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List of United States federal judges by longevity of service

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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).

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

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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

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Rank Judge Court Appointed by Began active service Ended active service Total active service
1 Henry Potter C.C. 5th Cir. Jefferson May 9, 1801[a] April 7, 1802 56 years, 225 days
D.N.C. April 7, 1802 December 20, 1857
2 William Cranch C.C.D.C. J. Adams
Jefferson[b]		 March 3, 1801 September 1, 1855 54 years, 182 days
3 Manuel Real C.D. Cal. L. B. Johnson November 3, 1966 November 4, 2018 52 years, 1 day
4 Gerald Bard Tjoflat M.D. Fla. Nixon October 16, 1970 December 12, 1975 49 years, 34 days
5th Cir. Ford November 21, 1975 October 1, 1981
11th Cir. reassigned October 1, 1981 November 19, 2019
5 Willard Hall D. Del. Monroe May 6, 1823[a] December 6, 1871 48 years, 214 days
6 James Sewall Morsell C.C.D.C. Madison January 11, 1815 March 3, 1863 48 years, 51 days
7 Harry Pregerson C.D. Cal. L. B. Johnson December 7, 1967 November 6, 1979 48 years, 4 days
9th Cir. Carter November 2, 1979 December 11, 2015
8 Joseph Chappell Hutcheson Jr. S.D. Tex. Wilson April 6, 1918 January 30, 1931 46 years, 212 days
5th Cir. Hoover January 26, 1931 November 4, 1964
9 Joseph Buffington W.D. Pa. B. Harrison February 23, 1892 September 26, 1906 46 years, 98 days
C.C. 3rd Cir. T. Roosevelt September 25, 1906[a] December 31, 1911
3rd Cir. June 1, 1938
10 Joel Flaum N.D. Ill. Ford December 20, 1974 June 1, 1983 45 years, 346 days
7th Cir. Reagan May 5, 1983 November 30, 2020
11 Juan R. Torruella D.P.R. Ford December 20, 1974 October 30, 1984 45 years, 311 days
1st Cir. Reagan October 4, 1984 October 26, 2020
12 Joseph William Woodrough D. Neb. Wilson April 3, 1916 May 1, 1933 44 years, 275 days
8th Cir. F. D. Roosevelt April 12, 1933 January 3, 1961
13 Ashur Ware D. Me. Monroe February 15, 1822 May 31, 1866 44 years, 105 days
14 Harold P. Burke W.D.N.Y. F. D. Roosevelt June 18, 1937 June 15, 1981 43 years, 362 days
15 John Jay Jackson Jr. W.D. Va. Lincoln August 3, 1861 June 11, 1864 43 years, 224 days
D. W. Va. reassigned June 11, 1864 July 1, 1901
N.D. W. Va. July 1, 1901 March 15, 1905
16 Anthony Kennedy 9th Cir. Ford March 24, 1975 February 18, 1988 43 years, 129 days
SCOTUS Reagan February 11, 1988 July 31, 2018
17 José A. Cabranes D. Conn. Carter December 10, 1979 August 12, 1994 43 years, 89 days
2nd Cir. Clinton August 10, 1994 March 9, 2023
18 David Norton Edelstein S.D.N.Y. Truman November 1, 1951[a] November 1, 1994 43 years, 0 days
19 Paul Jones N.D. Ohio Harding March 2, 1923 August 4, 1965 42 years, 155 days
20 John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. S.D. W. Va. Ford September 3, 1976 November 1, 2018 42 years, 59 days
21 Learned Hand S.D.N.Y. Taft April 26, 1909 December 29, 1924 42 years, 36 days
2nd Cir. Coolidge December 20, 1924 June 1, 1951
22 Ricardo Hinojosa S.D. Tex. Reagan May 5, 1983 Incumbent 41 years, 212 days
23 Stephen Breyer 1st Cir. Carter December 10, 1980 August 3, 1994 41 years, 202 days
SCOTUS Clinton August 3, 1994 June 30, 2022
