List of United States federal judges by longevity of service

Last updated

This is a list of Article III United States federal judges by longevity of service. Senate confirmation along with presidential appointment to an Article III court entails a lifelong appointment, unless the judge is impeached, resigns, retires, or assumes senior status. Such courts include currently the Supreme Court (since 1789), courts of appeals (since 1891), district courts (since 1789), and the Court of International Trade (since 1980), as well as the defunct circuit courts (1801–1911), Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (1863–1936), Court of Claims (1953–1982), Customs Court (1956–1980), and Court of Customs and Patent Appeals (1958–1982). They include neither Article I courts (e.g., Tax Court, Court of Federal Claims, bankruptcy courts) nor Article IV courts (territorial courts).

Contents

This page measures length of service beginning with the date of their presidential appointment, either the date on which the president signed the judge's commission or (as noted) the date of an earlier recess appointment. This date frequently differs from the date on which the judge took their oath of office. Separate lists are maintained for active service, during which a judge will normally maintain a full caseload, as well as for total service, combining active service and senior service. The caseload of a senior judge may range from full to inactive. [1] [2] Data on judges' dates of service is maintained by the Federal Judicial Center. [3]

Combined Article III court service

Below are lists of the 100 longest-serving judges by active service and total service, combining their service across all levels of Article III courts. [3]

Active service

RankJudgeCourtAppointed byBegan active serviceEnded active serviceTotal active service
1 Henry Potter C.C. 5th Cir. JeffersonMay 9, 1801 [a] April 7, 180256 years, 225 days
D.N.C. April 7, 1802December 20, 1857
2 William Cranch C.C.D.C. J. Adams
Jefferson [b]
March 3, 1801September 1, 185554 years, 182 days
3 Manuel Real C.D. Cal. L. B. JohnsonNovember 3, 1966November 4, 201852 years, 1 day
4 Gerald Bard Tjoflat M.D. Fla. NixonOctober 16, 1970December 12, 197549 years, 34 days
5th Cir. FordNovember 21, 1975October 1, 1981
11th Cir. reassignedOctober 1, 1981November 19, 2019
5 Willard Hall D. Del. MonroeMay 6, 1823 [a] December 6, 187148 years, 214 days
6 James Sewall Morsell C.C.D.C. MadisonJanuary 11, 1815March 3, 186348 years, 51 days
7 Harry Pregerson C.D. Cal. L. B. JohnsonDecember 7, 1967November 6, 197948 years, 4 days
9th Cir. CarterNovember 2, 1979December 11, 2015
8 Joseph Chappell Hutcheson Jr. S.D. Tex. WilsonApril 6, 1918January 30, 193146 years, 212 days
5th Cir. HooverJanuary 26, 1931November 4, 1964
9 Joseph Buffington W.D. Pa. B. HarrisonFebruary 23, 1892September 26, 190646 years, 98 days
C.C. 3rd Cir. T. RooseveltSeptember 25, 1906 [a] December 31, 1911
3rd Cir. June 1, 1938
10 Joel Flaum N.D. Ill. FordDecember 20, 1974June 1, 198345 years, 346 days
7th Cir. ReaganMay 5, 1983November 30, 2020
11 Juan R. Torruella D.P.R. FordDecember 20, 1974October 30, 198445 years, 311 days
1st Cir. ReaganOctober 4, 1984October 26, 2020
12 Joseph William Woodrough D. Neb. WilsonApril 3, 1916May 1, 193344 years, 275 days
8th Cir. F. D. RooseveltApril 12, 1933January 3, 1961
13 Ashur Ware D. Me. MonroeFebruary 15, 1822May 31, 186644 years, 105 days
14 Harold P. Burke W.D.N.Y. F. D. RooseveltJune 18, 1937June 15, 198143 years, 362 days
15 John Jay Jackson Jr. W.D. Va. LincolnAugust 3, 1861June 11, 186443 years, 224 days
D. W. Va. reassignedJune 11, 1864July 1, 1901
N.D. W. Va. July 1, 1901March 15, 1905
16 Anthony Kennedy 9th Cir. FordMarch 24, 1975February 18, 198843 years, 129 days
SCOTUS ReaganFebruary 11, 1988July 31, 2018
17 José A. Cabranes D. Conn. CarterDecember 10, 1979August 12, 199443 years, 89 days
2nd Cir. ClintonAugust 10, 1994March 9, 2023
18 David Norton Edelstein S.D.N.Y. TrumanNovember 1, 1951 [a] November 1, 199443 years, 0 days
19 Paul Jones N.D. Ohio HardingMarch 2, 1923August 4, 196542 years, 155 days
20 John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. S.D. W. Va. FordSeptember 3, 1976November 1, 201842 years, 59 days
21 Learned Hand S.D.N.Y. TaftApril 26, 1909December 29, 192442 years, 36 days
2nd Cir. CoolidgeDecember 20, 1924June 1, 1951
22 Stephen Breyer 1st Cir. CarterDecember 10, 1980August 3, 199441 years, 202 days
SCOTUS ClintonAugust 3, 1994June 30, 2022
23 Ricardo Hinojosa S.D. Tex. ReaganMay 5, 1983Incumbent41 years, 199 days
24 Julia Smith Gibbons W.D. Tenn. ReaganJune 7, 1983August 2, 200241 years, 102 days
6th Cir. G. W. BushJuly 31, 2002September 17, 2024
25 Elijah Paine D. Vt. J. AdamsMarch 3, 1801April 1, 184241 years, 29 days
26 Joseph L. Tauro D. Mass. NixonOctober 17, 1972September 26, 201340 years, 344 days
27 Giles Rich C.C.P.A. EisenhowerAugust 25, 1958 [c] October 1, 198240 years, 288 days
Fed. Cir. reassignedOctober 1, 1982June 9, 1999
28 Pauline Newman Fed. Cir. ReaganFebruary 28, 1984Incumbent40 years, 266 days
29 Carmen Consuelo Cerezo D.P.R. CarterJune 30, 1980February 28, 202140 years, 243 days
30 Terrence Boyle E.D.N.C. ReaganMay 3, 1984Incumbent40 years, 201 days
31 Ogden Hoffman Jr. N.D. Cal. FillmoreFebruary 27, 1851July 27, 186640 years, 163 days
S.D. Cal. reassignedAugust 31, 1852January 18, 1854
D. Cal. July 27, 1866August 5, 1886
N.D. Cal. August 5, 1886August 9, 1891
32 James William Locke S.D. Fla. GrantFebruary 1, 1872July 4, 191240 years, 154 days
33 John Davis D. Mass. J. AdamsFebruary 20, 1801July 10, 184140 years, 140 days
34 Samuel Betts S.D.N.Y. J. Q. AdamsDecember 21, 1826April 30, 186740 years, 130 days
35 Michael Stephen Kanne N.D. Ind. ReaganFebruary 9, 1982May 21, 198740 years, 127 days
7th Cir. May 20, 1987June 16, 2022
36 John Pitman D.R.I. MonroeAugust 4, 1824 [a] November 17, 186440 years, 105 days
37 W. Eugene Davis W.D. La. FordSeptember 21, 1976December 9, 198340 years, 101 days
5th Cir. ReaganNovember 16, 1983December 31, 2016
38 J. Harvie Wilkinson III 4th Cir. ReaganAugust 13, 1984Incumbent40 years, 99 days
39 Ruth Bader Ginsburg D.C. Cir. CarterJune 18, 1980August 10, 199340 years, 92 days
SCOTUS ClintonAugust 5, 1993September 18, 2020
40 Ilana Rovner N.D. Ill. ReaganSeptember 12, 1984August 17, 199239 years, 302 days
7th Cir. G. H. W. BushAugust 17, 1992July 10, 2024
41 John Paul Stevens 7th Cir. NixonOctober 14, 1970December 19, 197539 years, 259 days
SCOTUS FordDecember 17, 1975June 30, 2010
