List of federal judges appointed by Gerald Ford

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President Gerald Ford. Gerald Ford presidential portrait (cropped).jpg
President Gerald Ford.

Following is a list of all Article III United States federal judges appointed by President Gerald Ford during his presidency. [1] In total Ford appointed 65 Article III federal judges, including 1 Justice to the Supreme Court of the United States, 12 judges to the United States Courts of Appeals, and 52 judges to the United States district courts.

Contents

None of Ford's appointees remain in active service, however 2 appellate judges and 4 district judges remain on senior status. Five additional judges appointed by Ford to district courts remain on senior status as appellate judges by appointment of later presidents, as is one appellate judge appointed to the Supreme Court. [2]

United States Supreme Court justices

#Justice Seat StateFormer justiceNomination
date
Confirmation
date
Confirmation
vote
Began
active service
Ended
active service
Ended
retired service
1 John Paul Stevens 4 Illinois William O. Douglas November 28, 1975December 17, 197598–0December 17, 1975June 29, 2010July 16, 2019

Courts of appeals

#JudgeCircuitNomination
date
Confirmation
date
Began active
service
Ended active
service
Ended senior
status
1 Murray Gurfein [Dual 1] Second July 11, 1974August 22, 1974August 27, 1974December 16, 1979
2 William J. Bauer Seventh December 11, 1974December 19, 1974December 20, 1974October 31, 1994Incumbent
3 Ellsworth Van Graafeiland Second December 11, 1974December 20, 1974December 21, 1974May 11, 1985November 20, 2004
4 J. Smith Henley Eighth December 11, 1974 [Rn 1] March 13, 1975March 14, 1975May 31, 1982October 18, 1997
5 Anthony Kennedy Ninth March 3, 1975March 20, 1975March 24, 1975February 17, 1988Elevated
6 Thomas Meskill [Dual 2] Second August 8, 1974 [Rn 2] April 22, 1975April 23, 1975June 30, 1993October 29, 2007
7 Gerald Bard Tjoflat Fifth / Eleventh November 3, 1975November 20, 1975November 21, 1975November 19, 2019 [3] Incumbent
8 Harlington Wood Jr. Seventh April 14, 1976May 6, 1976May 7, 1976January 15, 1992December 29, 2008
9 James Clinkscales Hill Fifth / Eleventh May 4, 1976May 19, 1976May 21, 1976October 15, 1989 [3] March 31, 2017
10 J. Blaine Anderson Ninth June 18, 1976July 2, 1976July 2, 1976April 16, 1988
11 Kenneth Keller Hall Fourth August 26, 1976September 1, 1976September 3, 1976February 24, 1998July 8, 1999
12 Peter T. Fay Fifth / Eleventh June 11, 1976September 17, 1976September 21, 1976January 19, 1994 [3] January 31, 2021
  1. Nominated by Richard Nixon but appointed by Gerald Ford.
  2. Initially nominated by Richard Nixon but renominated by Gerald Ford.