24 Julia Smith Gibbons W.D. Tenn. Reagan June 7, 1983 August 2, 2002 41 years, 102 days
6th Cir. G. W. Bush July 31, 2002 September 17, 2024
25 Elijah Paine D. Vt. J. Adams March 3, 1801 April 1, 1842 41 years, 29 days
26 Joseph L. Tauro D. Mass. Nixon October 17, 1972 September 26, 2013 40 years, 344 days
27 Giles Rich C.C.P.A. Eisenhower August 25, 1958[c] October 1, 1982 40 years, 288 days
Fed. Cir. reassigned October 1, 1982 June 9, 1999
28 Pauline Newman Fed. Cir. Reagan February 28, 1984 Incumbent 40 years, 279 days
29 Carmen Consuelo Cerezo D.P.R. Carter June 30, 1980 February 28, 2021 40 years, 243 days
30 Terrence Boyle E.D.N.C. Reagan May 3, 1984 Incumbent 40 years, 214 days
31 Ogden Hoffman Jr. N.D. Cal. Fillmore February 27, 1851 July 27, 1866 40 years, 163 days
S.D. Cal. reassigned August 31, 1852 January 18, 1854
D. Cal. July 27, 1866 August 5, 1886
N.D. Cal. August 5, 1886 August 9, 1891
32 James William Locke S.D. Fla. Grant February 1, 1872 July 4, 1912 40 years, 154 days
33 John Davis D. Mass. J. Adams February 20, 1801 July 10, 1841 40 years, 140 days
34 Samuel Betts S.D.N.Y. J. Q. Adams December 21, 1826 April 30, 1867 40 years, 130 days
35 Michael Stephen Kanne N.D. Ind. Reagan February 9, 1982 May 21, 1987 40 years, 127 days
7th Cir. May 20, 1987 June 16, 2022
36 J. Harvie Wilkinson III 4th Cir. Reagan August 13, 1984 Incumbent 40 years, 112 days
37 John Pitman D.R.I. Monroe August 4, 1824[a] November 17, 1864 40 years, 105 days
38 W. Eugene Davis W.D. La. Ford September 21, 1976 December 9, 1983 40 years, 101 days
5th Cir. Reagan November 16, 1983 December 31, 2016
39 Ruth Bader Ginsburg D.C. Cir. Carter June 18, 1980 August 10, 1993 40 years, 92 days
SCOTUS Clinton August 5, 1993 September 18, 2020
40 Ilana Rovner N.D. Ill. Reagan September 12, 1984 August 17, 1992 39 years, 302 days
7th Cir. G. H. W. Bush August 17, 1992 July 10, 2024
41 John Paul Stevens 7th Cir. Nixon October 14, 1970 December 19, 1975 39 years, 259 days
SCOTUS Ford December 17, 1975 June 30, 2010
42 Harold Loyd Murphy N.D. Ga. Carter July 29, 1977 March 31, 2017 39 years, 245 days
43 Frank Easterbrook 7th Cir. Reagan April 4, 1985 Incumbent 39 years, 243 days
Edith Jones 5th Cir. Reagan April 4, 1985 Incumbent 39 years, 243 days
45 Stephen Victor Wilson C.D. Cal. Reagan October 17, 1985 Incumbent 39 years, 47 days
Henry Travillion Wingate S.D. Miss. Reagan October 17, 1985 Incumbent 39 years, 47 days
47 William Ball Gilbert C.C. 9th Cir. B. Harrison March 18, 1892 December 31, 1911 39 years, 40 days
9th Cir. April 27, 1931
48 Alan Bond Johnson D. Wyo. Reagan December 17, 1985 Incumbent 38 years, 352 days
49 Henry Clay Caldwell E.D. Ark. Lincoln June 20, 1864 March 13, 1890 38 years, 349 days
W.D. Ark. March 3, 1871
C.C. 8th Cir. B. Harrison March 4, 1890 June 4, 1903
8th Cir. reassigned June 16, 1891 June 4, 1903
James R. Browning 9th Cir. Kennedy September 18, 1961 September 1, 2000 38 years, 349 days
51 J. Robert Elliott M.D. Ga. Kennedy February 17, 1962 December 31, 2000 38 years, 318 days
52 Augustus Noble Hand S.D.N.Y. Wilson September 30, 1914 June 1, 1927 38 years, 273 days
2nd Cir. Coolidge May 19, 1927[a] June 30, 1953
53 Karen L. Henderson D.S.C. Reagan June 16, 1986 July 11, 1990 38 years, 170 days
D.C. Cir. G. H. W. Bush July 5, 1990 Incumbent