42 Harold Loyd Murphy N.D. Ga. CarterJuly 29, 1977March 31, 201739 years, 245 days
43 Frank Easterbrook 7th Cir. ReaganApril 4, 1985Incumbent39 years, 230 days
Edith Jones 5th Cir. ReaganApril 4, 1985Incumbent39 years, 230 days
45 William Ball Gilbert C.C. 9th Cir. B. HarrisonMarch 18, 1892December 31, 191139 years, 40 days
9th Cir. April 27, 1931
46 Stephen Victor Wilson C.D. Cal. ReaganOctober 17, 1985Incumbent39 years, 34 days
Henry Travillion Wingate S.D. Miss. ReaganOctober 17, 1985Incumbent39 years, 34 days
48 Henry Clay Caldwell E.D. Ark. LincolnJune 20, 1864March 13, 189038 years, 349 days
W.D. Ark. March 3, 1871
C.C. 8th Cir. B. HarrisonMarch 4, 1890June 4, 1903
8th Cir. reassignedJune 16, 1891June 4, 1903
James R. Browning 9th Cir. KennedySeptember 18, 1961September 1, 200038 years, 349 days
50 Alan Bond Johnson D. Wyo. ReaganDecember 17, 1985Incumbent38 years, 339 days
51 J. Robert Elliott M.D. Ga. KennedyFebruary 17, 1962December 31, 200038 years, 318 days
52 Augustus Noble Hand S.D.N.Y. WilsonSeptember 30, 1914June 1, 192738 years, 273 days
2nd Cir. CoolidgeMay 19, 1927 [a] June 30, 1953
53 Karen L. Henderson D.S.C. ReaganJune 16, 1986July 11, 199038 years, 157 days
D.C. Cir. G. H. W. BushJuly 5, 1990Incumbent
54 Erskine Mayo Ross S.D. Cal. ClevelandJanuary 13, 1887March 5, 189538 years, 138 days
C.C. 9th Cir. February 22, 1895December 31, 1911
9th Cir. May 31, 1925
55 Don Albert Pardee C.C. 5th Cir. GarfieldMay 13, 1881December 31, 191138 years, 136 days
5th Cir. reassignedJune 16, 1891September 26, 1919
56 Martin Leach-Cross Feldman E.D. La. ReaganOctober 5, 1983January 26, 202238 years, 113 days
57 Hiram Emory Widener Jr. W.D. Va. NixonJuly 14, 1969October 28, 197238 years, 3 days
4th Cir. October 17, 1972July 17, 2007
58 Charles Ronald Norgle Sr. N.D. Ill. ReaganOctober 4, 1984October 4, 202238 years, 0 days
59 Rensselaer Nelson D. Minn. BuchananMay 20, 1858May 16, 189637 years, 362 days
60 Luther Merritt Swygert N.D. Ind. F. D. RooseveltOctober 16, 1943October 11, 196137 years, 258 days
7th Cir. KennedySeptember 29, 1961July 1, 1981
61 Irving Kaufman S.D.N.Y. TrumanOctober 21, 1949 [a] September 29, 196137 years, 253 days
2nd Cir. KennedySeptember 22, 1961July 1, 1987
62 Andrew Phelps McCormick N.D. Tex. HayesApril 10, 1879March 22, 189237 years, 206 days
C.C. 5th Cir. B. HarrisonMarch 17, 1892December 31, 1911
5th Cir. November 2, 1916
63 Stephen Reinhardt 9th Cir. CarterSeptember 11, 1980March 29, 201837 years, 199 days
64 Joseph Peter Stadtmueller E.D. Wis. ReaganJune 1, 1987Incumbent37 years, 172 days
65 Edward Roscoe Meek N.D. Tex. McKinleyJuly 13, 1898 [a] December 31, 193537 years, 171 days
66 Mac Swinford E.D. Ky.
W.D. Ky.
F. D. RooseveltAugust 21, 1937February 3, 197537 years, 166 days
67 Edward Weinfeld S.D.N.Y. TrumanAugust 5, 1950January 17, 198837 years, 165 days
68 Edward Allen Tamm D.D.C. TrumanJune 22, 1948 [a] March 17, 196537 years, 92 days
D.C. Cir. L. B. JohnsonMarch 11, 1965September 22, 1985
69 Lynn Hughes S.D. Tex. ReaganDecember 17, 1985February 12, 202337 years, 57 days
70 John C. Knox S.D.N.Y. WilsonApril 12, 1918April 30, 195537 years, 18 days
71 Jerry Edwin Smith 5th Cir. ReaganDecember 21, 1987Incumbent36 years, 335 days
72 Mary Lou Robinson N.D. Tex. CarterApril 26, 1979February 11, 201636 years, 291 days
73 Diana E. Murphy D. Minn. CarterFebruary 20, 1980October 13, 199436 years, 283 days
8th Cir. ClintonOctober 11, 1994November 29, 2016
74 Elizabeth A. Kovachevich M.D. Fla. ReaganMarch 9, 1982December 14, 201836 years, 280 days
75 Humphrey H. Leavitt D. Ohio JacksonJune 30, 1834February 10, 185536 years, 275 days
S.D. Ohio reassignedFebruary 10, 1855April 1, 1871
76 Paul V. Niemeyer D. Md. ReaganFebruary 22, 1988August 10, 199036 years, 272 days
4th Cir. G. H. W. BushAugust 7, 1990Incumbent
77 William Elwood Steckler S.D. Ind. TrumanApril 7, 1950December 31, 198636 years, 268 days
78 Richard Peters D. Pa. WashingtonJanuary 12, 1792April 20, 181836 years, 223 days
E.D. Pa. reassignedApril 20, 1818August 22, 1828
J. Skelly Wright E.D. La. TrumanOctober 21, 1949 [a] April 16, 196236 years, 223 days
D.C. Cir. KennedyMarch 30, 1962June 1, 1986
80 Charles C. Simons E.D. Mich. HardingFebruary 6, 1923February 2, 193236 years, 221 days
6th Cir. HooverJanuary 29, 1932September 15, 1959
81 William O. Douglas SCOTUS F. D. RooseveltApril 15, 1939November 12, 197536 years, 211 days
82 John McNairy D. Tenn. WashingtonFebruary 20, 1797April 29, 180236 years, 193 days
E.D. Tenn.
W.D. Tenn.
reassignedApril 29, 1802September 1, 1833
83 William G. Young D. Mass. ReaganApril 4, 1985July 1, 202136 years, 88 days
84 Walter Henry Sanborn C.C. 8th Cir. B. HarrisonMarch 17, 1892December 31, 191136 years, 54 days
8th Cir. May 10, 1928
85 Edwin R. Holmes N.D. Miss. WilsonOctober 24, 1918March 1, 192936 years, 37 days
S.D. Miss. April 6, 1936
5th Cir. F. D. RooseveltMarch 20, 1936November 30, 1954
86 Frank Minis Johnson M.D. Ala. EisenhowerOctober 22, 1955 [a] July 12, 197936 years, 8 days
5th Cir. CarterJune 21, 1979October 1, 1981
11th Cir. reassignedOctober 1, 1981October 30, 1991
87 Gunnar Nordbye D. Minn. HooverMarch 18, 1931 [a] March 6, 196735 years, 353 days
88 Charles L. Brieant S.D.N.Y. NixonJuly 29, 1971May 31, 200735 years, 306 days
89 Richard Posner 7th Cir. ReaganDecember 1, 1981September 2, 201735 years, 275 days
90 James M. Love D. Iowa PierceOctober 5, 1855 [a] July 20, 188235 years, 270 days
S.D. Iowa reassignedJuly 20, 1882July 2, 1891
91 Buckner Thruston C.C.D.C. MadisonDecember 14, 1809August 30, 184535 years, 259 days
92 Matthew Harvey D.N.H. JacksonNovember 2, 1830 [a] April 7, 186635 years, 156 days
93 Alexander Boarman W.D. La. GarfieldMay 18, 1881August 30, 191635 years, 104 days
94 Walter C. Lindley E.D. Ill. HardingSeptember 22, 1922October 24, 194935 years, 103 days
7th Cir. TrumanOctober 13, 1949January 3, 1958
95 Alfred Conkling Coxe Sr. N.D.N.Y. ArthurMay 4, 1882June 14, 190235 years, 88 days
C.C. 2nd Cir. T. RooseveltJune 3, 1902December 31, 1911
2nd Cir. July 31, 1917
96 Robert Love Taylor E.D. Tenn. TrumanNovember 2, 1949 [a] January 15, 198535 years, 74 days
97 E. Grady Jolly 5th Cir. ReaganJuly 30, 1982October 3, 201735 years, 65 days
98 James Edmund Boyd W.D.N.C. McKinleyJuly 11, 1900 [a] August 21, 193535 years, 41 days
99 Rya W. Zobel D. Mass. CarterMarch 23, 1979April 1, 201435 years, 9 days
100 Harry Blackmun 8th Cir. EisenhowerSeptember 21, 1959June 9, 197034 years, 316 days
SCOTUS NixonMay 14, 1970August 3, 1994

