United States circuit court
Encyclopedia
The United States circuit courts were the original intermediate level courts of the United States federal court system. They were established by the Judiciary Act of 1789
. They had trial court jurisdiction over civil suits of diversity jurisdiction
and major federal crimes. They also had appellate jurisdiction
over the United States district court
s. The Judiciary Act of 1891
transferred their appellate jurisdiction to the newly created United States circuit courts of appeals, which are now known as the United States courts of appeals
. In 1911, the circuit courts were abolished, with their remaining trial court jurisdiction transferred to the U.S. district courts.
During the 100 years that the Justices of the Supreme Court "rode circuit", many justices complained about the effort required.. Riding circuit took a great deal of time (about 1/2 of the year) and was both physically demanding and dangerous. However, "members of Congress held firm to the belief that circuit riding benefited the justices and the populace, and they turned a deaf ear to the corps of justices that desired to abolish the practice".
The Judiciary Act of 1869
established a separate circuit court (and allowed the hiring of judges specifically to handle the cases) but the act required that Supreme Court judges had to ride circuit once every two years. However, this came to a final end in 1891 when the Circuit Court of Appeals Act
was passed.
The net result of riding circuit was that, in many cases which ended up before the Supreme Court, a member of the Supreme Court had already heard the case and issued a ruling. In a real sense, the Supreme Court was, in such cases, acting as an en banc
panel; i.e. hearing a case upon which one of their members had already passed judgment.
were grouped into circuits, the circuit courts convened separately in each district and were designated by the name of the district (for example, the "U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Massachusetts"), not by the name or number of the circuit. The designation of circuits served only for the purpose of designating the districts in which a particular Supreme Court justice, and later a circuit judge, would sit on the circuit court. The circuit court districts were usually, but not always, the same as the districts established for the district courts.
Each circuit court was composed initially of two Supreme Court justices and the district judge of the district, although in 1793 Congress provided that a quorum of one justice and one district judge could hold a court. After 1802, only one justice was assigned to each circuit, and a quorum could consist of a single justice or judge. This "circuit riding" arrangement meant that the Supreme Court justices spent the majority of the year traveling to each district within their circuit to conduct trials, and spent far less time assembled at the capital to hear appeals. The burden of circuit riding was somewhat alleviated by the appointment of circuit judges under the Circuit Judges Act of 1869, but not abolished until the creation of the intermediate courts of appeals in 1891.
In 1801, Congress created the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
, a "circuit court" for the District of Columbia. This court had the same original jurisdiction and powers as the United States circuit courts but, unlike those courts, it continued to have its own judges even after the repeal of the Judiciary Act of 1801, and had appellate jurisdiction over justices of the peace and other "local" courts of the District. The District of Columbia was not enumerated among the federal "circuits" at the time. This court was abolished in 1863.
Three circuit court judges, Samuel M. Blatchford, David Josiah Brewer
, and William Burnham Woods
, were later appointed to the United States Supreme Court.
Circuit court judges appointed pursuant to the Midnight Judges Act:
Judges of the D.C. Circuit:
Circuit court judges appointed pursuant to the 1869 Act:
Circuit court judge of California:
Judiciary Act of 1789
The United States Judiciary Act of 1789 was a landmark statute adopted on September 24, 1789 in the first session of the First United States Congress establishing the U.S. federal judiciary...
. They had trial court jurisdiction over civil suits of diversity jurisdiction
Diversity jurisdiction
In the law of the United States, diversity jurisdiction is a form of subject-matter jurisdiction in civil procedure in which a United States district court has the power to hear a civil case where the persons that are parties are "diverse" in citizenship, which generally indicates that they are...
and major federal crimes. They also had appellate jurisdiction
Appellate jurisdiction
Appellate jurisdiction is the power of the Supreme Court to review decisions and change outcomes of decisions of lower courts. Most appellate jurisdiction is legislatively created, and may consist of appeals by leave of the appellate court or by right...
over the United States district court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
s. The Judiciary Act of 1891
Judiciary Act of 1891
The Judiciary Act of 1891 , also known as the Evarts Act after its primary sponsor, Senator William M. Evarts, created the United States courts of appeals, and reassigned the jurisdiction of most routine appeals from the district and circuit courts to these appellate courts...
transferred their appellate jurisdiction to the newly created United States circuit courts of appeals, which are now known as the United States courts of appeals
United States courts of appeals
The United States courts of appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system...