District courts

#JudgeCourt
[Note 1]
Nomination
date
Confirmation
date
Began active
service
Ended active
service
Ended senior
status
1 Robert W. Warren [Dual 1] E.D. Wis. August 8, 1974August 22, 1974August 27, 1974August 1, 1991August 20, 1998
2 Donald Alsop [Dual 1] D. Minn. August 8, 1974December 18, 1974December 20, 1974August 28, 1992Incumbent
3 Edward N. Cahn E.D. Pa. November 18, 1974December 18, 1974December 20, 1974December 31, 1998
4 James Paul Churchill E.D. Mich. December 2, 1974December 18, 1974December 20, 1974December 31, 1989June 29, 2020
5 Joseph Calvitt Clarke Jr. E.D. Va. December 11, 1974December 19, 1974December 20, 1974July 31, 1991May 6, 2004
6 H. Dale Cook E.D. Okla.
N.D. Okla.
W.D. Okla.
December 2, 1974December 18, 1974December 20, 1974January 1, 1992September 22, 2008
7 James Martin Fitzgerald D. Alaska December 2, 1974December 18, 1974December 20, 1974January 1, 1989April 3, 2011
8 Joel Flaum N.D. Ill. November 18, 1974December 18, 1974December 20, 1974June 1, 1983Elevated
9 John F. Gerry D.N.J. November 18, 1974December 18, 1974December 20, 1974October 1, 1994March 10, 1995
10 William S. Sessions W.D. Tex. December 11, 1974December 19, 1974December 20, 1974November 1, 1987
11 Juan R. Torruella [Dual 2] D.P.R. May 28, 1974 [Rn 3] December 18, 1974December 20, 1974October 30, 1984Elevated
12 John T. Elfvin W.D.N.Y. December 9, 1974December 20, 1974December 21, 1974July 1, 1987January 6, 2009
13 Alfred Younges Kirkland Sr. N.D. Ill. December 11, 1974December 19, 1974December 21, 1974April 30, 1979March 19, 2004
14 Henry Bramwell E.D.N.Y. December 11, 1974December 20, 1974December 26, 1974October 1, 1987May 28, 2010
15 Stanley Brotman D.N.J. January 27, 1975March 13, 1975March 14, 1975April 23, 1990February 21, 2014
16 Robert J. O'Conor Jr. S.D. Tex. March 17, 1975April 24, 1975April 25, 1975September 30, 1984
17 Dick Yin Wong D. Haw. March 17, 1975April 24, 1975April 25, 1975December 26, 1978
18 William Henry Stafford Jr. N.D. Fla. April 18, 1975May 12, 1975May 14, 1975May 31, 1996Incumbent
19 Richard Dean Rogers D. Kan. July 15, 1975July 31, 1975August 5, 1975January 1, 1989November 25, 2016
20 Clarence Addison Brimmer Jr. D. Wyo. July 23, 1975September 15, 1975September 16, 1975September 27, 2006October 23, 2014
21 Terry Lee Shell E.D. Ark.
W.D. Ark.
July 25, 1975September 15, 1975September 16, 1975June 25, 1978
22 Ralph Gordon Thompson W.D. Okla. September 24, 1975October 9, 1975October 14, 1975December 16, 1999August 6, 2007
23 Eugene Edward Siler Jr. E.D. Ky.
W.D. Ky.
September 19, 1975November 11, 1975November 13, 1975September 20, 1991Elevated
24 John F. Grady N.D. Ill. October 20, 1975November 20, 1975November 21, 1975May 23, 1994December 2, 2019
25 Charles Harold Haden II N.D. W. Va.
S.D. W. Va.
October 1, 1975November 20, 1975November 21, 1975January 14, 1983 [4]
March 20, 2004
26 Patrick Higginbotham N.D. Tex. December 2, 1975December 12, 1975December 12, 1975August 3, 1982Elevated
27 George N. Leighton N.D. Ill. December 19, 1975February 2, 1976February 4, 1976February 27, 1986December 1, 1987
28 Charles S. Haight Jr. S.D.N.Y. March 2, 1976March 26, 1976March 29, 1976September 23, 1995Incumbent
29 John Michael Manos N.D. Ohio March 17, 1976March 26, 1976March 29, 1976April 1, 1991July 6, 2006
30 Gerard Louis Goettel S.D.N.Y. March 2, 1976March 26, 1976March 30, 1976August 5, 1993December 19, 2011
31 Phil McClellan McNagny Jr. N.D. Ind. June 24, 1975May 6, 1976May 7, 1976March 28, 1981
32 George C. Pratt E.D.N.Y. April 13, 1976May 6, 1976May 7, 1976June 29, 1982Elevated
33 Charles Schwartz Jr. E.D. La. March 23, 1976May 6, 1976May 7, 1976February 28, 1991November 3, 2012
34 Morey Leonard Sear E.D. La. March 30, 1976May 6, 1976May 7, 1976October 31, 2000September 6, 2004
35 Ross N. Sterling S.D. Tex. April 13, 1976May 6, 1976May 7, 1976January 14, 1988
36 Robert Mitsuhiro Takasugi C.D. Cal. April 14, 1976May 6, 1976May 7, 1976September 30, 1996August 4, 2009
37 Ralph B. Guy Jr. E.D. Mich. April 26, 1976May 11, 1976May 12, 1976October 17, 1985Elevated
38 Laughlin Edward Waters Sr. C.D. Cal. April 26, 1976May 11, 1976May 12, 1976July 6, 1986June 3, 2002
39 Maurice Blanchard Cohill Jr. W.D. Pa. May 4, 1976May 18, 1976May 21, 1976November 28, 1994January 1, 2022
40 John Powers Crowley N.D. Ill. May 18, 1976June 16, 1976June 16, 1976June 30, 1981
41 Mary Anne Richey D. Ariz. June 2, 1976June 16, 1976June 16, 1976November 25, 1983
42 J. Waldo Ackerman S.D. Ill. / C.D. Ill. June 18, 1976July 2, 1976July 2, 1976November 23, 1984 [5]
43 William Austin Ingram N.D. Cal. June 2, 1976July 23, 1976July 23, 1976November 15, 1990May 26, 2002
44 Cecil F. Poole N.D. Cal. June 18, 1976 [Rn 4] July 23, 1976July 23, 1976March 31, 1980Elevated
45 William Schwarzer N.D. Cal. June 2, 1976July 23, 1976July 23, 1976April 30, 1991January 28, 2017
46 Marion Jones Callister D. Idaho July 19, 1976August 26, 1976September 1, 1976June 6, 1989June 24, 1997
47 John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. S.D. W. Va. August 26, 1976September 1, 1976September 3, 1976November 1, 2018Incumbent
48 Glen Morgan Williams W.D. Va. September 8, 1976September 17, 1976September 17, 1976November 21, 1988November 4, 2012
49 Sidney Aronovitz S.D. Fla. August 4, 1976September 17, 1976September 21, 1976October 31, 1988January 8, 1997
50 W. Eugene Davis W.D. La. August 5, 1976September 17, 1976September 21, 1976December 9, 1983Elevated
51 Vincent L. Broderick S.D.N.Y. August 26, 1976September 23, 1976October 4, 1976December 1, 1988March 3, 1995
52 Howard G. Munson N.D.N.Y. August 26, 1976September 23, 1976October 4, 1976November 5, 1990October 5, 2008
  1. 1 2 Nominated by Richard Nixon but appointed by Gerald Ford.
  2. Initially nominated by Richard Nixon but renominated by Gerald Ford.

