United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (in case citations, 6th Cir.) is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:
- Eastern District of Kentucky
- Western District of Kentucky
- Eastern District of Michigan
- Western District of Michigan
- Northern District of Ohio
- Southern District of Ohio
- Eastern District of Tennessee
- Middle District of Tennessee
- Western District of Tennessee
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit | |
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(6th Cir.) | |
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Location | Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse |
Appeals from |
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Established | June 16, 1891 |
Judges | 16 |
Circuit Justice | Brett Kavanaugh |
Chief Judge | Jeffrey Sutton |
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The court is composed of sixteen judges and is based at the Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is one of 13 United States courts of appeals.
William Howard Taft, the only person ever to serve as both President and Chief Justice of the United States, once served on the Sixth Circuit. Four other judges of the Sixth Circuit have been elevated to serve on the Supreme Court.
Current composition of the Court
As of September 28, 2022:
# | Title | Judge | Duty station | Born | Term of service | Appointed by | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Active | Chief | Senior | ||||||
62 | Chief Judge | Jeffrey Sutton | Columbus, OH | 1960 | 2003–present | 2021–present | — | G.W. Bush |
56 | Circuit Judge | Karen Nelson Moore | Cleveland, OH | 1948 | 1995–present | — | — | Clinton |
57 | Circuit Judge | R. Guy Cole Jr. | Columbus, OH | 1951 | 1995–present | 2014–2021 | — | Clinton |
58 | Circuit Judge | Eric L. Clay | Detroit, MI | 1948 | 1997–present | — | — | Clinton |
60 | Circuit Judge | Julia Smith Gibbons | Memphis, TN | 1950 | 2002–present | — | — | G.W. Bush |
65 | Circuit Judge | Richard Allen Griffin | Traverse City, MI | 1952 | 2005–present | — | — | G.W. Bush |
67 | Circuit Judge | Raymond Kethledge | Ann Arbor, MI | 1966 | 2008–present | — | — | G.W. Bush |
69 | Circuit Judge | Jane Branstetter Stranch | Nashville, TN | 1953 | 2010–present | — | — | Obama |
71 | Circuit Judge | Amul Thapar | Covington, KY | 1969 | 2017–present | — | — | Trump |
72 | Circuit Judge | John K. Bush | Louisville, KY | 1964 | 2017–present | — | — | Trump |
73 | Circuit Judge | Joan Larsen | Ann Arbor, MI | 1968 | 2017–present | — | — | Trump |
74 | Circuit Judge | John Nalbandian | Cincinnati, OH | 1969 | 2018–present | — | — | Trump |
75 | Circuit Judge | Chad Readler | Columbus, OH | 1972 | 2019–present | — | — | Trump |
76 | Circuit Judge | Eric E. Murphy | Columbus, OH | 1979 | 2019–present | — | — | Trump |
77 | Circuit Judge | Stephanie D. Davis | Detroit, MI | 1967 | 2022–present | — | — | Biden |
78 | Circuit Judge | Andre Mathis | Memphis, TN | 1980 | 2022–present | — | — | Biden |
47 | Senior Circuit Judge | Ralph B. Guy Jr. | Ann Arbor, MI | 1929 | 1985–1994 | — | 1994–present | Reagan |
49 | Senior Circuit Judge | James L. Ryan | inactive | 1932 | 1985–2000 | — | 2000–present | Reagan |
50 | Senior Circuit Judge | Danny Julian Boggs | Louisville, KY | 1944 | 1986–2017 | 2003–2009 | 2017–present | Reagan |
51 | Senior Circuit Judge | Alan Eugene Norris | Columbus, OH | 1935 | 1986–2001 | — | 2001–present | Reagan |
52 | Senior Circuit Judge | Richard Fred Suhrheinrich | Lansing, MI | 1936 | 1990–2001 | — | 2001–present | G.H.W. Bush |
53 | Senior Circuit Judge | Eugene Edward Siler Jr. | London, KY | 1936 | 1991–2001 | — | 2001–present | G.H.W. Bush |
54 | Senior Circuit Judge | Alice M. Batchelder | Medina, OH | 1944 | 1991–2019 | 2009–2014 | 2019–present | G.H.W. Bush |
55 | Senior Circuit Judge | Martha Craig Daughtrey | Nashville, TN | 1942 | 1993–2009 | — | 2009–present | Clinton |
59 | Senior Circuit Judge | Ronald Lee Gilman | Memphis, TN | 1942 | 1997–2010 | — | 2010–present | Clinton |
61 | Senior Circuit Judge | John M. Rogers | Lexington, KY | 1948 | 2002–2018 | — | 2018–present | G.W. Bush |
63 | Senior Circuit Judge | Deborah L. Cook | inactive | 1952 | 2003–2019 | — | 2019–present | G.W. Bush |
64 | Senior Circuit Judge | David McKeague | Lansing, MI | 1946 | 2005–2017 | — | 2017–present | G.W. Bush |