54 Erskine Mayo Ross S.D. Cal. Cleveland January 13, 1887 March 5, 1895 38 years, 138 days
C.C. 9th Cir. February 22, 1895 December 31, 1911
9th Cir. May 31, 1925
55 Don Albert Pardee C.C. 5th Cir. Garfield May 13, 1881 December 31, 1911 38 years, 136 days
5th Cir. reassigned June 16, 1891 September 26, 1919
56 Martin Leach-Cross Feldman E.D. La. Reagan October 5, 1983 January 26, 2022 38 years, 113 days
57 Hiram Emory Widener Jr. W.D. Va. Nixon July 14, 1969 October 28, 1972 38 years, 3 days
4th Cir. October 17, 1972 July 17, 2007
58 Charles Ronald Norgle Sr. N.D. Ill. Reagan October 4, 1984 October 4, 2022 38 years, 0 days
59 Rensselaer Nelson D. Minn. Buchanan May 20, 1858 May 16, 1896 37 years, 362 days
60 Luther Merritt Swygert N.D. Ind. F. D. Roosevelt October 16, 1943 October 11, 1961 37 years, 258 days
7th Cir. Kennedy September 29, 1961 July 1, 1981
61 Irving Kaufman S.D.N.Y. Truman October 21, 1949[a] September 29, 1961 37 years, 253 days
2nd Cir. Kennedy September 22, 1961 July 1, 1987
62 Andrew Phelps McCormick N.D. Tex. Hayes April 10, 1879 March 22, 1892 37 years, 206 days
C.C. 5th Cir. B. Harrison March 17, 1892 December 31, 1911
5th Cir. November 2, 1916
63 Stephen Reinhardt 9th Cir. Carter September 11, 1980 March 29, 2018 37 years, 199 days
64 Joseph Peter Stadtmueller E.D. Wis. Reagan June 1, 1987 Incumbent 37 years, 185 days
65 Edward Roscoe Meek N.D. Tex. McKinley July 13, 1898[a] December 31, 1935 37 years, 171 days
66 Mac Swinford E.D. Ky.
W.D. Ky.		 F. D. Roosevelt August 21, 1937 February 3, 1975 37 years, 166 days
67 Edward Weinfeld S.D.N.Y. Truman August 5, 1950 January 17, 1988 37 years, 165 days
68 Edward Allen Tamm D.D.C. Truman June 22, 1948[a] March 17, 1965 37 years, 92 days
D.C. Cir. L. B. Johnson March 11, 1965 September 22, 1985
69 Lynn Hughes S.D. Tex. Reagan December 17, 1985 February 12, 2023 37 years, 57 days
70 John C. Knox S.D.N.Y. Wilson April 12, 1918 April 30, 1955 37 years, 18 days
71 Jerry Edwin Smith 5th Cir. Reagan December 21, 1987 Incumbent 36 years, 348 days
72 Mary Lou Robinson N.D. Tex. Carter April 26, 1979 February 11, 2016 36 years, 291 days
73 Paul V. Niemeyer D. Md. Reagan February 22, 1988 August 10, 1990 36 years, 285 days
4th Cir. G. H. W. Bush August 7, 1990 Incumbent
74 Diana E. Murphy D. Minn. Carter February 20, 1980 October 13, 1994 36 years, 283 days
8th Cir. Clinton October 11, 1994 November 29, 2016
75 Elizabeth A. Kovachevich M.D. Fla. Reagan March 9, 1982 December 14, 2018 36 years, 280 days
76 Humphrey H. Leavitt D. Ohio Jackson June 30, 1834 February 10, 1855 36 years, 275 days
S.D. Ohio reassigned February 10, 1855 April 1, 1871
77 William Elwood Steckler S.D. Ind. Truman April 7, 1950 December 31, 1986 36 years, 268 days
78 Richard Peters D. Pa. Washington January 12, 1792 April 20, 1818 36 years, 223 days
E.D. Pa. reassigned April 20, 1818 August 22, 1828
J. Skelly Wright E.D. La. Truman October 21, 1949[a] April 16, 1962 36 years, 223 days
D.C. Cir. Kennedy March 30, 1962 June 1, 1986
80 Charles C. Simons E.D. Mich. Harding February 6, 1923 February 2, 1932 36 years, 221 days
6th Cir. Hoover January 29, 1932 September 15, 1959
81 William O. Douglas SCOTUS F. D. Roosevelt April 15, 1939 November 12, 1975 36 years, 211 days
82 John McNairy D. Tenn. Washington February 20, 1797 April 29, 1802 36 years, 193 days
E.D. Tenn.
