Judicial appointment history for United States federal courts

The appointment of federal judges for United States federal courts has become viewed as a political process in the last several decades. This is especially true of U.S. Supreme Court and court of appeals appointments. The tables below provide the composition of the Supreme and circuit courts at the end of each four year presidential term, categorizing the judges by the presidential term during which they were nominated for their seat.

As of August 2018, of the thirteen federal appeals courts excluding vacancies, Democratic appointees have a majority on eight, Republican appointees have a majority on four, and one federal appeals court is equally divided between Democratic and Republican appointees. However, the party of the president who appointed a judge is not always a good indicator of that judge's judicial philosophy and place on the political spectrum.

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of the United States was established by the Constitution of the United States. Originally, the Judiciary Act of 1789 set the number of justices at six. Subsequently, the United States Congress increased the number of justices to seven in 1807, nine in 1837 and ten in 1863. The Judiciary Act of 1869 reduced the number to nine once again.

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJJFK
/LBJ
DDE
2
DDE
1
HST
2
FDR
/HST
FDR
3
FDR
2
Current954-2-22--21-------------
20169441--22--211------------
2012954---22--212------------
2008972----2--222--1---------
2004972-------2231-1---------
2000972-------2231-1---------
1996972-------2231-1---------
1992981--------231-11-1------
1988972---------31-1111-1----
1984972----------1-1411-1----
1980972------------141111----
1976972------------141111----
1972963-------------41111---1
1968945--------------2113---2
1964945---------------2131--2
1960954----------------231--3
1956936-----------------311-4
1952909------------------2214
1948909-------------------225
YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantFDR
/HST
FDR
3
FDR
2
FDR
1
HCHJCCWGH
/JCC
TWW
2
TWW
1
WHT
1948909-225-------
1944927--35-1-----
1940936---5-21--1-
1936972-----312-21
1932972-----312-21

Courts of appeals

The United States Court of Appeals were established by the Judiciary Act of 1891 as "United States circuit courts of appeals" (the name was changed to its current form in 1948). The act authorized 19 appellate judgeships in 9 circuits. Since then, the number of authorized appellate judgeships has increased to 179.[1]

Summary of 13 circuits combined

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJJFK
/LBJ
DDE
2
DDE
1
Current17984841129242818191814854-1-----
2016179729017-25282326221497611-----
2012179847817--30243026171210751-----
2008*1781006612---243234252115771-----
2004179946916----35352529208911----
2000179767825-----35293528111411----
19961791055321------294045142232111-
19921791194218-------4050204053111-
1988168966210--------502653910811-
1984168667626---------335715171451-
198014050864----------59163019821
  • There were temporarily 178 existing appellate federal judgeships, due to the elimination of a 12th seat on the D.C. Circuit by Section 509 of the Court Security Improvement Act of 2007.[2] The Act also provided for the creation of a 29th seat on the Ninth Circuit in January 2009 which increased the number of authorized appellate judgeships to 179 again.
YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJJFK
/LBJ
DDE
2
DDE
1
Current100%47%47%6%16%13%16%10%11%10%8%4%3%2%-1%-----
2016100%40%50%9%-14%16%13%15%12%8%5%4%3%1%1%-----
2012100%47%44%9%--17%13%17%15%9%7%6%4%3%1%-----
2008100%56%37%7%---13%18%19%14%12%8%4%4%1%-----
2004100%53%39%9%----20%20%14%16%11%4%5%1%1%----
2000100%42%44%14%-----20%16%20%16%6%8%1%1%----
1996100%59%30%12%------16%22%25%8%12%2%1%1%1%1%-
1992100%67%23%10%-------22%28%11%22%3%2%1%1%1%-
1988100%57%37%6%--------30%16%32%5%6%5%1%1%-
1984100%39%45%16%---------20%34%9%10%8%3%1%-
1980100%36%61%3%----------42%11%21%14%6%1%1%