. In 1911, the circuit courts were abolished, with their remaining trial court jurisdiction transferred to the U.S. district courts.
During the 100 years that the Justices of the Supreme Court "rode circuit", many justices complained about the effort required.. Riding circuit took a great deal of time (about 1/2 of the year) and was both physically demanding and dangerous. However, "members of Congress held firm to the belief that circuit riding benefited the justices and the populace, and they turned a deaf ear to the corps of justices that desired to abolish the practice".
The Judiciary Act of 1869
Judiciary Act of 1869
The Judiciary Act of 1869 , also called the Circuit Judges Act of 1869, was a United States statute that made two important reforms of the federal judiciary....
established a separate circuit court (and allowed the hiring of judges specifically to handle the cases) but the act required that Supreme Court judges had to ride circuit once every two years. However, this came to a final end in 1891 when the Circuit Court of Appeals Act
Judiciary Act of 1891
The Judiciary Act of 1891 , also known as the Evarts Act after its primary sponsor, Senator William M. Evarts, created the United States courts of appeals, and reassigned the jurisdiction of most routine appeals from the district and circuit courts to these appellate courts...
was passed.
The net result of riding circuit was that, in many cases which ended up before the Supreme Court, a member of the Supreme Court had already heard the case and issued a ruling. In a real sense, the Supreme Court was, in such cases, acting as an en banc
En banc
En banc, in banc, in banco or in bank is a French term used to refer to the hearing of a legal case where all judges of a court will hear the case , rather than a panel of them. It is often used for unusually complex cases or cases considered to be of greater importance...
panel; i.e. hearing a case upon which one of their members had already passed judgment.
Organization
Although the federal judicial districtsUnited States federal judicial district
For purposes of the federal judicial system, Congress has divided the United States into judicial districts. There are 94 federal judicial districts, including at least one district in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico...
were grouped into circuits, the circuit courts convened separately in each district and were designated by the name of the district (for example, the "U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Massachusetts"), not by the name or number of the circuit. The designation of circuits served only for the purpose of designating the districts in which a particular Supreme Court justice, and later a circuit judge, would sit on the circuit court. The circuit court districts were usually, but not always, the same as the districts established for the district courts.
Each circuit court was composed initially of two Supreme Court justices and the district judge of the district, although in 1793 Congress provided that a quorum of one justice and one district judge could hold a court. After 1802, only one justice was assigned to each circuit, and a quorum could consist of a single justice or judge. This "circuit riding" arrangement meant that the Supreme Court justices spent the majority of the year traveling to each district within their circuit to conduct trials, and spent far less time assembled at the capital to hear appeals. The burden of circuit riding was somewhat alleviated by the appointment of circuit judges under the Circuit Judges Act of 1869, but not abolished until the creation of the intermediate courts of appeals in 1891.
In 1801, Congress created the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
The United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia is a former United States federal court, which existed from 1801 to 1863.-History:...
, a "circuit court" for the District of Columbia. This court had the same original jurisdiction and powers as the United States circuit courts but, unlike those courts, it continued to have its own judges even after the repeal of the Judiciary Act of 1801, and had appellate jurisdiction over justices of the peace and other "local" courts of the District. The District of Columbia was not enumerated among the federal "circuits" at the time. This court was abolished in 1863.
Judges
Although any district court judge could be authorized to act as a circuit judge, only fifty judges solely designated as circuit court judges were ever appointed. These can be broadly categorized into four groups:- Judges appointed pursuant to the Midnight Judges Act on or after February 20, 1801, and thereafter removed from office with the repeal of that Act on July 1, 1802.