W.D. Tenn.		 reassigned April 29, 1802 September 1, 1833
83 William G. Young D. Mass. Reagan April 4, 1985 July 1, 2021 36 years, 88 days
84 Walter Henry Sanborn C.C. 8th Cir. B. Harrison March 17, 1892 December 31, 1911 36 years, 54 days
8th Cir. May 10, 1928
85 Edwin R. Holmes N.D. Miss. Wilson October 24, 1918 March 1, 1929 36 years, 37 days
S.D. Miss. April 6, 1936
5th Cir. F. D. Roosevelt March 20, 1936 November 30, 1954
86 Frank Minis Johnson M.D. Ala. Eisenhower October 22, 1955[a] July 12, 1979 36 years, 8 days
5th Cir. Carter June 21, 1979 October 1, 1981
11th Cir. reassigned October 1, 1981 October 30, 1991
87 Gunnar Nordbye D. Minn. Hoover March 18, 1931[a] March 6, 1967 35 years, 353 days
88 Charles L. Brieant S.D.N.Y. Nixon July 29, 1971 May 31, 2007 35 years, 306 days
89 Richard Posner 7th Cir. Reagan December 1, 1981 September 2, 2017 35 years, 275 days
90 James M. Love D. Iowa Pierce October 5, 1855[a] July 20, 1882 35 years, 270 days
S.D. Iowa reassigned July 20, 1882 July 2, 1891
91 Buckner Thruston C.C.D.C. Madison December 14, 1809 August 30, 1845 35 years, 259 days
92 Matthew Harvey D.N.H. Jackson November 2, 1830[a] April 7, 1866 35 years, 156 days
93 Alexander Boarman W.D. La. Garfield May 18, 1881 August 30, 1916 35 years, 104 days
94 Walter C. Lindley E.D. Ill. Harding September 22, 1922 October 24, 1949 35 years, 103 days
7th Cir. Truman October 13, 1949 January 3, 1958
95 Alfred Conkling Coxe Sr. N.D.N.Y. Arthur May 4, 1882 June 14, 1902 35 years, 88 days
C.C. 2nd Cir. T. Roosevelt June 3, 1902 December 31, 1911
2nd Cir. July 31, 1917
96 Robert Love Taylor E.D. Tenn. Truman November 2, 1949[a] January 15, 1985 35 years, 74 days
97 E. Grady Jolly 5th Cir. Reagan July 30, 1982 October 3, 2017 35 years, 65 days
98 James Edmund Boyd W.D.N.C. McKinley July 11, 1900[a] August 21, 1935 35 years, 41 days
99 Rya W. Zobel D. Mass. Carter March 23, 1979 April 1, 2014 35 years, 9 days
100 Harry Blackmun 8th Cir. Eisenhower September 21, 1959 June 9, 1970 34 years, 316 days
SCOTUS Nixon May 14, 1970 August 3, 1994

Total service

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Rank Judge Court Appointed by Began active service Ended active service Ended senior status Total service
1 Joseph William Woodrough D. Neb. Wilson April 3, 1916 May 1, 1933 — 61 years, 182 days
8th Cir. F. D. Roosevelt April 12, 1933 January 3, 1961 October 2, 1977
2 Henry Potter C.C. 5th Cir. Jefferson May 9, 1801[a] April 7, 1802 — 56 years, 225 days
D.N.C. April 7, 1802 December 20, 1857
3 William Joseph Nealon Jr. M.D. Pa. Kennedy December 13, 1962[a] January 1, 1989 August 30, 2018 55 years, 260 days
4 Joseph Buffington W.D. Pa. B. Harrison February 23, 1892 September 26, 1906 — 55 years, 240 days
C.C. 3rd Cir. T. Roosevelt September 25, 1906[a] December 31, 1911
3rd Cir. June 1, 1938 October 21, 1947
5 Joseph Chappell Hutcheson Jr. S.D. Tex. Wilson April 6, 1918 January 30, 1931 — 54 years, 287 days
5th Cir. Hoover January 26, 1931 November 4, 1964 January 18, 1973
6 Seybourn Harris Lynne N.D. Ala. Truman January 3, 1946 January 9, 1973 September 10, 2000 54 years, 251 days
7 Edward J. McManus N.D. Iowa Kennedy July 16, 1962 February 9, 1985 March 20, 2017 54 years, 247 days
8 William Cranch C.C.D.C. J. Adams
Jefferson[b]		 March 3, 1801 September 1, 1855 — 54 years, 182 days
9 Jack B. Weinstein E.D.N.Y. L. B. Johnson April 15, 1967 March 1, 1993 June 15, 2021 54 years, 61 days
10 Gerald Bard Tjoflat M.D. Fla. Nixon October 16, 1970 December 12, 1975 — 54 years, 48 days
5th Cir. Ford November 21, 1975 October 1, 1981
11th Cir. reassigned October 1, 1981 November 19, 2019 Incumbent
J. Clifford Wallace S.D. Cal. Nixon October 16, 1970 July 14, 1972 — 54 years, 48 days