68 | Senior Circuit Judge | Helene White | Detroit, MI | 1954 | 2008–2022 | — | 2022–present | G.W. Bush |
70 | Senior Circuit Judge | Bernice B. Donald | Memphis, TN | 1951 | 2011–2022 | — | 2022–present | Obama |
Vacancies and pending nominations
Seat | Prior judge's duty station | Seat last held by | Vacancy reason | Date of vacancy | Nominee | Date of nomination |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | Columbus, OH | R. Guy Cole Jr. | Senior status | TBD[1] | Rachel Bloomekatz | May 25, 2022 |
List of former judges
# | Judge | State | Born–died | Active service | Chief Judge | Senior status | Appointed by | Reason for termination |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Howell Edmunds Jackson | TN | 1832–1895 | 1891–1893 | — | — | Cleveland / Operation of law[2] | elevation to Supreme Court |
2 | William Howard Taft | OH | 1857–1930 | 1892–1900 | — | — | B. Harrison | resignation |
3 | Horace Harmon Lurton | TN | 1844–1914 | 1893–1909 | — | — | Cleveland | elevation to Supreme Court |
4 | William R. Day | OH | 1849–1923 | 1899–1903 | — | — | McKinley | elevation to Supreme Court |
5 | Henry Franklin Severens | MI | 1835–1923 | 1900–1911 | — | — | McKinley | resignation |
6 | John K. Richards | OH | 1856–1909 | 1903–1909 | — | — | T. Roosevelt | death |
7 | John Wesley Warrington | OH | 1844–1921 | 1909–1919 | — | 1919–1921 | Taft | death |
8 | Loyal Edwin Knappen | MI | 1854–1930 | 1910–1924 | — | 1924–1930 | Taft | death |
9 | Arthur Carter Denison | MI | 1861–1942 | 1911–1931 | — | — | Taft | resignation |
10 | Maurice H. Donahue | OH | 1864–1928 | 1919–1928 | — | — | Wilson | death |
11 | Charles Harwood Moorman | KY | 1876–1938 | 1925–1938 | — | — | Coolidge | death |
12 | Xenophon Hicks | TN | 1872–1952 | 1928–1952 | 1948–1952 | 1952 | Coolidge | death |
13 | Smith Hickenlooper | OH | 1880–1933 | 1928–1933 | — | — | Coolidge | death |
14 | Julian Mack | IL | 1866–1943 | 1929–1930 | — | — | [3] | reassignment to 2nd Cir. |
15 | Charles Casper Simons | MI | 1876–1964 | 1932–1959 | 1952–1958 | 1959–1964 | Hoover | death |
16 | Florence Ellinwood Allen | OH | 1884–1966 | 1934–1959 | 1958–1959 | 1959–1966 | F. Roosevelt | death |
17 | Elwood Hamilton | KY | 1883–1945 | 1938–1945 | — | — | F. Roosevelt | death |
18 | Herschel Whitfield Arant | OH | 1887–1941 | 1939–1941 | — | — | F. Roosevelt | death |
19 | John Donelson Martin Sr. | TN | 1883–1962 | 1940–1962 | 1959 | — | F. Roosevelt | death |
20 | Thomas Francis McAllister | MI | 1896–1976 | 1941–1963 | 1959–1961 | 1963–1976 | F. Roosevelt | death |
21 | Shackelford Miller Jr. | KY | 1892–1965 | 1945–1965 | 1961–1962 | 1965–1965 | Truman | death |
22 | Potter Stewart | OH | 1915–1985 | 1954–1958 | — | — | Eisenhower | elevation to Supreme Court |
23 | Lester LeFevre Cecil | OH | 1893–1983 | 1959–1965 | 1962–1963 | 1965–1982 | Eisenhower | death |
24 | Paul Charles Weick | OH | 1899–1997 | 1959–1981 | 1963–1969 | 1981–1997 | Eisenhower | death |
25 | Clifford Patrick O'Sullivan | MI | 1897–1975 | 1960–1969 | — | 1969–1975 | Eisenhower | death |
26 | Harry Phillips | TN | 1909–1985 | 1963–1979 | 1969–1979 | 1979–1985 | Kennedy | death |
27 | George Clifton Edwards Jr. | MI | 1914–1995 | 1963–1985 | 1979–1983 | 1985–1995 | L. Johnson[4] | death |
28 | Anthony J. Celebrezze | OH | 1910–1998 | 1965–1980 | — | 1980–1998 | L. Johnson | death |
29 | John Weld Peck II | OH | 1913–1993 | 1966–1978 | — | 1978–1993 | L. Johnson | death |
30 | Wade H. McCree | MI | 1920–1987 | 1966–1977 | — | — | L. Johnson | resignation |
31 | Bert T. Combs | KY | 1911–1991 | 1967–1970 | — | — | L. Johnson | resignation |
32 | Henry Luesing Brooks | KY | 1905–1971 | 1969–1971 | — | — | Nixon | death |
33 | William Ernest Miller | TN | 1908–1976 | 1970–1976 | — | — | Nixon | death |
34 | W. Wallace Kent | MI | 1916–1973 | 1970–1973 | — | — | Nixon | death |
35 | Pierce Lively | KY | 1921–2016 | 1972–1989 | 1983–1988 | 1989–2016 | Nixon | death |
36 | Albert J. Engel Jr. | MI | 1924–2013 | 1973–1989 | 1988–1989 | 1989–2013 | Nixon | death |
37 | Damon Keith | MI | 1922–2019 | 1977–1995 | — | 1995–2019 | Carter | death |
38 | Gilbert S. Merritt Jr. | TN | 1936–2022 | 1977–2001 | 1989–1996 | 2001–2022 | Carter | death |
39 | Bailey Brown | TN | 1917–2004 | 1979–1982 | — | 1982–1997 | Carter | retirement |