- Judges appointed to the D.C. Circuit, abolished on March 3, 1863
- Judges appointed after 1869 pursuant to the Circuit Judges Act of 1869; those in office on June 16, 1891 were transferred to the newly created United States courts of appealsUnited States court of appealsThe United States courts of appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system...
by operation of lawOperation of lawThe phrase "by operation of law" is a legal term that indicates that a right or liability has been created for a party, irrespective of the intent of that party, because it is dictated by existing legal principles. For example, if a person dies without a will, his heirs are determined by operation...
, that is, without action on the part of the President. - One judge appointed to the California circuit, established in 1855 and abolished on March 3, 1863.
Three circuit court judges, Samuel M. Blatchford, David Josiah Brewer
David Josiah Brewer
David Josiah Brewer was an American jurist and an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court for 20 years.-Early life:...
, and William Burnham Woods
William Burnham Woods
William Burnham Woods was an American jurist, politician, and soldier.-Early life and career:Woods was born on August 3, 1824 in Newark, Ohio. He was the older brother of Charles R. Woods, another future Civil War general. He attended college at both Western Reserve University and Yale...
, were later appointed to the United States Supreme Court.
Circuit court judges appointed pursuant to the Midnight Judges Act:
| Judge | Circuit | Began service | Ended service | Appointed by |
| Richard Bassett Richard Bassett Richard Bassett was an American lawyer and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a veteran of the American Revolution, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as Governor of Delaware,... |
Third | February 20, 1801 | July 1, 1802 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
| Egbert Benson Egbert Benson Egbert Benson was a lawyer, jurist, politician from Upper Red Hook, New York, and a Founding Father of the United States who represented New York in the Continental Congress, Annapolis Convention, and the United States House of Representatives, and who served as a member of the New York State... |
Second | February 20, 1801 | July 1, 1802 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
| Benjamin Bourne Benjamin Bourne Benjamin Bourne was an American jurist and politician from Bristol, Rhode Island. He represented Rhode Island in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as a judge in both the federal district and federal appellate courts.Borurne was born in Bristol and graduated from Harvard College in 1775... |
First | February 20, 1801 | July 1, 1802 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
| Joseph Clay, Jr. Joseph Clay (Georgia) Joseph Clay was a soldier and public official from Georgia.Born in England, he immigrated to the United States and in 1760 settled in Savannah, Georgia. During the American Revolution, he served on the local council of safety and was a delegate to the Georgia Provincial Congress in 1775... |
Fifth | February 20, 1801 | July 1, 1802 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
| William Griffith William Griffith (New Jersey attorney) -Biography:Born in Bound Brook, New Jersey, Griffith read law to enter the bar in 1788. He was in private practice in Burlington, New Jersey from 1789 to 1801, and was also a Surrogate, Burlington County, New Jersey from 1790 to 1799, and a member of the Common Council of the City of Burlington... |
Third | February 20, 1801 | July 1, 1802 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
| Dominic Augustin Hall Dominic Augustin Hall Dominic Augustin Hall was a United States federal judge, appointed by two different presidents to four federal judicial positions.... |
Fifth | January 26, 1802 | July 1, 1802 | Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia... |
| Edward Harris Edward Harris (North Carolina) Edward Harris was a North Carolina lawyer, politician, and judge.Born in Iredell County, North Carolina, Harris read law to enter the bar in 1791, and thereafter engaged in private practice in New Bern, North Carolina.... |
Fifth | May 3, 1802 | July 1, 1802 | Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia... |
| Samuel Hitchcock Samuel Hitchcock Samuel Hitchcock was an attorney and judge in Vermont.Hitchcock was born in Brimfield, Massachusetts and attended Harvard College in 1777. He engaged in private practice in Burlington, Vermont, from 1786-87, and was then the state's attorney for Chittenden County, Vermont until 1790, when he... |
Second | February 20, 1801 | July 1, 1802 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
| Henry Potter Henry Potter (judge) Henry Potter was the longest serving United States federal judge to sit on a single court, and the longest serving active judge... |