Partisan mix of the circuit courts

As of October 11, 2018

Appeals Court
(in numerical order)
Percentage
of occupied seats
appointed
by
Republicans
Percentage
of occupied seats
appointed
by
Democrats
Republican/
Democrat/
vacant
Percentage
of total seats
appointed
by
Republicans
Percentage
of total seats
appointed
by
Democrats
Percentage
of total seats
currently
vacant
1st33%67%2 / 4 / 033%67%0%
2nd36%64%4 / 7 / 231%54%15%
3rd46%54%6 / 7 / 143%50%7%
4th40%60%6 / 9 / 040%60%0%
5th69%31%11 / 5 / 165%29%6%
6th69%31%11 / 5 / 069%31%0%
7th82%18%9 / 2 / 082%18%0%
8th91%9%10 / 1 / 091%9%0%
9th30%70%7 / 16 / 624%55%21%
10th42%58%5 / 7 / 042%58%0%
11th50%50%6 / 6 / 050%50%0%
D.C.30%70%3 / 7 / 127%64%9%
Federal33%67%4 / 8 / 033%67%0%
Total of 13 circuits50%50%84 / 84 / 1147%47%6%

First Circuit

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ
Current624--21-1-1--1----
2016624--21-1-1--1----
20126321--1-1-11-1----
20086321----1111-1----
2004642-----111111----
2000642------11211----
1996651-------1311----
1992651--------3111---
1988633---------112-11
19846231---------12-11
1980413-----------2-11

Second Circuit

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJJFK
/LBJ
Current134721-411211-------
201613472--412211-------
20121358---513211-------
200813661---14421-------
20041367-----4522-------
2000132101-----542--1----
199613562------43112----
1992131021-------33321---
198813931--------342111-
198413742---------422111
198011641----------22411

Third Circuit

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ
Current146712323111-------
201614572-323211-------
201214671--23231-1-1---
200814662---3241-1-1---
200414761----44121-1---
200014662-----412311---
1996141121------13711---
1992141112-------3711---
19881293---------712-11
198412642---------12142
19801064-----------2152

Fourth Circuit

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJJFK
/LBJ
DDE
2
Current1569-21511211-1------
201615510--1512311-1------
201215510---612311-1------
200815654---12322-1------
200415852----232311--1---
200015654-----32311--1---
199615942------2411212---
199215933-------411312---
19881165---------124121--
19841165----------34121--
19801046-----------4122-1

Fifth Circuit

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJJFK
/LBJ
DDE
2
DDE
1
Current1711515124--2-2--------
201617953-1242-2-21-------
2012171052--242-2-221------
200817134----42-33221------
2004171142----2-34231------
200017953------44231------
199617116-------44342------
1992171124-------4342------
198816961--------34611----
198416772---------5711----
1980143101----------8112--1

Note: The 5th Circuit judges who were transferred to the 11th Circuit in 1981 are not included in the 5th Circuit numbers for 1980.

Sixth Circuit

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJJFK
/LBJ
DDE
2
Current16115-4-233121--------
2016161051--2441211-------
201216106---2441211-1-----
200816106----442311-1-----
200416664----42311-1-----
200016574-----2332-2-----
199616763------334-3-----
199216952-------3515-----
1988161051--------53511---
198416664---------4511-1-
19801138-----------611111

Seventh Circuit

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJJFK
/LBJ
Current1192-4-1-1-1121-----
201611632--1-111122-----
201211731--11111122-----
200811731---1112122-----
20041183-----112142-----
20001183------12143-----
19961183-------2143---1-
19921192--------14311-1-
19881192---------4312-1-
198411623---------412-1-
19809441----------12221

Eighth Circuit

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ
Current11101-31-14--11-----
201611812-1-15--11-----
20121192----161111-----
20081192----161111-----
20041192-----61121-----
200011641-----113212---
19961183-------13322---
19921192--------3332---
198810631--------332--1
198410451---------32-13
19809351----------2123

Ninth Circuit

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJJFK
/LBJ
Current2971662252381--------
2016297184-253391-1-1----
2012299191--534112-2-2----
20082811161---3411222-3----
2004288164----411222-3----
2000287183-----11343-4----
19962810108------346-6---1
19922814131-------47212-1-1
19882811143--------7213-2-1
1984288164---------31532-1
198023716-----------1534-1

Note: SEC. 509. of the Court Security Improvement Act of 2007[2] provided for the creation of a 29th seat on the Ninth Circuit in January 2009.

