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Chronological History of Authorized Judgeships - Courts of Appeals

This section provides dates and legislative authority for establishment, realignment, and creation of additional judgeships for the U.S. Courts of Appeals.

Information in this section is based on the 1972 Senate Report on the Legislative History of the United States Circuit Courts of Appeals and the Judges Who Served During the Period 1801 Through May 1972 and U.S. Statutes at Large.

District of Columbia

  • 1893 : Three judgeships created. – 52 Cong. Ch. 74, February 9, 1893.
  • 1930 : Two additional judgeships created. – 71 Cong. Ch. 538, June 19, 1930.
  • 1938 : One additional judgeship created. – 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
  • 1949 : Three additional judgeships created. – 81 Cong. Ch. 387, August 3, 1949.
  • 1978 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
  • 1984 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
  • 2008 : One judgeship was transferred to the Ninth Circuit - Pub. L. No. 110-177, January 7, 2008.

Total Judgeships – 11

First Circuit

  • 1801 : Three circuit judgeships created. – 6 Cong. Ch. 4, February 13, 1801.
  • 1802 : Act of February 13, 1801 repealed. Circuit judgeships abolished. – 7 Cong. Ch. 31, April 29, 1802.
  • 1869 : One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
  • 1891 : Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
  • 1905 : One additional judgeship created. – 58 Cong. Ch. 51, January 21, 1905.
  • 1978 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
  • 1984 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.

Total Judgeships – 6

Second Circuit

  • 1801 : Three circuit judgeships created. – 6 Cong. Ch. 4, February 13, 1801.
  • 1802 : Act of February 13, 1801 repealed. Circuit judgeships abolished. – 7 Cong. Ch. 31, April 29, 1802.
  • 1869 : One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
  • 1887 : One additional judgeship created. – 49 Cong. Ch. 347, March 3, 1887.
  • 1891 : Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
  • 1902 : One additional judgeship created. – 57 Cong. Ch. 530, April 17, 1902.
  • 1929 : One additional judgeship created. – 70 Cong. Ch. 73, January 17, 1929.
  • 1938 : One additional judgeship created. – 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
  • 1961 : Three additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
  • 1978 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
  • 1984 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.

Total Judgeships – 13

Third Circuit

  • 1801 : Three circuit judgeships created. – 6 Cong. Ch. 4, February 13, 1801.
  • 1802 : Act of February 13, 1801 repealed. Circuit judgeships abolished. – 7 Cong. Ch. 31, April 29, 1802.
  • 1869 : One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
  • 1891 : Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
  • 1899 : One additional judgeship created. – 55 Cong. Ch. 186, February 23, 1899.
  • 1930 : One additional judgeship created. – 71 Cong. Ch. 438, June 10, 1930.
  • 1936 : One temporary judgeship created. – 74 Cong. Ch. 753, June 24, 1936.
  • 1938 : Temporary judgeship made permanent. – 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
  • 1944 : One additional judgeship created. – 78 Cong. Ch. 521, December 7, 1944.
  • 1949 : One additional judgeship created. – 81 Cong. Ch. 387, August 3, 1949.
  • 1961 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
  • 1968 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 90-347, June 18, 1968.
  • 1978 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
  • 1984 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
  • 1990 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.

Total Judgeships – 14

Fourth Circuit

  • 1801 : Three circuit judgeships created. – 6 Cong. Ch. 4, February 13, 1801.
  • 1802 : Act of February 13, 1801 repealed. Circuit judgeships abolished. – 7 Cong. Ch. 31, April 29, 1802.
  • 1869 : One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
  • 1891 : Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
  • 1922 : One additional judgeship created. – 67 Cong. Ch. 306, September 14, 1922.
  • 1961 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
  • 1966 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
  • 1978 : Three additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
  • 1984 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
  • 1990 : Four additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.

Total Judgeships – 15

Fifth Circuit

  • 1801 : Three circuit judgeships created. – 6 Cong. Ch. 4, February 13, 1801.
  • 1802 : Act of February 13, 1801 repealed. Circuit judgeships abolished. – 7 Cong. Ch. 31, April 29, 1802.
  • 1869 : One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
  • 1891 : Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
  • 1899 : One additional judgeship created. – 55 Cong. Ch. 56, January 25, 1899.
  • 1930 : One additional judgeship created. – 71 Cong. Ch. 438, June 10, 1930.
  • 1938 : One additional judgeship created. – 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
  • 1942 : One additional judgeship created. – 77 Cong. Ch. 731, December 14, 1942.
  • 1954 : One additional judgeship created. – 83 Cong. Ch. 6, February 10, 1954.
  • 1961 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
  • 1966 : Four additional temporary judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
  • 1968 : The four temporary positions created in 1966 were made permanent and two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 90-347, June 18, 1968.
  • 1978 : Eleven additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
  • 1980 : Fifth Circuit reorganized into two circuits, the Fifth (with 14 judgeships) and the Eleventh (with 12 judgeships). – Pub. L. No. 96-452, October 14, 1980.
  • 1984 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
  • 1990 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.