Fifth | January 26, 1802 | April 7, 1802 | Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia... |
| Philip Barton Key Philip Barton Key Philip Barton Key was a Representative from the third district of Maryland, and later a United States federal judge. Unusually for a politician in the early United States, Key had been a Loyalist in the American Revolution.Born in Charleston, Cecil County, Maryland, Key pursued an academic course... |
Fourth | February 20, 1801 | July 1, 1802 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
| John A. Lowell John Lowell John A. Lowell was an American lawyer, selectman, jurist, delegate to the Congress of the Confederation and federal judge.... |
First | February 20, 1801 | May 6, 1802 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
| Charles Magill Charles Magill (Virginia) Charles Magill was a Virginia lawyer, politician, and judge. Son of John Magill and Magdalene Magill. Emigrated from Ireland 1768.... |
Fourth | February 20, 1801 | July 1, 1802 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
| Jeremiah Smith Jeremiah Smith Jeremiah Smith was an American lawyer, jurist and politician from Exeter, New Hampshire.Born in Peterborough, New Hampshire, Smith attended Harvard University before graduating from Queens College, New Brunswick in 1780. He served in the Continental Army, and read law to enter the bar in 1786... |
First | February 20, 1801 | July 1, 1802 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
| George Keith Taylor George Keith Taylor George Keith Taylor was a United States federal judge.Born in Petersburg, Virginia, Taylor attended the College of William and Mary. By 1795, he was engaged in the private practice of law in Petersburg... |
Fourth | February 20, 1801 | July 1, 1802 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
| William McClung William McClung William McClung is a former United States federal judge.Born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, McClung graduated from Washington College William McClung (July 12, 1758–1811) is a former United States federal judge.Born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, McClung graduated from Washington College William... |
Sixth | February 20, 1801 | July 1, 1802 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
| William Tilghman William Tilghman William Tilghman was an American lawyer, jurist and statesman from Maryland. He served as the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court from 1805 to 1827.... |
Third | February 20, 1801 | July 1, 1802 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
| Oliver Wolcott, Jr. Oliver Wolcott, Jr. Oliver Wolcott, Jr. was United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1795 to 1800 and the 24th Governor of Connecticut from 1817 to 1827.-Youth and education:... |
Second | February 20, 1801 | July 1, 1802 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
Judges of the D.C. Circuit:
| Judge | Circuit | Began service | Ended service | Appointed by |
| Allen Bowie Duckett Allen Bowie Duckett Allen Bowie Duckett was a Maryland and a United States federal judge.Born in Prince George's County, Maryland, Duckett graduated from Princeton University in 1790, and read law to enter the Bar... |
D.C. | March 17, 1806 | July 19, 1809 | Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia... |
| James Dunlop James Dunlop (judge) James Dunlop was a United States federal judge.Dunlop was born in Georgetown, which was then part of Maryland, but was ceded to the District of Columbia by the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801. He received an A.B. from Princeton University in 1811, and read law to enter the Bar... |
D.C. | February 3, 1846 November 27, 1855 |
November 27, 1855 March 3, 1863 |
James K. Polk James K. Polk James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee... Franklin Pierce Franklin Pierce Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army... (as chief judge) |
| William Cranch William Cranch William Cranch was an American judge and the second reporter of decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States.-Early life:Born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, he was a nephew of Abigail Adams... |
D.C. | February 28, 1801 February 24, 1806 |
February 24, 1806 September 1, 1855 |
John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia... (as chief judge) |
| Nicholas Battalle Fitzhugh Nicholas Battalle Fitzhugh Nicholas Battalle Fitzhugh was a United States federal judge.Born in King George County, Virginia, Fitzhugh was in private practice in Fairfax County, Virginia, with some brief interruptions, from 1790 to 1803... |
D.C. | November 25, 1803 | December 31, 1814 | Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia... |