Total service

RankJudgeCourtAppointed byBegan active serviceEnded active serviceEnded senior statusTotal service
1 Joseph William Woodrough D. Neb. WilsonApril 3, 1916May 1, 193361 years, 182 days
8th Cir. F. D. RooseveltApril 12, 1933January 3, 1961October 2, 1977
2 Henry Potter C.C. 5th Cir. JeffersonMay 9, 1801 [a] April 7, 180256 years, 225 days
D.N.C. April 7, 1802December 20, 1857
3 William Joseph Nealon Jr. M.D. Pa. KennedyDecember 13, 1962 [a] January 1, 1989August 30, 201855 years, 260 days
4 Joseph Buffington W.D. Pa. B. HarrisonFebruary 23, 1892September 26, 190655 years, 240 days
C.C. 3rd Cir. T. RooseveltSeptember 25, 1906 [a] December 31, 1911
3rd Cir. June 1, 1938October 21, 1947
5 Joseph Chappell Hutcheson Jr. S.D. Tex. WilsonApril 6, 1918January 30, 193154 years, 287 days
5th Cir. HooverJanuary 26, 1931November 4, 1964January 18, 1973
6 Seybourn Harris Lynne N.D. Ala. TrumanJanuary 3, 1946January 9, 1973September 10, 200054 years, 251 days
7 Edward J. McManus N.D. Iowa KennedyJuly 16, 1962February 9, 1985March 20, 201754 years, 247 days
8 William Cranch C.C.D.C. J. Adams
Jefferson [b]
March 3, 1801September 1, 185554 years, 182 days
9 Jack B. Weinstein E.D.N.Y. L. B. JohnsonApril 15, 1967March 1, 1993June 15, 202154 years, 61 days
10 Walter King Stapleton D. Del. NixonOctober 14, 1970May 8, 198554 years, 37 days
3rd Cir. ReaganApril 4, 1985June 2, 1999Incumbent
11 Gerald Bard Tjoflat M.D. Fla. NixonOctober 16, 1970December 12, 197554 years, 35 days
5th Cir. FordNovember 21, 1975October 1, 1981
11th Cir. reassignedOctober 1, 1981November 19, 2019Incumbent
J. Clifford Wallace S.D. Cal. NixonOctober 16, 1970July 14, 197254 years, 35 days
9th Cir. June 28, 1972April 8, 1996Incumbent
13 James Lawrence King S.D. Fla. NixonOctober 19, 1970December 20, 1992Incumbent54 years, 32 days
14 George C. Young N.D. Fla.
S.D. Fla.
KennedySeptember 18, 1961September 17, 196653 years, 218 days
M.D. Fla. reassignedOctober 29, 1962October 19, 1981April 24, 2015
15 Alfred Goodwin D. Ore. NixonDecember 11, 1969December 17, 197153 years, 16 days
9th Cir. November 30, 1971January 31, 1991December 27, 2022
16 William J. Bauer N.D. Ill. NixonNovember 10, 1971January 3, 197553 years, 10 days
7th Cir. FordDecember 20, 1974October 31, 1994Incumbent
17 Levin H. Campbell D. Mass. NixonNovember 30, 1971August 31, 197252 years, 356 days
1st Cir. June 30, 1972January 3, 1992Incumbent
18 Jon O. Newman D. Conn. NixonDecember 15, 1971June 25, 197952 years, 341 days
2nd Cir. CarterJune 21, 1979July 1, 1997Incumbent
19 Wilfred Feinberg S.D.N.Y. KennedyOctober 5, 1961 [a] March 17, 196652 years, 299 days
2nd Cir. L. B. JohnsonMarch 7, 1966January 31, 1991July 31, 2014
20 Manuel Real C.D. Cal. L. B. JohnsonNovember 3, 1966November 4, 2018June 26, 201952 years, 235 days
21 Albert Branson Maris E.D. Pa. F. D. RooseveltJune 22, 1936June 27, 193852 years, 230 days
3rd Cir. June 24, 1938December 31, 1958February 7, 1989
22 Learned Hand S.D.N.Y. TaftApril 26, 1909December 29, 192452 years, 114 days
2nd Cir. CoolidgeDecember 20, 1924June 1, 1951August 18, 1961
23 Orie Leon Phillips D.N.M. HardingMarch 3, 1923April 29, 192951 years, 256 days
10th Cir. HooverApril 29, 1929January 1, 1956November 14, 1974
24 John P. Fullam E.D. Pa. L. B. JohnsonAugust 11, 1966April 1, 1990March 8, 201851 years, 209 days
25 Damon Keith E.D. Mich. L. B. JohnsonOctober 12, 1967November 22, 197751 years, 198 days
6th Cir. CarterOctober 21, 1977May 1, 1995April 28, 2019
26 Alexander Harvey II D. Md. L. B. JohnsonSeptember 22, 1966March 8, 1991December 4, 201751 years, 73 days
27 William Augustus Bootle M.D. Ga. EisenhowerMay 20, 1954March 11, 1972January 25, 200550 years, 250 days
28 James R. Browning 9th Cir. KennedySeptember 18, 1961September 1, 2000May 6, 201250 years, 231 days
29 Myron Donovan Crocker S.D. Cal. EisenhowerSeptember 21, 1959September 18, 196650 years, 134 days
E.D. Cal. reassignedSeptember 18, 1966January 1, 1981February 2, 2010
30 Harry W. Wellford W.D. Tenn. NixonDecember 12, 1970September 10, 198250 years, 126 days
6th Cir. ReaganAugust 20, 1982January 15, 1991April 17, 2021
31 Peter T. Fay S.D. Fla. NixonOctober 16, 1970October 8, 197650 years, 107 days
5th Cir. FordSeptember 21, 1976October 1, 1981
11th Cir. reassignedOctober 1, 1981January 19, 1994January 31, 2021
32 Charles Miller Metzner S.D.N.Y. EisenhowerSeptember 10, 1959September 30, 1977November 30, 200950 years, 81 days
33 Walter T. McGovern W.D. Wash. NixonApril 23, 1971September 30, 1987July 8, 202150 years, 76 days
34 Carl Olaf Bue Jr. S.D. Tex. NixonOctober 15, 1970September 2, 1987December 24, 202050 years, 70 days
35 William Terrell Hodges M.D. Fla. NixonDecember 15, 1971May 2, 1999January 4, 202250 years, 20 days
36 Harry Pregerson C.D. Cal. L. B. JohnsonDecember 7, 1967November 6, 197949 years, 353 days
9th Cir. CarterNovember 2, 1979December 11, 2015November 25, 2017
37 Joel Flaum N.D. Ill. FordDecember 20, 1974June 1, 198349 years, 336 days
7th Cir. ReaganMay 5, 1983November 30, 2020Incumbent
Donald Alsop D. Minn. FordDecember 20, 1974August 28, 1992Incumbent49 years, 336 days
39 Wesley E. Brown D. Kan. KennedyApril 4, 1962September 1, 1979January 23, 201249 years, 294 days
40 Anthony Kennedy 9th Cir. FordMarch 24, 1975February 18, 198849 years, 241 days
SCOTUS ReaganFebruary 11, 1988July 31, 2018Incumbent
41 William Henry Stafford Jr. N.D. Fla. FordMay 14, 1975May 31, 1996Incumbent49 years, 190 days
42 John Thomas Curtin W.D.N.Y. L. B. JohnsonDecember 14, 1967July 1, 1989April 14, 201749 years, 121 days
43 Daniel Holcombe Thomas S.D. Ala. TrumanMarch 9, 1951August 25, 1971April 13, 200049 years, 35 days
44 Eugene Edward Siler Jr. E.D. Ky.
W.D. Ky.
FordNovember 13, 1975September 20, 199149 years, 7 days
6th Cir. G. H. W. BushSeptember 16, 1991December 31, 2001Incumbent
45 Patrick Higginbotham N.D. Tex. FordDecember 12, 1975August 3, 198248 years, 344 days
5th Cir. ReaganJuly 30, 1982August 28, 2006Incumbent
46 David Norton Edelstein S.D.N.Y. TrumanNovember 1, 1951 [a] November 1, 1994August 19, 200048 years, 292 days