9th Cir. June 28, 1972 April 8, 1996 Incumbent
12 James Lawrence King S.D. Fla. Nixon October 19, 1970 December 20, 1992 Incumbent 54 years, 45 days
13 Walter King Stapleton D. Del. Nixon October 14, 1970 May 8, 1985 — 54 years, 40 days
3rd Cir. Reagan April 4, 1985 June 2, 1999 November 23, 2024
14 George C. Young N.D. Fla.
S.D. Fla.		 Kennedy September 18, 1961 September 17, 1966 — 53 years, 218 days
M.D. Fla. reassigned October 29, 1962 October 19, 1981 April 24, 2015
15 William J. Bauer N.D. Ill. Nixon November 10, 1971 January 3, 1975 — 53 years, 23 days
7th Cir. Ford December 20, 1974 October 31, 1994 Incumbent
16 Alfred Goodwin D. Ore. Nixon December 11, 1969 December 17, 1971 — 53 years, 16 days
9th Cir. November 30, 1971 January 31, 1991 December 27, 2022
17 Levin H. Campbell D. Mass. Nixon November 30, 1971 August 31, 1972 — 53 years, 3 days
1st Cir. June 30, 1972 January 3, 1992 Incumbent
18 Jon O. Newman D. Conn. Nixon December 15, 1971 June 25, 1979 — 52 years, 354 days
2nd Cir. Carter June 21, 1979 July 1, 1997 Incumbent
19 Wilfred Feinberg S.D.N.Y. Kennedy October 5, 1961[a] March 17, 1966 — 52 years, 299 days
2nd Cir. L. B. Johnson March 7, 1966 January 31, 1991 July 31, 2014
20 Manuel Real C.D. Cal. L. B. Johnson November 3, 1966 November 4, 2018 June 26, 2019 52 years, 235 days
21 Albert Branson Maris E.D. Pa. F. D. Roosevelt June 22, 1936 June 27, 1938 — 52 years, 230 days
3rd Cir. June 24, 1938 December 31, 1958 February 7, 1989
22 Learned Hand S.D.N.Y. Taft April 26, 1909 December 29, 1924 — 52 years, 114 days
2nd Cir. Coolidge December 20, 1924 June 1, 1951 August 18, 1961
23 Orie Leon Phillips D.N.M. Harding March 3, 1923 April 29, 1929 — 51 years, 256 days
10th Cir. Hoover April 29, 1929 January 1, 1956 November 14, 1974
24 John P. Fullam E.D. Pa. L. B. Johnson August 11, 1966 April 1, 1990 March 8, 2018 51 years, 209 days
25 Damon Keith E.D. Mich. L. B. Johnson October 12, 1967 November 22, 1977 — 51 years, 198 days
6th Cir. Carter October 21, 1977 May 1, 1995 April 28, 2019
26 Alexander Harvey II D. Md. L. B. Johnson September 22, 1966 March 8, 1991 December 4, 2017 51 years, 73 days
27 William Augustus Bootle M.D. Ga. Eisenhower May 20, 1954 March 11, 1972 January 25, 2005 50 years, 250 days
28 James R. Browning 9th Cir. Kennedy September 18, 1961 September 1, 2000 May 6, 2012 50 years, 231 days
29 Myron Donovan Crocker S.D. Cal. Eisenhower September 21, 1959 September 18, 1966 — 50 years, 134 days
E.D. Cal. reassigned September 18, 1966 January 1, 1981 February 2, 2010
30 Harry W. Wellford W.D. Tenn. Nixon December 12, 1970 September 10, 1982 — 50 years, 126 days
6th Cir. Reagan August 20, 1982 January 15, 1991 April 17, 2021
31 Peter T. Fay S.D. Fla. Nixon October 16, 1970 October 8, 1976 — 50 years, 107 days
5th Cir. Ford September 21, 1976 October 1, 1981
11th Cir. reassigned October 1, 1981 January 19, 1994 January 31, 2021
32 Charles Miller Metzner S.D.N.Y. Eisenhower September 10, 1959 September 30, 1977 November 30, 2009 50 years, 81 days
33 Walter T. McGovern W.D. Wash. Nixon April 23, 1971 September 30, 1987 July 8, 2021 50 years, 76 days
34 Carl Olaf Bue Jr. S.D. Tex. Nixon October 15, 1970 September 2, 1987 December 24, 2020 50 years, 70 days
35 William Terrell Hodges M.D. Fla. Nixon December 15, 1971 May 2, 1999 January 4, 2022 50 years, 20 days
36 Harry Pregerson C.D. Cal. L. B. Johnson December 7, 1967 November 6, 1979 — 49 years, 353 days
9th Cir. Carter November 2, 1979 December 11, 2015 November 25, 2017
37 Joel Flaum N.D. Ill. Ford December 20, 1974 June 1, 1983 — 49 years, 349 days
7th Cir. Reagan May 5, 1983 November 30, 2020 Incumbent
Donald Alsop D. Minn. Ford December 20, 1974 August 28, 1992 Incumbent 49 years, 349 days