40 | Cornelia Groefsema Kennedy | MI | 1923–2014 | 1979–1999 | — | 1999–2014 | Carter | death |
41 | Boyce F. Martin Jr. | KY | 1935–2016 | 1979–2013 | 1996–2003 | — | Carter | retirement |
42 | Nathaniel R. Jones | OH | 1926–2020 | 1979–1995 | — | 1995–2002 | Carter | retirement |
43 | Leroy John Contie Jr. | OH | 1920–2001 | 1982–1986 | — | 1986–2001 | Reagan | death |
44 | Robert B. Krupansky | OH | 1921–2004 | 1982–1991 | — | 1991–2004 | Reagan | death |
45 | Harry W. Wellford | TN | 1924–2021 | 1982–1991 | — | 1991–2021 | Reagan | death |
46 | Herbert Theodore Milburn | TN | 1931–2016 | 1984–1996 | — | 1996–2016 | Reagan | death |
48 | David Aldrich Nelson | OH | 1932–2010 | 1985–1999 | — | 1999–2010 | Reagan | death |
66 | Susan Bieke Neilson | MI | 1956–2006 | 2005–2006 | — | — | G.W. Bush | death |
Chief judges
Chief Judge | |||
---|---|---|---|
Hicks | 1948–1952 | ||
Simons | 1952–1958 | ||
Allen | 1958–1959 | ||
Martin | 1959 | ||
McAllister | 1959–1961 | ||
S. Miller, Jr. | 1961–1962 | ||
Cecil | 1962–1963 | ||
Weick | 1963–1969 | ||
Phillips | 1969–1979 | ||
Edwards, Jr. | 1979–1983 | ||
Lively | 1983–1988 | ||
Engel, Jr. | 1988–1989 | ||
Merritt, Jr. | 1989–1996 | ||
Martin, Jr. | 1996–2003 | ||
Boggs | 2003–2009 | ||
Batchelder | 2009–2014 | ||
Cole, Jr. | 2014–2021 | ||
Sutton | 2021–present |
Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their circuits, and preside over any panel on which they serve unless the circuit justice (i.e., the Supreme Court justice responsible for the circuit) is also on the panel. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the circuit judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge. A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.
When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire on what has since 1958 been known as senior status or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.
Succession of seats
The court has 16 seats for active judges, numbered in the order in which they were initially filled. Judges who assume senior status enter a kind of retirement in which they remain on the bench, while vacating their seats, thus allowing the U.S. President to appoint new judges to fill their seats.
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See also
- Judicial appointment history for United States federal courts#Sixth Circuit
- List of current United States Circuit Judges
Notes
- "Future Judicial Vacancies". United States Courts.
- Jackson was appointed to as a circuit judge for the Sixth Circuit in 1886 by Grover Cleveland. The Judiciary Act of 1891 reassigned his seat to what is now the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
- Mack did not have a permanent seat on this court. Instead, he was appointed to the ill-fated United States Commerce Court in 1911 by William Howard Taft. Aside from their duties on the Commerce Court, the judges of the Commerce Court also acted as at-large appellate judges, able to be assigned by the Chief Justice of the United States to whichever circuit most needed help. Mack was assigned to the Seventh Circuit immediately prior to his assignment to the Sixth Circuit.
- Edwards was nominated for a seat on the Sixth Circuit by President Kennedy, but he was confirmed after Kennedy's assassination and was appointed to the Sixth Circuit by (i.e., received his commission from) President Johnson.
References
- "Standard Search". Federal Law Clerk Information System. Archived from the original on October 21, 2005. Retrieved June 26, 2005.
- primary but incomplete source for the duty stations
- "Instructions for Judicial Directory". Website of the University of Texas Law School. Archived from the original on November 11, 2005. Retrieved July 4, 2005.
- secondary source for the duty stations
- data is current to 2002
- "U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit". Official website of the Federal Judicial Center. Archived from the original on January 1, 2005. Retrieved June 26, 2005.
- source for the state, lifetime, term of active judgeship, term of chief judgeship, term of senior judgeship, appointer, termination reason, and seat information
- "Susan Bieke Neilson: She had a passion for justice". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on September 14, 2006. Retrieved February 7, 2006.
- obituary for death of Susan Bieke Neilson
External links
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