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References

Notes
  1. See List of United States district and territorial courts
General
Specific
  1. All information on the names, terms of service, and details of appointment of federal judges is derived from the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public-domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/kennedy-anthony-mcleod [ bare URL ]
  3. 1 2 3 Originally appointed to the Fifth Circuit, but reassigned by operation of law to the newly created Eleventh Circuit on October 1, 1981.
  4. After January 14, 1983, Haden only served on the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
  5. On March 31, 1979, the Districts of Illinois were reorganized, with the elimination of the Eastern District; Ackerman was reassigned by operation of law to the newly created United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, and was a judge of that District for the remainder of his service.
Renominations
  1. Renominated on January 28, 1975.
  2. Originally nominated on August 8, 1974 by President Nixon. That nomination was not acted on. Renominated on November 18, 1974 by President Ford. That nomination was not acted on. Renominated on January 16, 1975.
  3. Originally nominated on May 28, 1974 by President Nixon. That nomination was not acted on. Renominated on November 18, 1974 by President Ford.
  4. Originally nominated on May 29, 1968 by President Johnson to a different seat on the same court. That nomination was not acted on. Renominated on January 9, 1969. That nomination was withdrawn by President Nixon on January 23, 1969. Renominated on June 18, 1976 by President Ford to a different seat on the same court.

Sources