47 John Paul Stevens 7th Cir. NixonOctober 14, 1970December 19, 197548 years, 275 days
SCOTUS FordDecember 17, 1975June 30, 2010July 16, 2019
48 Charles S. Haight Jr. S.D.N.Y. FordMarch 29, 1976September 23, 1995Incumbent48 years, 236 days
49 Donald West VanArtsdalen E.D. Pa. NixonOctober 15, 1970October 21, 1985May 21, 201948 years, 218 days
50 Willard Hall D. Del. MonroeMay 6, 1823 [a] December 6, 187148 years, 214 days
51 Thomas Walter Swan 2nd Cir. CoolidgeDecember 22, 1926July 1, 1953July 13, 197548 years, 203 days
52 Ralph B. Guy Jr. E.D. Mich. FordMay 12, 1976October 17, 198548 years, 192 days
6th Cir. ReaganOctober 17, 1985September 1, 1994Incumbent
53 Myron H. Bright 8th Cir. L. B. JohnsonJune 7, 1968June 1, 1985December 12, 201648 years, 188 days
54 John William Ditter Jr. E.D. Pa. NixonOctober 15, 1970October 19, 1986April 7, 201948 years, 174 days
55 Bailey Aldrich D. Mass. EisenhowerApril 27, 1954September 15, 195948 years, 151 days
1st Cir. September 10, 1959August 31, 1972September 25, 2002
56 Edwin F. Hunter W.D. La. EisenhowerOctober 3, 1953 [a] February 19, 1976February 22, 200248 years, 142 days
57 Frederick Jacob Reagan Heebe E.D. La. L. B. JohnsonMarch 26, 1966August 26, 1992August 10, 201448 years, 137 days
58 John C. Knox S.D.N.Y. WilsonApril 12, 1918April 30, 1955August 23, 196648 years, 133 days
59 John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. S.D. W. Va. FordSeptember 3, 1976November 1, 2018Incumbent48 years, 78 days
60 W. Eugene Davis W.D. La. FordSeptember 21, 1976December 9, 198348 years, 60 days
5th Cir. ReaganNovember 16, 1983December 31, 2016Incumbent
61 James Sewall Morsell C.C.D.C. MadisonJanuary 11, 1815March 3, 186348 years, 51 days
62 Albert Vickers Bryan Jr. E.D. Va. NixonJuly 29, 1971December 1, 1991August 27, 201948 years, 29 days
63 William Joseph Campbell N.D. Ill. F. D. RooseveltOctober 10, 1940March 19, 1970October 19, 198848 years, 9 days
64 Samuel Conti N.D. Cal. NixonOctober 16, 1970November 1, 1987August 29, 201847 years, 317 days
65 Albert L. Reeves W.D. Mo. HardingJune 24, 1923February 2, 1954March 24, 197147 years, 273 days
66 William Benner Enright S.D. Cal. NixonJune 30, 1972July 12, 1990March 7, 202047 years, 251 days
67 Edward Louis Filippine E.D. Mo. CarterJuly 22, 1977June 11, 1995Incumbent47 years, 121 days
68 Garnett Thomas Eisele E.D. Ark. NixonAugust 6, 1970August 1, 1991November 26, 201747 years, 112 days
69 Marion Speed Boyd W.D. Tenn. F. D. RooseveltSeptember 27, 1940August 1, 1966January 9, 198847 years, 104 days
70 James Hughes Hancock N.D. Ala. NixonApril 17, 1973May 1, 1996July 24, 202047 years, 98 days
71 Warren Keith Urbom D. Neb. NixonApril 24, 1970December 31, 1990July 28, 201747 years, 95 days
72 James von der Heydt D. Alaska L. B. JohnsonNovember 3, 1966July 15, 1984December 1, 201347 years, 28 days
73 Pierre N. Leval S.D.N.Y. CarterOctober 31, 1977November 8, 199347 years, 20 days
2nd Cir. ClintonOctober 20, 1993August 16, 2002Incumbent
74 John L. Kane Jr. D. Colo. CarterDecember 16, 1977April 8, 1988Incumbent46 years, 340 days
75 Robert F. Chapman D.S.C. NixonMay 27, 1971October 2, 198146 years, 326 days
4th Cir. ReaganSeptember 19, 1981May 31, 1991April 18, 2018
76 Leonard I. Garth D.N.J. NixonDecember 18, 1969August 29, 197346 years, 279 days
3rd Cir. August 6, 1973June 30, 1986September 22, 2016
77 William Clark O'Kelley N.D. Ga. NixonOctober 16, 1970October 1, 1996July 5, 201746 years, 262 days
78 George M. Bourquin D. Mont. TaftMarch 8, 1912March 9, 1934November 15, 195846 years, 252 days
79 Gunnar Nordbye D. Minn. HooverMarch 18, 1931 [a] March 6, 1967November 5, 197746 years, 232 days
80 Roy Winfield Harper E.D. Mo.
W.D. Mo.
TrumanAugust 7, 1947 [a] December 19, 194746 years, 187 days
December 20, 1947 [a] June 20, 1948
June 22, 1948 [a] January 5, 1971February 13, 1994
81 Charles William Kraft Jr. E.D. Pa. EisenhowerAugust 12, 1955 [a] November 11, 1970January 18, 200246 years, 159 days
82 Ruggero J. Aldisert 3rd Cir. L. B. JohnsonJuly 29, 1968December 31, 1986December 28, 201446 years, 152 days
83 Jose Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. S.D. Fla. CarterJuly 28, 1978November 30, 1996Incumbent46 years, 115 days
84 Phillip Forman D.N.J. HooverJune 25, 1932September 21, 195946 years, 53 days
3rd Cir. EisenhowerSeptember 10, 1959March 31, 1961August 17, 1978
85 Joseph L. Tauro D. Mass. NixonOctober 17, 1972September 26, 2013November 30, 201846 years, 44 days
86 Stephen Sanders Chandler Jr. W.D. Okla. F. D. RooseveltMay 13, 1943October 20, 1975April 27, 198945 years, 349 days
87 Juan R. Torruella D.P.R. FordDecember 20, 1974October 30, 198445 years, 311 days
1st Cir. ReaganOctober 4, 1984October 26, 2020
88 Caleb Merrill Wright D. Del. EisenhowerJuly 27, 1955October 8, 1973May 12, 200145 years, 289 days
89 Rya W. Zobel D. Mass. CarterMarch 23, 1979April 1, 2014Incumbent45 years, 242 days
90 Maurice B. Cohill Jr. W.D. Pa. FordMay 21, 1976November 28, 1994January 1, 202245 years, 225 days
91 William Judson Holloway Jr. 10th Cir. L. B. JohnsonSeptember 16, 1968May 31, 1992April 25, 201445 years, 221 days
92 R. James Harvey E.D. Mich. NixonDecember 19, 1973March 31, 1984July 20, 201945 years, 213 days
93 Dan Monroe Russell Jr. S.D. Miss. L. B. JohnsonOctober 2, 1965October 25, 1983April 16, 201145 years, 196 days
94 James Paul Churchill E.D. Mich. FordDecember 20, 1974December 31, 1989June 29, 202045 years, 192 days
95 Thomas Virgil Pittman M.D. Ala. L. B. JohnsonJune 29, 1966June 2, 197045 years, 191 days
S.D. Ala. July 15, 1981January 6, 2012
96 Elijah Allen Cox N.D. Miss. CoolidgeMarch 2, 1929March 22, 1957August 28, 197445 years, 179 days
97 Thomas P. Griesa S.D.N.Y. NixonJune 30, 1972March 13, 2000December 24, 201745 years, 177 days
98 Amalya Kearse 2nd Cir. CarterJune 21, 1979June 11, 2002Incumbent45 years, 152 days
99 Joyce Hens Green D.D.C. CarterMay 11, 1979July 1, 1995October 10, 202445 years, 152 days
Harold Loyd Murphy N.D. Ga. CarterJuly 29, 1977March 31, 2017December 28, 202245 years, 152 days