39 Wesley E. Brown D. Kan. Kennedy April 4, 1962 September 1, 1979 January 23, 2012 49 years, 294 days
40 Anthony Kennedy 9th Cir. Ford March 24, 1975 February 18, 1988 — 49 years, 254 days
SCOTUS Reagan February 11, 1988 July 31, 2018 Incumbent
41 William Henry Stafford Jr. N.D. Fla. Ford May 14, 1975 May 31, 1996 Incumbent 49 years, 203 days
42 John Thomas Curtin W.D.N.Y. L. B. Johnson December 14, 1967 July 1, 1989 April 14, 2017 49 years, 121 days
43 Daniel Holcombe Thomas S.D. Ala. Truman March 9, 1951 August 25, 1971 April 13, 2000 49 years, 35 days
44 Eugene Edward Siler Jr. E.D. Ky.
W.D. Ky.		 Ford November 13, 1975 September 20, 1991 — 49 years, 20 days
6th Cir. G. H. W. Bush September 16, 1991 December 31, 2001 Incumbent
45 Patrick Higginbotham N.D. Tex. Ford December 12, 1975 August 3, 1982 — 48 years, 357 days
5th Cir. Reagan July 30, 1982 August 28, 2006 Incumbent
46 David Norton Edelstein S.D.N.Y. Truman November 1, 1951[a] November 1, 1994 August 19, 2000 48 years, 292 days
47 John Paul Stevens 7th Cir. Nixon October 14, 1970 December 19, 1975 — 48 years, 275 days
SCOTUS Ford December 17, 1975 June 30, 2010 July 16, 2019
48 Charles S. Haight Jr. S.D.N.Y. Ford March 29, 1976 September 23, 1995 Incumbent 48 years, 249 days
49 Donald West VanArtsdalen E.D. Pa. Nixon October 15, 1970 October 21, 1985 May 21, 2019 48 years, 218 days
50 Willard Hall D. Del. Monroe May 6, 1823[a] December 6, 1871 — 48 years, 214 days
51 Ralph B. Guy Jr. E.D. Mich. Ford May 12, 1976 October 17, 1985 — 48 years, 205 days
6th Cir. Reagan October 17, 1985 September 1, 1994 Incumbent
52 Thomas Walter Swan 2nd Cir. Coolidge December 22, 1926 July 1, 1953 July 13, 1975 48 years, 203 days
53 Myron H. Bright 8th Cir. L. B. Johnson June 7, 1968 June 1, 1985 December 12, 2016 48 years, 188 days
54 John William Ditter Jr. E.D. Pa. Nixon October 15, 1970 October 19, 1986 April 7, 2019 48 years, 174 days
55 Bailey Aldrich D. Mass. Eisenhower April 27, 1954 September 15, 1959 — 48 years, 151 days
1st Cir. September 10, 1959 August 31, 1972 September 25, 2002
56 Edwin F. Hunter W.D. La. Eisenhower October 3, 1953[a] February 19, 1976 February 22, 2002 48 years, 142 days
57 Frederick Jacob Reagan Heebe E.D. La. L. B. Johnson March 26, 1966 August 26, 1992 August 10, 2014 48 years, 137 days
58 John C. Knox S.D.N.Y. Wilson April 12, 1918 April 30, 1955 August 23, 1966 48 years, 133 days
59 John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. S.D. W. Va. Ford September 3, 1976 November 1, 2018 Incumbent 48 years, 91 days