Tenth Circuit

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJJFK
/LBJ
Current1257-24112-2--------
20161257--4122-21-------
201212633--123-21-------
20081284----24-411------
20041275-----4-412-1----
200012552------414-1----
19961275-------416-1----
199212732-------16-3----
19881064---------6-3--1-
198410145----------3-11-
1980835-----------3-311

Eleventh Circuit

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ
Current1266-322-12-1---1--
201612381-32-13-1---1--
201212462--2-1312---1--
20081275-----13141-11--
20041275-----13141-11--
200012651-----3141-11--
199612822------142-12--
199212831-------42-32--
19881266---------2-631-
19841248-----------7311
19801248-----------7311

Note: In 1980, the 11th Circuit had not yet been created, but the judges that were later transferred to the 11th Circuit from the 5th Circuit are shown here.

D.C. Circuit

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJJFK
/LBJ
Current1137114-1-121-------
20161147--4-3-121-------
201211533---3-1211------
2008*11632---3-1212------
200412543----11222-1----
200012543-----1223-1----
199612642------224-2----
199212741-------25-4----
198812651--------514--1-
198412372---------34--21
19801138-----------4-322
  • SEC. 509. of the Court Security Improvement Act of 2007[2] eliminated the 12th seat on the D.C. Circuit.

Federal Circuit

YearTotal Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
VacantDJTBHO
2
BHO
1
GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWBRWR
2
RWR
1
JECRMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJJFK
/LBJ
DDE
2
Current1248--43111-1-1------
20161248--43111-1-1------
201212543--3111-2-1------
20081284----1131321------
20041284-----131421------
200012741-----31421------
1996121011------1531-----1
1992121011-------5311----1
198812732--------323-1--1
19841275----------2313111
19801165-----------314111

Note: The Federal Circuit was created in 1982. The judges that sat on the courts that were combined into the Federal Circuit are shown in 1980 for trend comparison purposes.

Acronym key

AcronymPresidentTermDate range
DJTDonald TrumpcurrentJanuary 20, 2017 – present
BHO 2Barack ObamasecondJanuary 20, 2013 – January 20, 2017
BHO 1Barack ObamafirstJanuary 20, 2009 – January 20, 2013
GWB 2George W. BushsecondJanuary 20, 2005 – January 20, 2009
GWB 1George W. BushfirstJanuary 20, 2001 – January 20, 2005
WJC 2Bill ClintonsecondJanuary 20, 1997 – January 20, 2001
WJC 1Bill ClintonfirstJanuary 20, 1993 – January 20, 1997
GHWBGeorge H. W. BushonlyJanuary 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993
RWR 2Ronald ReagansecondJanuary 20, 1985 – January 20, 1989
RWR 1Ronald ReaganfirstJanuary 20, 1981 – January 20, 1985
JECJimmy CarteronlyJanuary 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981
RMN/GRFRichard Nixon and Gerald FordsplitJanuary 20, 1973 – January 20, 1977
RMN 1Richard NixonfirstJanuary 20, 1969 – January 20, 1973
LBJLyndon JohnsonsecondJanuary 20, 1965 – January 20, 1969
JFK/LBJJohn F. Kennedy and Lyndon JohnsonsplitJanuary 20, 1961 – January 20, 1965
DDE 2Dwight EisenhowersecondJanuary 20, 1957 – January 20, 1961
DDE 1Dwight EisenhowerfirstJanuary 20, 1953 – January 20, 1957
HST 2Harry TrumansecondJanuary 20, 1949 – January 20, 1953
FDR/HSTFranklin Roosevelt and Harry TrumansplitJanuary 20, 1945 – January 20, 1949
FDR 3Franklin RooseveltthirdJanuary 20, 1941 – January 20, 1945
FDR 2Franklin RooseveltsecondJanuary 20, 1937 – January 20, 1941
FDR 1Franklin RooseveltfirstMarch 4, 1933 – January 20, 1937
HCHHerbert HooveronlyMarch 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933
JCCCalvin CoolidgesecondMarch 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929
WGH/JCCWarren G. Harding and Calvin CoolidgesplitMarch 4, 1921 – March 4, 1925
TWW 2Woodrow WilsonsecondMarch 4, 1917 – March 4, 1921
TWW 1Woodrow WilsonfirstMarch 4, 1913 – March 4, 1917
WHTWilliam Howard TaftonlyMarch 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913

See also

References

  1. 28 U.S.C. § 44(a)
  2. 1 2 3 "Text of H.R. 660 (110th): Court Security Improvement Act of 2007 (Passed Congress/Enrolled Bill version) - GovTrack.us". GovTrack.us.
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