Total Judgeships – 17

Sixth Circuit

  • 1801 : One circuit judgeship and two district judgeships (one each from Kentucky and Tennessee) created. – 6 Cong. Ch. 4, February 13, 1801.
  • 1802 : Act of February 13, 1801 repealed. Circuit judgeships abolished. – 7 Cong. Ch. 31, April 29, 1802.
  • 1869 : One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
  • 1891 : Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
  • 1899 : One additional judgeship created. – 55 Cong. Ch. 56, January 25, 1899.
  • 1928 : One additional judgeship created. – 70 Cong. Ch. 508, May 8, 1928.
  • 1938 : One additional judgeship created. – 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
  • 1940 : One additional judgeship created. – 76 Cong. Ch. 209, May 24, 1940.
  • 1966 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
  • 1968 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 90-347, June 18, 1968.
  • 1978 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
  • 1984 : Four additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
  • 1990 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.

Total Judgeships – 16

Seventh Circuit

  • 1869 : One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
  • 1891 : Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
  • 1895 : One additional judgeship created. – 53 Cong. Ch. 59, February 8, 1895.
  • 1905 : One additional judgeship created. – 58 Cong. Ch. 1427, March 3, 1905.
  • 1938 : One additional judgeship created. – 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
  • 1949 : One additional judgeship created. – 81 Cong. Ch. 387, August 3, 1949.
  • 1961 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
  • 1966 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
  • 1978 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
  • 1984 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984

Total Judgeships – 11

Eighth Circuit

  • 1869 : One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
  • 1891 : Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
  • 1894 : One additional judgeship created. – 53 Cong. Ch. 147, July 23, 1894.
  • 1903 : One additional judgeship created. – 57 Cong. Ch. 345, January 31, 1903.
  • 1925 : Two additional judgeships created. – 68 Cong. Ch. 437, March 3, 1925.
  • 1929 : Eighth Circuit divided and the Tenth Circuit created. Of the six judgeships authorized for the former Eighth Circuit, four were assigned to the new Eighth Circuit and two were transferred to the Tenth Circuit. One additional judgeship for the Eighth Circuit created. – 70 Cong. Ch. 363, February 28, 1929.
  • 1940 : Two additional judgeships created. – 76 Cong. Ch. 209, May 24, 1940.
  • 1966 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
  • 1978 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
  • 1984 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
  • 1990 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.

Total Judgeships – 11

Ninth Circuit

  • 1869 : One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
  • 1891 : Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
  • 1895 : One additional judgeship created. – 53 Cong. Ch. 94, February 18, 1895.
  • 1929 : One temporary judgeship created. – 70 Cong. Ch. 413, March 1, 1929.
  • 1933 : Temporary judgeship made permanent. – 73 Cong. Ch. 102, June 16, 1933.
  • 1935 : One additional judgeship created. – 74 Cong. Ch. 425, August 2, 1935.
  • 1937 : Two additional judgeships created. – 75 Cong. Ch. 80, April 14, 1937.
  • 1954 : Two additional judgeships created. – 83 Cong. Ch. 6, February 10, 1954.
  • 1968 : Four additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 90-347, June 18, 1968.
  • 1978 : Ten additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
  • 1984 : Five additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
  • 2009 : One additional judgeship, effective January 21, 2009, was transferred from the DC Circuit. – Pub. L. No. 110-177, January 7, 2008.

: Total Judgeships – 29

Tenth Circuit

  • 1929 : Four judgeships created, two of which were transferred from the Eighth Circuit when it was divided into the Eighth and Tenth Circuits. – 70 Cong. Ch. 363, February 28, 1929.
  • 1949 : One additional judgeship created. – 81 Cong. Ch. 387, August 3, 1949.
  • 1961 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
  • 1968 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 90-347, June 18, 1968.
  • 1978 : One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
  • 1984 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
  • 1990 : Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.

Total Judgeships – 12

Eleventh Circuit

  • 1980 : Twelve circuit judgeships created when the Fifth Circuit was reorganized into a new Fifth and Eleventh Circuit, and the judgeships transferred from the old Fifth Circuit. – Pub. L. No. 96-452, October 14, 1980.

Total Judgeships – 12

Federal Circuit

  • 1982 : Federal Circuit consisting of all Federal judicial districts. Circuit court with 12 judgeships. – Pub. L. No. 97-164, April 2, 1982.

Total Judgeships – 12