alfred Conkling A Treatise on the Organization Jurisdiction and Practice of the Courts of the United States 1842 p 42 Recess appointment formally nominated on December 5 1823 confirmed by the United States Senate on December 9 1823 and received commission on December 9 1823 a b U S District Courts of Missouri Legislative history Federal Judicial Center a b Broadhead James O March 5 1887 Address of Col J O Broadhead In Bar Association of St Louis ed Proceedings of the Saint Louis bar on the retirement of Hon Samuel Treat St Louis Nixon Jones printing co pp 10 17 a b c U S District Courts of New Jersey Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Robert Morris Federal Judicial Center Reassigned from the District of New Jersey a b Asbury Dickens A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America 1852 p 386 a b c d U S District Courts of New York Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Recess appointment formally nominated on December 20 1805 confirmed by the United States Senate on December 23 1805 and received commission on January 17 1806 a b Asbury Dickens A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America 1852 p 389 a b c d e f g U S District Courts of North Carolina Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Recess appointment Johnson appointed him on August 19 1865 He was confirmed by the Senate on January 22 1866 and received commission on January 22 1866 a b U S District Courts of Ohio Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Recess appointment the United States Senate later rejected the appointment Recess appointment the United States Senate later rejected the appointment History of the U S Attorney Southern District of Ohio United States Attorney s Office Southern District of Ohio Retrieved 2012 11 15 did not serve due to illness a b c d e Asbury Dickens A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America 1852 p 388 a b c U S District Courts of Pennsylvania Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Recess appointment formally nominated on October 31 1791 confirmed by the United States Senate on November 7 1791 and received commission on November 7 1791 a b c d e f U S District Courts of South Carolina Legislative history Federal Judicial Center The Florence South Carolina courthouse Federal Judicial Center The Greenville South Carolina courthouse Federal Judicial Center Barrett v United States 169 U S 219 1898 a b Reassigned from the District of South Carolina From 1912 to 1915 Judge Smith was jointly appointed to the Western District of South Carolina Recess appointment formally nominated on December 15 1923 confirmed by the United States Senate on January 17 1924 and received commission on January 21 1924 a b c d e f g h i j k Jointly appointed to the Eastern and Western Districts of South Carolina Recess appointment formally nominated on January 4 1916 confirmed by the United States Senate on January 24 1916 and received commission on January 24 1916 a b c d U S District Courts of Tennessee Legislative history Federal Judicial Center The Honorable Harry Phillips History of the Sixth Circuit Archived 2007 01 11 at the Wayback Machine a b c d U S District Courts of Texas Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Biography of John Charles Watrous Federal Judicial Center Biography of Thomas Howard DuVal Federal Judicial Center a b c d e f U S District Courts of Virginia Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Recess appointment formally nominated on February 8 1790 confirmed by the United States Senate on February 10 1790 and received commission on February 10 1790 Reassigned from the Eastern District of Virginia a b U S District Courts of Washington Legislative history Federal Judicial Center a b U S District Courts of West Virginia Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Reassigned from the Western District of Virginia a b U S District Courts of Wisconsin Legislative history Federal Judicial Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of former United States district courts amp oldid 1176174321 North Carolina, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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