Supreme Court

Below are lists of the 25 longest-serving justices of the Supreme Court by active service and total service. [3] Their tenures generally differ from those found at list of United States Supreme Court justices by time in office by several days, as that page uses a justice's oath of office, rather than their date of commission, as their start date. [6] Justices of the Supreme Court who have assumed senior status cannot hear Supreme Court cases, but may hear cases on lower courts. [7]

Active service

RankJusticeAppointed byBegan active serviceEnded active serviceActive service
1 William O. Douglas F. D. RooseveltApril 15, 1939November 12, 197536 years, 211 days
2 Stephen Johnson Field LincolnMarch 10, 1863December 1, 189734 years, 266 days
3 John Paul Stevens FordDecember 17, 1975June 30, 201034 years, 195 days
4 John Marshall J. Adams [d] January 31, 1801July 6, 183534 years, 156 days
5 Hugo Black F. D. RooseveltAugust 18, 1937September 17, 197134 years, 30 days
6 John Marshall Harlan HayesNovember 29, 1877October 14, 191133 years, 319 days
7 Joseph Story MadisonNovember 18, 1811September 10, 184533 years, 296 days
8 William J. Brennan Jr. EisenhowerOctober 15, 1956 [a] July 20, 199033 years, 278 days
9 William Rehnquist Nixon
Reagan [d]
December 15, 1971September 3, 200533 years, 262 days
10 Clarence Thomas G. H. W. BushOctober 18, 1991Incumbent33 years, 33 days
11 James M. Wayne JacksonJanuary 9, 1835July 5, 186732 years, 177 days
12 John McLean JacksonMarch 7, 1829April 4, 186132 years, 28 days
13 Byron White KennedyApril 12, 1962June 28, 199331 years, 77 days
14 Bushrod Washington J. AdamsSeptember 29, 1798 [a] November 26, 182931 years, 58 days
15 Anthony Kennedy ReaganFebruary 11, 1988July 31, 201830 years, 170 days
16 William Johnson JeffersonMarch 26, 1804August 4, 183430 years, 131 days
17 Antonin Scalia ReaganSeptember 25, 1986February 13, 201629 years, 141 days
18 Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. T. RooseveltDecember 4, 1902January 12, 193229 years, 39 days
19 Roger B. Taney Jackson [d] March 15, 1836October 12, 186428 years, 211 days
20 Samuel Freeman Miller LincolnJuly 16, 1862October 13, 189028 years, 89 days
21 John Catron Van BurenMarch 8, 1837May 30, 186528 years, 83 days
22 Stephen Breyer ClintonAugust 3, 1994June 30, 202227 years, 331 days
23 Samuel Nelson TylerFebruary 13, 1845November 28, 187227 years, 289 days
24 Edward Douglass White Cleveland
Taft [d]
February 19, 1894May 19, 192127 years, 89 days
25 Ruth Bader Ginsburg ClintonAugust 5, 1993September 18, 202027 years, 44 days

Total service

RankJusticeAppointed byBegan active serviceEnded active serviceEnded retired statusTotal service
1 John Paul Stevens FordDecember 17, 1975June 30, 2010July 16, 201943 years, 211 days
2 Sandra Day O'Connor ReaganSeptember 22, 1981January 31, 2006December 1, 202342 years, 70 days
3 Stanley Forman Reed F. D. RooseveltJanuary 27, 1938February 25, 1957April 2, 198042 years, 66 days
4 William J. Brennan Jr. EisenhowerOctober 15, 1956 [a] July 20, 1990July 24, 199740 years, 282 days
5 William O. Douglas F. D. RooseveltApril 15, 1939November 12, 1975January 19, 198040 years, 279 days
6 Byron White KennedyApril 12, 1962June 28, 1993April 15, 200240 years, 3 days
7 Anthony Kennedy ReaganFebruary 11, 1988July 31, 2018Incumbent36 years, 283 days
8 Stephen Johnson Field LincolnMarch 10, 1863December 1, 189734 years, 266 days
9 John Marshall J. Adams [d] January 31, 1801July 6, 183534 years, 156 days
10 David Souter G. H. W. BushOctober 3, 1990June 30, 2009Incumbent34 years, 48 days
11 Hugo Black F. D. RooseveltAugust 18, 1937September 17, 1971September 25, 197134 years, 38 days
12 John Marshall Harlan HayesNovember 29, 1877October 14, 191133 years, 319 days
13 Joseph Story MadisonNovember 18, 1811September 10, 184533 years, 296 days
14 William Rehnquist Nixon
Reagan [d]
December 15, 1971September 3, 200533 years, 262 days
15 Clarence Thomas G. H. W. BushOctober 18, 1991Incumbent33 years, 33 days
16 James M. Wayne JacksonJanuary 9, 1835July 5, 186732 years, 177 days
17 John McLean JacksonMarch 7, 1829April 4, 186132 years, 28 days
18 James Clark McReynolds WilsonAugust 29, 1914January 31, 1941August 24, 194631 years, 360 days
19 Bushrod Washington J. AdamsSeptember 29, 1798 [a] November 26, 182931 years, 58 days
20 William Johnson JeffersonMarch 26, 1804August 4, 183430 years, 131 days
21 Stephen Breyer ClintonAugust 3, 1994June 30, 2022Incumbent30 years, 109 days
22 Willis Van Devanter TaftDecember 16, 1910June 2, 1937February 8, 194130 years, 54 days
23 Antonin Scalia ReaganSeptember 25, 1986February 13, 201629 years, 141 days
24 Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. T. RooseveltDecember 4, 1902January 12, 193229 years, 39 days
25 Harry Blackmun NixonMay 14, 1970August 3, 1994March 4, 199928 years, 294 days

Courts of appeals

Below are lists of the 50 longest-serving judges of the courts of appeals by active service and total service. [3] These lists do not include service on the various circuit courts that preceded the courts of appeals as intermediate-level federal courts. [e]