60 W. Eugene Davis W.D. La. Ford September 21, 1976 December 9, 1983 — 48 years, 73 days
5th Cir. Reagan November 16, 1983 December 31, 2016 Incumbent
61 James Sewall Morsell C.C.D.C. Madison January 11, 1815 March 3, 1863 — 48 years, 51 days
62 Albert Vickers Bryan Jr. E.D. Va. Nixon July 29, 1971 December 1, 1991 August 27, 2019 48 years, 29 days
63 William Joseph Campbell N.D. Ill. F. D. Roosevelt October 10, 1940 March 19, 1970 October 19, 1988 48 years, 9 days
64 Samuel Conti N.D. Cal. Nixon October 16, 1970 November 1, 1987 August 29, 2018 47 years, 317 days
65 Albert L. Reeves W.D. Mo. Harding June 24, 1923 February 2, 1954 March 24, 1971 47 years, 273 days
66 William Benner Enright S.D. Cal. Nixon June 30, 1972 July 12, 1990 March 7, 2020 47 years, 251 days
67 Edward Louis Filippine E.D. Mo. Carter July 22, 1977 June 11, 1995 Incumbent 47 years, 134 days
68 Garnett Thomas Eisele E.D. Ark. Nixon August 6, 1970 August 1, 1991 November 26, 2017 47 years, 112 days
69 Marion Speed Boyd W.D. Tenn. F. D. Roosevelt September 27, 1940 August 1, 1966 January 9, 1988 47 years, 104 days
70 James Hughes Hancock N.D. Ala. Nixon April 17, 1973 May 1, 1996 July 24, 2020 47 years, 98 days
71 Warren Keith Urbom D. Neb. Nixon April 24, 1970 December 31, 1990 July 28, 2017 47 years, 95 days
72 Pierre N. Leval S.D.N.Y. Carter October 31, 1977 November 8, 1993 — 47 years, 33 days
2nd Cir. Clinton October 20, 1993 August 16, 2002 Incumbent
73 James von der Heydt D. Alaska L. B. Johnson November 3, 1966 July 15, 1984 December 1, 2013 47 years, 28 days
74 John L. Kane Jr. D. Colo. Carter December 16, 1977 April 8, 1988 Incumbent 46 years, 353 days
75 Robert F. Chapman D.S.C. Nixon May 27, 1971 October 2, 1981 — 46 years, 326 days
4th Cir. Reagan September 19, 1981 May 31, 1991 April 18, 2018
76 Leonard I. Garth D.N.J. Nixon December 18, 1969 August 29, 1973 — 46 years, 279 days
3rd Cir. August 6, 1973 June 30, 1986 September 22, 2016
77 William Clark O'Kelley N.D. Ga. Nixon October 16, 1970 October 1, 1996 July 5, 2017 46 years, 262 days
78 George M. Bourquin D. Mont. Taft March 8, 1912 March 9, 1934 November 15, 1958 46 years, 252 days
79 Gunnar Nordbye D. Minn. Hoover March 18, 1931[a] March 6, 1967 November 5, 1977 46 years, 232 days
80 Roy Winfield Harper E.D. Mo.
W.D. Mo.		 Truman August 7, 1947[a] December 19, 1947 — 46 years, 187 days
December 20, 1947[a] June 20, 1948
June 22, 1948[a] January 5, 1971 February 13, 1994
