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List of former United States district courts

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.
Further information: United States Attorney for the District of Georgia

Illinois

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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

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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.
Further information: United States Attorney for the District of Indiana

Iowa

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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

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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

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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.
Further information: United States Attorney for the District of Louisiana

Michigan

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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.
Further information: United States Attorney for the District of Michigan

Mississippi

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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.
Further information: United States Attorney for the District of Mississippi

Missouri

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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

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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

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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.
Further information: United States Attorney for the District of New York

North Carolina

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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
Further information: United States Attorney for the District of North Carolina

Ohio

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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.
Further information: United States Attorney for the District of Tennessee

Texas

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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.
Further information: United States Attorney for the District of Texas

Virginia

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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.
Further information: United States Attorney for the District of Virginia

Washington

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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.
Further information: United States Attorney for the District of Washington

West Virginia

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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

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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.
Further information: United States Attorney for the District of Wisconsin

See also

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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 Archived 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 Archived 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.
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