| James Markham Marshall James Markham Marshall James Markham Marshall was a United States federal judge.Born in Fauquier County, Virginia, Marshall was a Captain in the 1st Virginia Artillery in 1779... |
D.C. | March 3, 1801 | November 16, 1803 | John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... |
| William Kilty William Kilty William Kilty was a United States federal judge.Born in London, England, Kilty read law at the College of St. Omer to enter the bar. He also studied medicine under Edward Johnson, of Annapolis. In the American Revolutionary War, Kilty served in the 4th Maryland Regiment as a Surgeon's Mate from... |
D.C. | January 26, 1802 | January 27, 1806 | Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia... (as chief judge) |
| William Matthew Merrick William Matthew Merrick William Matthew Merrick was a United States Circuit Court judge for the District of Columbia and congressman from the fifth district of the state of Maryland.-Early life, career, and family:... |
D.C. | December 14, 1855 | March 3, 1863 | Franklin Pierce Franklin Pierce Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army... |
| James Sewall Morsell James Sewall Morsell James Sewall Morsell was a United States federal judge.Born in Calvert County, Maryland, Morsell was in the United States Army from 1813 to 1814, and had a private legal practice in Georgetown, District of Columbia unil 1815.On January 7, 1815, Morsell was nominated by President James Madison to a... |
D.C. | January 11, 1815 | March 3, 1863 | James Madison James Madison James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United... |
| Buckner Thruston Buckner Thruston Buckner Thruston was a Democratic-Republican U.S. Senator from Kentucky, and later a long-serving a United States federal judge.-Early life, education, and career:... |
D.C. | December 14, 1809 | August 30, 1845 | James Madison James Madison James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United... |
Circuit court judges appointed pursuant to the 1869 Act:
| Judge | Circuit | Began service | Ended service | Appointed by |
| Marcus Wilson Acheson Marcus Wilson Acheson Marcus Wilson Acheson was a United States federal judge.Acheson was born in Washington, Pennsylvania. He received a B.A. from Washington College in 1845. He read law, and was thereafter in private practice of law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1852 to 1880.Acheson was nominated by President... |
Third | February 3, 1891 | June 16, 1891 | Benjamin Harrison Benjamin Harrison Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there... |
| John Baxter John Baxter (North Carolina politician) John Baxter was a North Carolina state legislator, and later a United States federal judge.Born in Rutherford County, North Carolina, Baxter read law to enter the bar in 1841. He was a merchant in South Carolina from 1835 to 1839... |
Sixth | December 13, 1877 | April 2, 1886 | Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution... |
| Samuel M. Blatchford | Second | March 4, 1878 | March 22, 1882 | Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution... |
| Hugh Lennox Bond Hugh Lennox Bond Hugh Lennox Bond was a United States federal judge.Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Bond graduated from the University of the City of New York in 1848 and read law to enter the bar in 1851. He was in private practice in Baltimore, Maryland from 1851 to 1860... |
Fourth | July 13, 1870 | June 16, 1891 | Ulysses Grant |
| David Josiah Brewer David Josiah Brewer David Josiah Brewer was an American jurist and an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court for 20 years.-Early life:... |
Eighth | March 31, 1884 | January 6, 1890 | Chester A. Arthur Chester A. Arthur Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing... |
| Henry Clay Caldwell Henry Clay Caldwell Henry Clay Caldwell was a United States federal judge and Union Army officer.-Early years:Caldwell was born in what is now Marshall County, West Virginia, in 1835, in what was then Indian territory, and was largely self-educated, a circumstance credited with the cultivation of a homespun philosophy... |
Eighth | March 4, 1890 | June 16, 1891 | Benjamin Harrison Benjamin Harrison Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there... |
| LeBaron Bradford Colt | First | July 5, 1884 | June 16, 1891 | Chester A. Arthur Chester A. Arthur Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing... |
| John Forrest Dillon John Forrest Dillon John Forrest Dillon was an American jurist who served on both federal and Iowa state courts, and who authored a highly influential treatise on the power of states over municipal governments.-Early life and career:... |
Eighth | December 22, 1869 | September 1, 1879 | Ulysses Grant |
| Thomas Drummond Thomas Drummond (judge) Thomas Drummond , was a United States federal judge.Born in Bristol Mills, Maine, Drummond graduated from Bowdoin College in 1830, and read law to enter the Bar in Philadelphia in 1833. He had a private practice in Galena, Illinois, from 1835 to 1850... |