Active service

RankJudgeCourtAppointed byBegan active serviceEnded active serviceTotal active service
1 Gerald Bard Tjoflat 5th Cir. FordNovember 21, 1975October 1, 198143 years, 363 days
11th Cir. reassignedOctober 1, 1981November 19, 2019
2 Pauline Newman Fed. Cir. ReaganFebruary 28, 1984Incumbent40 years, 266 days
3 J. Harvie Wilkinson III 4th Cir. ReaganAugust 13, 1984Incumbent40 years, 99 days
4 Frank Easterbrook 7th Cir. ReaganApril 4, 1985Incumbent39 years, 230 days
Edith Jones 5th Cir. ReaganApril 4, 1985Incumbent39 years, 230 days
6 William Ball Gilbert 9th Cir. B. HarrisonMarch 18, 1892April 27, 193139 years, 40 days
7 James R. Browning 9th Cir. KennedySeptember 18, 1961September 1, 200038 years, 349 days
8 Joel Flaum 7th Cir. ReaganMay 5, 1983November 30, 202037 years, 209 days
9 Stephen Reinhardt 9th Cir. CarterSeptember 11, 1980March 29, 201837 years, 199 days
10 Jerry Edwin Smith 5th Cir. ReaganDecember 21, 1987Incumbent36 years, 335 days
11 Walter Henry Sanborn 8th Cir. B. HarrisonMarch 17, 1892May 10, 192836 years, 54 days
12 Harry Pregerson 9th Cir. CarterNovember 2, 1979December 11, 201536 years, 39 days
13 Juan R. Torruella 1st Cir. ReaganOctober 4, 1984October 26, 202036 years, 22 days
14 Richard Posner 7th Cir. ReaganDecember 1, 1981September 2, 201735 years, 275 days
15 E. Grady Jolly 5th Cir. ReaganJuly 30, 1982October 3, 201735 years, 65 days
16 Michael Stephen Kanne 7th Cir. ReaganMay 20, 1987June 16, 202235 years, 27 days
17 Hiram Emory Widener Jr. 4th Cir. NixonOctober 17, 1972July 17, 200734 years, 273 days
18 Alan David Lourie Fed. Cir. G. H. W. BushApril 6, 1990Incumbent34 years, 228 days
19 Carolyn Dineen King 5th Cir. CarterJuly 13, 1979December 31, 201334 years, 171 days
20 Karen L. Henderson D.C. Cir. G. H. W. BushJuly 5, 1990Incumbent34 years, 138 days
21 Paul V. Niemeyer 4th Cir. G. H. W. BushAugust 7, 1990Incumbent34 years, 105 days
22 James B. Loken 8th Cir. G. H. W. BushOctober 17, 1990Incumbent34 years, 34 days
23 Dolores Sloviter 3rd Cir. CarterJune 21, 1979June 21, 201334 years, 0 days
24 Boyce F. Martin Jr. 6th Cir. CarterSeptember 26, 1979August 16, 201333 years, 324 days
25 Joseph Chappell Hutcheson Jr. 5th Cir. HooverJanuary 26, 1931November 4, 196433 years, 283 days
26 Roger Leland Wollman 8th Cir. ReaganJuly 22, 1985December 14, 201833 years, 145 days
27 W. Eugene Davis 5th Cir. ReaganNovember 16, 1983December 31, 201633 years, 45 days
28 Walter J. Cummings Jr. 7th Cir. L. B. JohnsonAugust 11, 1966April 24, 199932 years, 256 days
29 John J. Parker 4th Cir. CoolidgeOctober 3, 1925 [a] March 17, 195832 years, 165 days
30 Mary M. Schroeder 9th Cir. CarterSeptember 26, 1979December 31, 201132 years, 96 days
31 Evan Alfred Evans 7th Cir. WilsonMay 10, 1916July 7, 194832 years, 58 days
32 Alex Kozinski 9th Cir. ReaganNovember 7, 1985December 18, 201732 years, 41 days
33 Ilana Rovner 7th Cir. G. H. W. BushAugust 17, 1992July 10, 202431 years, 328 days
34 Joseph Buffington 3rd Cir. T. RooseveltSeptember 25, 1906 [a] June 1, 193831 years, 249 days
35 Archibald K. Gardner 8th Cir. HooverMay 23, 1929September 30, 196031 years, 130 days
36 Charles Henry Robb D.C. Cir. T. RooseveltOctober 5, 1906 [a] November 15, 193731 years, 41 days
37 Danny Julian Boggs 6th Cir. ReaganMarch 25, 1986February 28, 201730 years, 340 days
38 Carl E. Stewart 5th Cir. ClintonMay 9, 1994Incumbent30 years, 195 days
39 Kimbrough Stone 8th Cir. WilsonDecember 21, 1916May 15, 194730 years, 145 days
40 Erskine Mayo Ross 9th Cir. ClevelandFebruary 22, 1895May 31, 192530 years, 98 days
41 Diarmuid O'Scannlain 9th Cir. ReaganSeptember 26, 1986December 31, 201630 years, 96 days
42 Josiah Alexander Van Orsdel D.C. Cir. T. RooseveltNovember 14, 1907 [a] August 7, 193729 years, 266 days
43 David L. Bazelon D.C. Cir. TrumanOctober 21, 1949 [a] June 30, 197929 years, 252 days
44 Karen Nelson Moore 6th Cir. ClintonMarch 24, 1995Incumbent29 years, 241 days
45 Alfred P. Murrah 10th Cir. F. D. RooseveltSeptember 4, 1940May 1, 197029 years, 239 days
46 Julian Mack 7th Cir. TaftJanuary 31, 1911July 1, 192929 years, 219 days
2nd Cir. reassignedJuly 1, 1929September 6, 1940
6th Cir. June 30, 1930
47 R. Lanier Anderson III 5th Cir. CarterJuly 13, 1979October 1, 198129 years, 202 days
11th Cir. reassignedOctober 1, 1981January 31, 2009
48 John Robert Brown 5th Cir. EisenhowerJuly 27, 1955July 20, 198428 years, 359 days
49 John Biggs Jr. 3rd Cir. F. D. RooseveltFebruary 16, 1937October 30, 196528 years, 256 days
50 José A. Cabranes 2nd Cir. ClintonAugust 10, 1994March 9, 202328 years, 211 days

Total service

RankJudgeCourtAppointed byBegan active serviceEnded active serviceEnded senior statusTotal service
1 J. Clifford Wallace 9th Cir. NixonJune 28, 1972April 8, 1996Incumbent52 years, 145 days
2 Levin H. Campbell 1st Cir. NixonJune 30, 1972January 3, 1992Incumbent52 years, 143 days
3 Alfred Goodwin 9th Cir. NixonNovember 30, 1971January 31, 1991December 27, 202251 years, 27 days
4 James R. Browning 9th Cir. KennedySeptember 18, 1961September 1, 2000May 6, 201250 years, 231 days
5 Albert Branson Maris 3rd Cir. F. D. RooseveltJune 24, 1938December 31, 1958February 7, 198950 years, 228 days
6 William J. Bauer 7th Cir. FordDecember 20, 1974October 31, 1994Incumbent49 years, 336 days
7 Gerald Bard Tjoflat 5th Cir. FordNovember 21, 1975October 1, 198148 years, 365 days
11th Cir. reassignedOctober 1, 1981November 19, 2019Incumbent
8 Thomas Walter Swan 2nd Cir. CoolidgeDecember 22, 1926July 1, 1953July 13, 197548 years, 203 days
9 Myron H. Bright 8th Cir. L. B. JohnsonJune 7, 1968June 1, 1985December 12, 201648 years, 188 days
10 Wilfred Feinberg 2nd Cir. L. B. JohnsonMarch 7, 1966January 31, 1991July 31, 201448 years, 146 days
11 Ruggero J. Aldisert 3rd Cir. L. B. JohnsonJuly 29, 1968December 31, 1986December 28, 201446 years, 152 days
12 William Judson Holloway Jr. 10th Cir. L. B. JohnsonSeptember 16, 1968May 31, 1992April 25, 201445 years, 221 days
13 Orie Leon Phillips 10th Cir. HooverApril 29, 1929January 1, 1956November 14, 197445 years, 199 days
14 Amalya Kearse 2nd Cir. CarterJune 21, 1979June 11, 2002Incumbent45 years, 152 days
15 Jon O. Newman 2nd Cir. CarterJune 21, 1979July 1, 1997Incumbent45 years, 152 days
16 R. Lanier Anderson III 5th Cir. CarterJuly 13, 1979October 1, 198145 years, 130 days
11th Cir. reassignedOctober 1, 1981January 31, 2009Incumbent
17 Carolyn Dineen King 5th Cir. CarterJuly 13, 1979December 31, 2013Incumbent45 years, 130 days
18 Mary M. Schroeder 9th Cir. CarterSeptember 26, 1979December 31, 2011Incumbent45 years, 55 days
19 Stephanie Kulp Seymour 10th Cir. CarterNovember 2, 1979October 16, 2005Incumbent45 years, 18 days
20 Dorothy Wright Nelson 9th Cir. CarterDecember 20, 1979January 1, 1995Incumbent44 years, 336 days
21 Harry T. Edwards D.C. Cir. CarterFebruary 20, 1980November 3, 2005Incumbent44 years, 274 days
22 William Canby 9th Cir. CarterMay 23, 1980May 23, 1996Incumbent44 years, 181 days
23 Joseph William Woodrough 8th Cir. F. D. RooseveltApril 12, 1933January 3, 1961October 2, 197744 years, 173 days
24 Peter T. Fay 5th Cir. FordSeptember 21, 1976October 1, 198144 years, 132 days
11th Cir. reassignedOctober 1, 1981January 19, 1994January 31, 2021
25 Gilbert S. Merritt Jr. 6th Cir. CarterOctober 31, 1977January 17, 2001January 17, 202244 years, 78 days
26 Frank M. Coffin 1st Cir. L. B. JohnsonOctober 2, 1965February 1, 1989December 7, 200944 years, 66 days
27 J. Edward Lumbard 2nd Cir. EisenhowerJuly 12, 1955July 20, 1971June 3, 199943 years, 326 days
28 Pierce Lively 6th Cir. NixonOctober 5, 1972January 1, 1989March 12, 201643 years, 159 days
29 John Cooper Godbold 5th Cir. L. B. JohnsonJuly 22, 1966October 1, 198143 years, 153 days
11th Cir. reassignedOctober 1, 1981October 23, 1987December 22, 2009
30 David L. Bazelon D.C. Cir. TrumanOctober 21, 1949 [a] June 30, 1979February 19, 199343 years, 121 days
31 Dolores Sloviter 3rd Cir. CarterJune 21, 1979June 21, 2013October 12, 202243 years, 113 days
32 Leonard I. Garth 3rd Cir. NixonAugust 6, 1973June 30, 1986September 22, 201643 years, 47 days
33 Bailey Aldrich 1st Cir. EisenhowerSeptember 10, 1959August 31, 1972September 25, 200243 years, 15 days
34 Donald Roe Ross 8th Cir. NixonDecember 12, 1970June 13, 1987December 18, 201343 years, 6 days
35 Robert Hugh McWilliams Jr. 10th Cir. NixonOctober 14, 1970August 31, 1984April 10, 201342 years, 178 days
36 Monroe G. McKay 10th Cir. CarterDecember 1, 1977December 31, 1993March 28, 202042 years, 118 days
37 Patrick Higginbotham 5th Cir. ReaganJuly 30, 1982August 28, 2006Incumbent42 years, 113 days
E. Grady Jolly 5th Cir. ReaganJuly 30, 1982October 3, 2017Incumbent42 years, 113 days
39 John Biggs Jr. 3rd Cir. F. D. RooseveltFebruary 16, 1937October 30, 1965April 15, 197942 years, 58 days
40 Joseph Chappell Hutcheson Jr. 5th Cir. HooverJanuary 26, 1931November 4, 1964January 18, 197341 years, 358 days
41 Elbert Tuttle 5th Cir. EisenhowerAugust 4, 1954October 1, 198141 years, 324 days
11th Cir. reassignedOctober 1, 1981June 1, 1968June 23, 1996
42 John Minor Wisdom 5th Cir. EisenhowerJune 27, 1957January 15, 1977May 15, 199941 years, 322 days
43 Joel Flaum 7th Cir. ReaganMay 5, 1983November 30, 2020Incumbent41 years, 199 days
44 Damon Keith 6th Cir. CarterOctober 21, 1977May 1, 1995April 28, 201941 years, 189 days
45 Thomas Morrow Reavley 5th Cir. CarterJuly 13, 1979August 1, 1990December 1, 202041 years, 141 days
46 Pasco Bowman II 8th Cir. ReaganJuly 19, 1983August 1, 2003Incumbent41 years, 124 days
47 Kimbrough Stone 8th Cir. WilsonDecember 21, 1916May 15, 1947February 27, 195841 years, 68 days
48 Joseph Buffington 3rd Cir. T. RooseveltSeptember 25, 1906 [a] June 1, 1938October 21, 194741 years, 26 days
49 W. Eugene Davis 5th Cir. ReaganNovember 16, 1983December 31, 2016Incumbent41 years, 4 days
50 Joseph F. Weis Jr. 3rd Cir. NixonMarch 15, 1973April 1, 1988March 19, 201441 years, 4 days