Seventh | December 22, 1869 | July 18, 1884 | Ulysses Grant |
| Halmer Hull Emmons Halmer Hull Emmons Halmer Hull Emmons was a United States federal judge.Born in Keesville, New York, Emmons read law to enter the bar... |
Sixth | January 17, 1870 | May 14, 1877 | Ulysses Grant |
| Walter Quintin Gresham | Seventh | December 9, 1884 | June 16, 1891 | Chester A. Arthur Chester A. Arthur Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing... |
| Howell Edmunds Jackson Howell Edmunds Jackson Howell Edmunds Jackson was an American jurist and politician. He served on the United States Supreme Court, in the U.S. Senate, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the Tennessee House of Representatives. He authored notable opinions on the Interstate Commerce Act and the... |
Sixth | April 12, 1886 | June 16, 1891 | Grover Cleveland Grover Cleveland Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents... |
| Alexander Smith Johnson | Second | December 15, 1875 | January 26, 1878 | Ulysses Grant |
| Emile Henry Lacombe Emile Henry Lacombe Emile Henry Lacombe January 29, 1846 - November 28, 1924 was a judge in the United States.Lacombe obtained his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and his law degree from Columbia Law School in 1865. He engaged in the private practice of law in New York for many years... |
Second | February 28, 1888 | June 16, 1891 | Grover Cleveland Grover Cleveland Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents... |
| John Lowell John Lowell John A. Lowell was an American lawyer, selectman, jurist, delegate to the Congress of the Confederation and federal judge.... |
First | December 18, 1878 | May 1, 1884 | Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution... |
| George Washington McCrary | Eighth | December 9, 1879 | March 18, 1884 | Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution... |
| William McKennan William McKennan William McKennan was a United States federal judge.Born in Washington, Pennsylvania, McKennan attended Yale College and graduated from Washington College in Washington, Pennsylvania in 1833, before reading law to enter the bar in 1837... |
Third | December 22, 1869 | January 3, 1891 | Ulysses Grant |
| Don Albert Pardee Don Albert Pardee Don Albert Pardee was a United States federal judge.Born in Wadsworth, Ohio, Pardee read law to enter the Bar in 1859, and was in private practice in Medina County, Ohio from 1859 to 1861. He was in the United States Army during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865, returning to private... |
Fifth | May 13, 1881 | June 16, 1891 | James A. Garfield |
| Lorenzo Sawyer Lorenzo Sawyer Lorenzo Sawyer was an American lawyer and judge who was appointed the Supreme Court of California in 1860 and served as Chief Justice of California from 1868–70. He served as a circuit judge for the U.S... |
Ninth | January 10, 1870 | June 16, 1891 | Ulysses Grant |
| George Foster Shepley George Foster Shepley George Shepley may refer to:* George F. Shepley , American Civil War general*George Foster Shepley , American architect... |
First | December 22, 1869 | July 20, 1878 | Ulysses Grant |
| William James Wallace William James Wallace William James Wallace was a federal judge in the United States.A native of Syracuse, New York, Wallace attended Syracuse University and obtained a law degree from Hamilton College. He spent 15 years as a lawyer in private practice in Syracuse before serving as mayor of that city in 1873-74.In... |
Second | April 6, 1882 | June 16, 1891 | Chester A. Arthur Chester A. Arthur Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing... |
| Lewis Bartholomew Woodruff Lewis Bartholomew Woodruff Lewis Bartholomew Woodruff was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:... |
Second | December 22, 1869 | September 10, 1875 | Ulysses Grant |
| William Burnham Woods William Burnham Woods William Burnham Woods was an American jurist, politician, and soldier.-Early life and career:Woods was born on August 3, 1824 in Newark, Ohio. He was the older brother of Charles R. Woods, another future Civil War general. He attended college at both Western Reserve University and Yale... |
Fifth | December 22, 1869 | December 23, 1880 | Ulysses Grant |
Circuit court judge of California:
| Judge | Circuit | Began service | Ended service | Appointed by |
| Matthew Hall McAllister Matthew Hall McAllister Matthew Hall McAllister was an American attorney, politician, and judge in Georgia and California.Born in Savannah, Georgia, McAllister attended Princeton University, and then read law in 1820 to enter the State Bar of Georgia. He maintained a private practice in Savannah from 1820 to 1849, but... |
California | March 3, 1855 | January 12, 1863 | Franklin Pierce Franklin Pierce Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army... |