District courts

Below are lists of the 100 longest-serving judges of the district courts by active service and total service. [3]

Active service

RankJudgeCourtAppointed byBegan active serviceEnded active serviceTotal active service
1 Henry Potter D.N.C. JeffersonApril 7, 1802December 20, 185755 years, 257 days
2 Manuel Real C.D. Cal. L. B. JohnsonNovember 3, 1966November 4, 201852 years, 1 day
3 Willard Hall D. Del. MonroeMay 6, 1823 [a] December 6, 187148 years, 214 days
4 Ashur Ware D. Me. MonroeFebruary 15, 1822May 31, 186644 years, 105 days
5 Harold P. Burke W.D.N.Y. F. D. RooseveltJune 18, 1937June 15, 198143 years, 362 days
6 John Jay Jackson Jr. W.D. Va. LincolnAugust 3, 1861June 11, 186443 years, 224 days
D. W. Va. reassignedJune 11, 1864July 1, 1901
N.D. W. Va. July 1, 1901March 15, 1905
7 David Norton Edelstein S.D.N.Y. TrumanNovember 1, 1951 [a] November 1, 199443 years, 0 days
8 Paul Jones N.D. Ohio HardingMarch 2, 1923August 4, 196542 years, 155 days
9 John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. S.D. W. Va. FordSeptember 3, 1976November 1, 201842 years, 59 days
10 Ricardo Hinojosa S.D. Tex. ReaganMay 5, 1983Incumbent41 years, 199 days
11 Elijah Paine D. Vt. J. AdamsMarch 3, 1801April 1, 184241 years, 29 days
12 Joseph L. Tauro D. Mass. NixonOctober 17, 1972September 26, 201340 years, 344 days
13 Carmen Consuelo Cerezo D.P.R. CarterJune 30, 1980February 28, 202140 years, 243 days
14 Terrence Boyle E.D.N.C. ReaganMay 3, 1984Incumbent40 years, 201 days
15 Ogden Hoffman Jr. N.D. Cal. FillmoreFebruary 27, 1851July 27, 186640 years, 163 days
S.D. Cal. reassignedAugust 31, 1852January 18, 1854
D. Cal. July 27, 1866August 5, 1886
N.D. Cal. August 5, 1886August 9, 1891
16 James William Locke S.D. Fla. GrantFebruary 1, 1872July 4, 191240 years, 154 days
17 John Davis D. Mass. J. AdamsFebruary 20, 1801July 10, 184140 years, 140 days
18 Samuel Betts S.D.N.Y. J. Q. AdamsDecember 21, 1826April 30, 186740 years, 130 days
19 John Pitman D.R.I. MonroeAugust 4, 1824 [a] November 17, 186440 years, 105 days
20 Harold Loyd Murphy N.D. Ga. CarterJuly 29, 1977March 31, 201739 years, 245 days
21 Stephen Victor Wilson C.D. Cal. ReaganOctober 17, 1985Incumbent39 years, 34 days
Henry Travillion Wingate S.D. Miss. ReaganOctober 17, 1985Incumbent39 years, 34 days
23 Alan Bond Johnson D. Wyo. ReaganDecember 17, 1985Incumbent38 years, 339 days
24 J. Robert Elliott M.D. Ga. KennedyFebruary 17, 1962December 31, 200038 years, 318 days
25 Martin Leach-Cross Feldman E.D. La. ReaganOctober 5, 1983January 26, 202238 years, 113 days
26 Charles Ronald Norgle Sr. N.D. Ill. ReaganOctober 4, 1984October 4, 202238 years, 0 days
27 Rensselaer Nelson D. Minn. BuchananMay 20, 1858May 16, 189637 years, 362 days
28 Joseph Peter Stadtmueller E.D. Wis. ReaganJune 1, 1987Incumbent37 years, 172 days
29 Edward Roscoe Meek N.D. Tex. McKinleyJuly 13, 1898 [a] December 31, 193537 years, 171 days
30 Mac Swinford E.D. Ky.
W.D. Ky.
F. D. RooseveltAugust 21, 1937February 3, 197537 years, 166 days
31 Edward Weinfeld S.D.N.Y. TrumanAugust 5, 1950January 17, 198837 years, 165 days
32 Lynn Hughes S.D. Tex. ReaganDecember 17, 1985February 12, 202337 years, 57 days
33 John C. Knox S.D.N.Y. WilsonApril 12, 1918April 30, 195537 years, 18 days
34 Mary Lou Robinson N.D. Tex. CarterApril 26, 1979February 11, 201636 years, 291 days
35 Elizabeth A. Kovachevich M.D. Fla. ReaganMarch 9, 1982December 14, 201836 years, 280 days
36 Humphrey H. Leavitt D. Ohio JacksonJune 30, 1834February 10, 185536 years, 275 days
S.D. Ohio reassignedFebruary 10, 1855April 1, 1871
37 William Elwood Steckler S.D. Ind. TrumanApril 7, 1950December 31, 198636 years, 268 days
38 Richard Peters D. Pa. WashingtonJanuary 12, 1792April 20, 181836 years, 223 days
E.D. Pa. reassignedApril 20, 1818August 22, 1828
39 John McNairy D. Tenn. WashingtonFebruary 20, 1797April 29, 180236 years, 193 days
E.D. Tenn.
W.D. Tenn.
reassignedApril 29, 1802September 1, 1833
40 William G. Young D. Mass. ReaganApril 4, 1985July 1, 202136 years, 88 days
41 Gunnar Nordbye D. Minn. HooverMarch 18, 1931 [a] March 6, 196735 years, 353 days
42 Charles L. Brieant S.D.N.Y. NixonJuly 29, 1971May 31, 200735 years, 306 days
43 James M. Love D. Iowa PierceOctober 5, 1855 [a] July 20, 188235 years, 270 days
S.D. Iowa reassignedJuly 20, 1882July 2, 1891
44 Matthew Harvey D.N.H. JacksonNovember 2, 1830 [a] April 7, 186635 years, 156 days
45 Alexander Boarman W.D. La. GarfieldMay 18, 1881August 30, 191635 years, 104 days
46 Robert Love Taylor E.D. Tenn. TrumanNovember 2, 1949 [a] January 15, 198535 years, 74 days
47 James Edmund Boyd W.D.N.C. McKinleyJuly 11, 1900 [a] August 21, 193535 years, 41 days
48 Rya W. Zobel D. Mass. CarterMarch 23, 1979April 1, 201435 years, 9 days
49 Robert Alexander Inch E.D.N.Y. HardingApril 28, 1923 [a] January 6, 195834 years, 253 days
50 Thomas Charles Munger D. Neb. T. RooseveltMarch 1, 1907July 31, 194134 years, 152 days
51 David C. Norton D.S.C. G. H. W. BushJuly 12, 1990Incumbent34 years, 131 days
52 Allen Sharp N.D. Ind. NixonOctober 11, 1973November 1, 200734 years, 21 days
53 Matthew Deady D. Ore. BuchananMarch 9, 1859March 24, 189334 years, 15 days
54 Thomas Blake Kennedy D. Wyo. HardingOctober 25, 1921November 6, 195534 years, 12 days
55 Francis Ford D. Mass. F. D. RooseveltJune 24, 1938July 1, 197234 years, 7 days
56 Emory Speer S.D. Ga. ArthurFebruary 18, 1885December 13, 191833 years, 298 days
57 Tillman Davis Johnson D. Utah WilsonNovember 2, 1915 [a] May 28, 194933 years, 207 days
58 William Truslow Newman N.D. Ga. ClevelandAugust 13, 1886 [a] February 14, 192033 years, 185 days
59 Charles Nelson Pray D. Mont. CoolidgeFebruary 8, 1924April 10, 195733 years, 61 days
60 William Bondy S.D.N.Y. HardingMarch 2, 1923May 1, 195633 years, 60 days
61 John Calvin Pollock D. Kan. T. RooseveltDecember 1, 1903January 24, 193733 years, 54 days
62 Andrew McConnell January Cochran E.D. Ky. McKinleyApril 24, 1901 [a] June 12, 193433 years, 49 days
63 Ross Wilkins D. Mich. JacksonJanuary 26, 1837February 24, 186333 years, 23 days
E.D. Mich. reassignedFebruary 24, 1863February 18, 1870
64 William E. Baker N.D. W. Va. HardingApril 4, 1921 [a] April 3, 195432 years, 364 days
65 Allen Burroughs Hannay S.D. Tex. F. D. RooseveltAugust 12, 1942August 6, 197532 years, 359 days
66 Thomas John Morris D. Md. HayesJuly 1, 1879June 6, 191232 years, 341 days
67 Myron H. Thompson M.D. Ala. CarterSeptember 29, 1980August 22, 201332 years, 327 days
68 Steven Douglas Merryday M.D. Fla. G. H. W. BushFebruary 10, 1992Incumbent32 years, 284 days
K. Michael Moore S.D. Fla. G. H. W. BushFebruary 10, 1992Incumbent32 years, 284 days
70 Lee H. Rosenthal S.D. Tex. G. H. W. BushMay 13, 1992Incumbent32 years, 191 days
71 Frank J. Battisti N.D. Ohio KennedySeptember 22, 1961April 1, 199432 years, 191 days
72 Sidney A. Fitzwater N.D. Tex. ReaganMarch 19, 1986September 22, 201832 years, 187 days
73 Jennings Bailey S.C.D.C. WilsonMay 22, 1918June 25, 193632 years, 163 days
D.D.C. reassignedJune 25, 1936November 1, 1950
74 Stephen Sanders Chandler Jr. W.D. Okla. F. D. RooseveltMay 13, 1943October 20, 197532 years, 160 days
75 Arthur J. Tuttle E.D. Mich. TaftAugust 6, 1912December 2, 194432 years, 118 days
76 Nathaniel M. Gorton D. Mass. G. H. W. BushSeptember 24, 1992Incumbent32 years, 57 days
77 Samuel H. Treat S.D. Ill. PierceMarch 3, 1855March 27, 188732 years, 24 days
78 William H. Atwell N.D. Tex. HardingJanuary 9, 1923December 31, 195431 years, 356 days
79 Walter Scott Smith Jr. W.D. Tex. ReaganOctober 4, 1984September 14, 201631 years, 346 days
80 Charles L. Benedict E.D.N.Y. LincolnMarch 9, 1865January 1, 189731 years, 298 days
81 Charles F. Amidon D.N.D. ClevelandAugust 31, 1896 [a] June 2, 192831 years, 276 days
82 David Lynn Russell E.D. Okla.
N.D. Okla.
ReaganDecember 17, 1981December 1, 199031 years, 202 days
W.D. Okla. December 17, 1981July 7, 2013
83 Barbara Jacobs Rothstein W.D. Wash. CarterFebruary 20, 1980September 1, 201131 years, 193 days
84 Samuel Hugh Dillin S.D. Ind. KennedySeptember 22, 1961March 31, 199331 years, 190 days
85 Colin Neblett D.N.M. WilsonFebruary 5, 1917July 6, 194831 years, 152 days
86 James Thomas Foley N.D.N.Y. TrumanFebruary 2, 1949June 30, 198031 years, 149 days
87 William J. Zloch S.D. Fla. ReaganNovember 4, 1985January 31, 201731 years, 88 days
88 William H. Kirkpatrick E.D. Pa. CoolidgeMarch 3, 1927May 1, 195831 years, 59 days
89 John Alden Riner D. Wyo. B. HarrisonSeptember 22, 1890October 31, 192131 years, 39 days
90 George Clinton Sweeney D. Mass. F. D. RooseveltAugust 24, 1935September 30, 196631 years, 37 days
91 Leonie Brinkema E.D. Va. ClintonOctober 20, 1993Incumbent31 years, 31 days
92 Henry W. Goddard S.D.N.Y. HardingJanuary 4, 1923February 1, 195431 years, 28 days
93 Clarence Addison Brimmer Jr. D. Wyo. FordSeptember 16, 1975September 27, 200631 years, 11 days
94 Patti B. Saris D. Mass. ClintonNovember 24, 1993Incumbent30 years, 362 days
Richard G. Stearns D. Mass. ClintonNovember 24, 1993Incumbent30 years, 362 days
96 Sim Lake S.D. Tex. ReaganAugust 12, 1988July 5, 201930 years, 327 days
97 Nathaniel Pope D. Ill. MonroeMarch 3, 1819January 23, 185030 years, 326 days
98 John R. Hazel W.D.N.Y. McKinleyJune 5, 1900March 5, 193130 years, 273 days
99 Arthur Lewis Brown D.R.I. ClevelandOctober 15, 1896 [a] June 30, 192730 years, 258 days
100 Samuel Frederick Biery Jr. W.D. Tex. ClintonMarch 11, 1994Incumbent30 years, 254 days
Orlando Luis Garcia W.D. Tex. ClintonMarch 11, 1994Incumbent30 years, 254 days

Total service

RankJudgeCourtAppointed byBegan active serviceEnded active serviceEnded senior statusTotal service
1 William Joseph Nealon Jr. M.D. Pa. KennedyDecember 13, 1962 [a] January 1, 1989August 30, 201855 years, 260 days
2 Henry Potter D.N.C. JeffersonApril 7, 1802December 20, 185755 years, 257 days
3 Seybourn Harris Lynne N.D. Ala. TrumanJanuary 3, 1946January 9, 1973September 10, 200054 years, 251 days
4 Edward J. McManus N.D. Iowa KennedyJuly 16, 1962February 9, 1985March 20, 201754 years, 247 days
5 Jack B. Weinstein E.D.N.Y. L. B. JohnsonApril 15, 1967March 1, 1993June 15, 202154 years, 61 days
6 James Lawrence King S.D. Fla. NixonOctober 19, 1970December 20, 1992Incumbent54 years, 32 days
7 George C. Young N.D. Fla.
S.D. Fla.
KennedySeptember 18, 1961September 17, 196653 years, 218 days
M.D. Fla. reassignedOctober 29, 1962October 19, 1981April 24, 2015
8 Manuel Real C.D. Cal. L. B. JohnsonNovember 3, 1966November 4, 2018June 26, 201952 years, 235 days
9 John P. Fullam E.D. Pa. L. B. JohnsonAugust 11, 1966April 1, 1990March 8, 201851 years, 209 days
10 Alexander Harvey II D. Md. L. B. JohnsonSeptember 22, 1966March 8, 1991December 4, 201751 years, 73 days
11 William Augustus Bootle M.D. Ga. EisenhowerMay 20, 1954March 11, 1972January 25, 200550 years, 250 days
12 Myron Donovan Crocker S.D. Cal. EisenhowerSeptember 21, 1959September 18, 196650 years, 134 days
E.D. Cal. reassignedSeptember 18, 1966January 1, 1981February 2, 2010
13 Charles Miller Metzner S.D.N.Y. EisenhowerSeptember 10, 1959September 30, 1977November 30, 200950 years, 81 days
14 Walter T. McGovern W.D. Wash. NixonApril 23, 1971September 30, 1987July 8, 202150 years, 76 days
15 Carl Olaf Bue Jr. S.D. Tex. NixonOctober 15, 1970September 2, 1987December 24, 202050 years, 70 days
16 William Terrell Hodges M.D. Fla. NixonDecember 15, 1971May 2, 1999January 4, 202250 years, 20 days
17 Donald Alsop D. Minn. FordDecember 20, 1974August 28, 1992Incumbent49 years, 336 days
18 Wesley E. Brown D. Kan. KennedyApril 4, 1962September 1, 1979January 23, 201249 years, 294 days
19 William Henry Stafford Jr. N.D. Fla. FordMay 14, 1975May 31, 1996Incumbent49 years, 190 days
20 John Thomas Curtin W.D.N.Y. L. B. JohnsonDecember 14, 1967July 1, 1989April 14, 201749 years, 121 days
21 Daniel Holcombe Thomas S.D. Ala. TrumanMarch 9, 1951August 25, 1971April 13, 200049 years, 35 days
22 David Norton Edelstein S.D.N.Y. TrumanNovember 1, 1951 [a] November 1, 1994August 19, 200048 years, 292 days
23 Charles S. Haight Jr. S.D.N.Y. FordMarch 29, 1976September 23, 1995Incumbent48 years, 236 days
24 Donald West VanArtsdalen E.D. Pa. NixonOctober 15, 1970October 21, 1985May 21, 201948 years, 218 days
25 Willard Hall D. Del. MonroeMay 6, 1823 [a] December 6, 187148 years, 214 days
26 John William Ditter Jr. E.D. Pa. NixonOctober 15, 1970October 19, 1986April 7, 201948 years, 174 days
27 Edwin F. Hunter W.D. La. EisenhowerOctober 3, 1953 [a] February 19, 1976February 22, 200248 years, 142 days
28 Frederick Jacob Reagan Heebe E.D. La. L. B. JohnsonMarch 26, 1966August 26, 1992August 10, 201448 years, 137 days
29 John C. Knox S.D.N.Y. WilsonApril 12, 1918April 30, 1955August 23, 196648 years, 133 days
30 John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. S.D. W. Va. FordSeptember 3, 1976November 1, 2018Incumbent48 years, 78 days
31 Albert Vickers Bryan Jr. E.D. Va. NixonJuly 29, 1971December 1, 1991August 27, 201948 years, 29 days
32 William Joseph Campbell N.D. Ill. F. D. RooseveltOctober 10, 1940March 19, 1970October 19, 198848 years, 9 days
33 Samuel Conti N.D. Cal. NixonOctober 16, 1970November 1, 1987August 29, 201847 years, 317 days
34 Albert L. Reeves W.D. Mo. HardingJune 24, 1923February 2, 1954March 24, 197147 years, 273 days
35 William Benner Enright S.D. Cal. NixonJune 30, 1972July 12, 1990March 7, 202047 years, 251 days
36 Edward Louis Filippine E.D. Mo. CarterJuly 22, 1977June 11, 1995Incumbent47 years, 121 days
37 Garnett Thomas Eisele E.D. Ark. NixonAugust 6, 1970August 1, 1991November 26, 201747 years, 112 days
38 Marion Speed Boyd W.D. Tenn. F. D. RooseveltSeptember 27, 1940August 1, 1966January 9, 198847 years, 104 days
39 James Hughes Hancock N.D. Ala. NixonApril 17, 1973May 1, 1996July 24, 202047 years, 98 days
40 Warren Keith Urbom D. Neb. NixonApril 24, 1970December 31, 1990July 28, 201747 years, 95 days
41 James von der Heydt D. Alaska L. B. JohnsonNovember 3, 1966July 15, 1984December 1, 201347 years, 28 days
42 John L. Kane Jr. D. Colo. CarterDecember 16, 1977April 8, 1988Incumbent46 years, 340 days
43 William Clark O'Kelley N.D. Ga. NixonOctober 16, 1970October 1, 1996July 5, 201746 years, 262 days
44 George M. Bourquin D. Mont. TaftMarch 8, 1912March 9, 1934November 15, 195846 years, 252 days
45 Gunnar Nordbye D. Minn. HooverMarch 18, 1931 [a] March 6, 1967November 5, 197746 years, 232 days
46 Roy Winfield Harper E.D. Mo.
W.D. Mo.
TrumanAugust 7, 1947 [a] December 19, 194746 years, 187 days
December 20, 1947 [a] June 20, 1948
June 22, 1948 [a] January 5, 1971February 13, 1994
47 Charles William Kraft Jr. E.D. Pa. EisenhowerAugust 12, 1955 [a] November 11, 1970January 18, 200246 years, 159 days
48 Jose Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. S.D. Fla. CarterJuly 28, 1978November 30, 1996Incumbent46 years, 115 days
49 Joseph L. Tauro D. Mass. NixonOctober 17, 1972September 26, 2013November 30, 201846 years, 44 days
50 Stephen Sanders Chandler Jr. W.D. Okla. F. D. RooseveltMay 13, 1943October 20, 1975April 27, 198945 years, 349 days
51 Caleb Merrill Wright D. Del. EisenhowerJuly 27, 1955October 8, 1973May 12, 200145 years, 289 days
52 Rya W. Zobel D. Mass. CarterMarch 23, 1979April 1, 2014Incumbent45 years, 242 days
53 Maurice B. Cohill Jr. W.D. Pa. FordMay 21, 1976November 28, 1994January 1, 202245 years, 225 days
54 R. James Harvey E.D. Mich. NixonDecember 19, 1973March 31, 1984July 20, 201945 years, 213 days
55 Dan Monroe Russell Jr. S.D. Miss. L. B. JohnsonOctober 2, 1965October 25, 1983April 16, 201145 years, 196 days
56 James Paul Churchill E.D. Mich. FordDecember 20, 1974December 31, 1989June 29, 202045 years, 192 days
57 Thomas Virgil Pittman M.D. Ala. L. B. JohnsonJune 29, 1966June 2, 197045 years, 191 days
S.D. Ala. July 15, 1981January 6, 2012
58 Elijah Allen Cox N.D. Miss. CoolidgeMarch 2, 1929March 22, 1957August 28, 197445 years, 179 days
59 Thomas P. Griesa S.D.N.Y. NixonJune 30, 1972March 13, 2000December 24, 201745 years, 177 days
60 Joyce Hens Green D.D.C. CarterMay 11, 1979July 1, 1995October 10, 202445 years, 152 days
Harold Loyd Murphy N.D. Ga. CarterJuly 29, 1977March 31, 2017December 28, 202245 years, 152 days
62 William Daniel Murray D. Mont. TrumanMay 9, 1949December 31, 1965October 3, 199445 years, 147 days
63 Marvin Aspen N.D. Ill. CarterJuly 24, 1979July 1, 2002Incumbent45 years, 119 days
Orinda Dale Evans N.D. Ga. CarterJuly 24, 1979December 31, 2008Incumbent45 years, 119 days
65 Robert Earl Maxwell N.D. W. Va. L. B. JohnsonAugust 11, 1965July 19, 1995November 20, 201045 years, 101 days
66 Richard Paul Matsch D. Colo. NixonMarch 8, 1974July 1, 2003May 26, 201945 years, 79 days
67 Howard F. Sachs W.D. Mo. CarterSeptember 26, 1979October 31, 1992Incumbent45 years, 55 days
68 Bruce Sterling Jenkins D. Utah CarterSeptember 22, 1978September 30, 1994November 7, 202345 years, 46 days
69 Sylvia H. Rambo M.D. Pa. CarterJuly 24, 1979April 18, 2001August 30, 202445 years, 37 days
70 Joseph Putnam Willson W.D. Pa. EisenhowerJuly 14, 1953October 18, 1968August 3, 199845 years, 20 days
71 Barbara Brandriff Crabb W.D. Wis. CarterNovember 2, 1979March 24, 2010Incumbent45 years, 18 days
Frank Howell Seay E.D. Okla. CarterNovember 2, 1979September 25, 2003Incumbent45 years, 18 days
Anne Elise Thompson D.N.J. CarterNovember 2, 1979June 1, 2001Incumbent45 years, 18 days
74 William Bertelsman E.D. Ky. CarterNovember 27, 1979February 1, 2001Incumbent44 years, 359 days
Dudley Hollingsworth Bowen Jr. S.D. Ga. CarterNovember 27, 1979June 25, 2006Incumbent44 years, 359 days
76 Alan N. Bloch W.D. Pa. CarterNovember 2, 1979April 12, 1997October 6, 202444 years, 339 days
77 Terry J. Hatter Jr. C.D. Cal. CarterDecember 20, 1979April 22, 2005Incumbent44 years, 336 days
78 William Elwood Steckler S.D. Ind. TrumanApril 7, 1950December 31, 1986March 8, 199544 years, 335 days
79 Solomon Blatt Jr. D.S.C. NixonMay 28, 1971May 7, 1990April 20, 201644 years, 328 days
80 Barbara Jacobs Rothstein W.D. Wash. CarterFebruary 20, 1980September 1, 2011Incumbent44 years, 274 days
81 Charles Wycliffe Joiner E.D. Mich. NixonJune 9, 1972August 15, 1984March 10, 201744 years, 274 days
82 Gordon Thompson Jr. S.D. Cal. NixonOctober 16, 1970December 28, 1994July 5, 201544 years, 262 days
83 Charles Edward Wyzanski Jr. D. Mass. F. D. RooseveltDecember 19, 1941September 1, 1971September 3, 198644 years, 258 days
84 Jennings Bailey S.C.D.C. WilsonMay 22, 1918June 25, 193644 years, 232 days
D.D.C. reassignedJune 25, 1936November 1, 1950January 9, 1963
85 Frederick Alvin Daugherty E.D. Okla.
N.D. Okla.
W.D. Okla.
KennedyOctober 5, 1961 [a] January 12, 1982April 7, 200644 years, 184 days
86 William Earl Britt E.D.N.C. CarterMay 23, 1980December 7, 1997Incumbent44 years, 181 days
Walter Herbert Rice S.D. Ohio CarterMay 23, 1980November 30, 2004Incumbent44 years, 181 days
88 Matthew Francis McGuire D.D.C. F. D. RooseveltAugust 1, 1941October 7, 1966January 24, 198644 years, 176 days
89 Samuel Hugh Dillin S.D. Ind. KennedySeptember 22, 1961March 31, 1993March 13, 200644 years, 172 days
90 Thelton Henderson N.D. Cal. CarterJune 30, 1980November 28, 1998Incumbent44 years, 143 days
91 Justin L. Quackenbush E.D. Wash. CarterJune 18, 1980June 27, 1995October 27, 202444 years, 131 days
92 Thomas Francis Murphy S.D.N.Y. TrumanJuly 2, 1951December 3, 1970October 26, 199544 years, 116 days
93 Ashur Ware D. Me. MonroeFebruary 15, 1822May 31, 186644 years, 105 days
94 Myron H. Thompson M.D. Ala. CarterSeptember 29, 1980August 22, 2013Incumbent44 years, 52 days
95 Charles P. Kocoras N.D. Ill. CarterSeptember 30, 1980June 30, 2006Incumbent44 years, 51 days
Consuelo Bland Marshall C.D. Cal. CarterSeptember 30, 1980October 24, 2005Incumbent44 years, 51 days
97 John Clyde Bowen W.D. Wash. F. D. RooseveltMarch 20, 1934June 5, 1961April 27, 197844 years, 38 days
98 Harold P. Burke W.D.N.Y. F. D. RooseveltJune 18, 1937June 15, 1981July 17, 198144 years, 29 days
99 John F. Grady N.D. Ill. FordNovember 21, 1975May 23, 1994December 2, 201944 years, 11 days
100 Kevin Duffy S.D.N.Y. NixonOctober 17, 1972January 10, 1998September 30, 201643 years, 349 days

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 Recess appointment.
  2. 1 2 As chief judge.
  3. Rich joined the C.C.P.A. on July 19, 1956, giving him a total tenure of 42 years, 325 days. However, in 1929, the C.C.P.A. was determined by the Supreme Court to be an Article I court, and it was not designated as an Article III court until August 25, 1958. [4] [5]
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 As Chief Justice of the United States.
  5. Circuit judges whose active service exceeded the minimum on the active service table include Judges Cranch, Morsell, and Thruston of the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia and Pardee of the Fifth Circuit, as shown on the "Combined Article III court service" table above, and Judge Emile Henry Lacombe of the Second Circuit, who served 28 years, 265 days from his recess appointment to the circuit court on May 26, 1887 to his resignation from the court of appeals on February 15, 1916.

See also

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References

  1. "What is Senior Status?". Cornell Law School. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  2. Mueller, Kimberly J. (February 24, 2021). "Testimony before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet" (PDF).
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges, 1789-present". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  4. "Ex parte Bakelite Corporation". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  5. "Public Law 85-755" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. 1958.
  6. "Justices 1789 to Present". Supreme Court of the United States. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  7. Denniston, Lyle (July 30, 2018). "Justice Anthony Kennedy in retirement: A different life". National Constitution Center.