81 Charles William Kraft Jr. E.D. Pa. Eisenhower August 12, 1955[a] November 11, 1970 January 18, 2002 46 years, 159 days
82 Ruggero J. Aldisert 3rd Cir. L. B. Johnson July 29, 1968 December 31, 1986 December 28, 2014 46 years, 152 days
83 Jose Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. S.D. Fla. Carter July 28, 1978 November 30, 1996 Incumbent 46 years, 128 days
84 Phillip Forman D.N.J. Hoover June 25, 1932 September 21, 1959 — 46 years, 53 days
3rd Cir. Eisenhower September 10, 1959 March 31, 1961 August 17, 1978
85 Joseph L. Tauro D. Mass. Nixon October 17, 1972 September 26, 2013 November 30, 2018 46 years, 44 days
86 Stephen Sanders Chandler Jr. W.D. Okla. F. D. Roosevelt May 13, 1943 October 20, 1975 April 27, 1989 45 years, 349 days
87 Juan R. Torruella D.P.R. Ford December 20, 1974 October 30, 1984 — 45 years, 311 days
1st Cir. Reagan October 4, 1984 October 26, 2020
88 Caleb Merrill Wright D. Del. Eisenhower July 27, 1955 October 8, 1973 May 12, 2001 45 years, 289 days
89 Rya W. Zobel D. Mass. Carter March 23, 1979 April 1, 2014 Incumbent 45 years, 255 days
90 Maurice B. Cohill Jr. W.D. Pa. Ford May 21, 1976 November 28, 1994 January 1, 2022 45 years, 225 days
91 William Judson Holloway Jr. 10th Cir. L. B. Johnson September 16, 1968 May 31, 1992 April 25, 2014 45 years, 221 days
92 R. James Harvey E.D. Mich. Nixon December 19, 1973 March 31, 1984 July 20, 2019 45 years, 213 days
93 Dan Monroe Russell Jr. S.D. Miss. L. B. Johnson October 2, 1965 October 25, 1983 April 16, 2011 45 years, 196 days
94 James Paul Churchill E.D. Mich. Ford December 20, 1974 December 31, 1989 June 29, 2020 45 years, 192 days
95 Thomas Virgil Pittman M.D. Ala. L. B. Johnson June 29, 1966 June 2, 1970 — 45 years, 191 days
S.D. Ala. July 15, 1981 January 6, 2012
96 Elijah Allen Cox N.D. Miss. Coolidge March 2, 1929 March 22, 1957 August 28, 1974 45 years, 179 days
97 Thomas P. Griesa S.D.N.Y. Nixon June 30, 1972 March 13, 2000 December 24, 2017 45 years, 177 days
98 Amalya Kearse 2nd Cir. Carter June 21, 1979 June 11, 2002 Incumbent 45 years, 165 days
99 Joyce Hens Green D.D.C. Carter May 11, 1979 July 1, 1995 October 10, 2024 45 years, 152 days
Harold Loyd Murphy N.D. Ga. Carter July 29, 1977 March 31, 2017 December 28, 2022 45 years, 152 days

Supreme Court

[edit]

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

[edit]
Rank Justice Appointed by Began active service Ended active service Active service
1 William O. Douglas F. D. Roosevelt April 15, 1939 November 12, 1975 36 years, 211 days
2 Stephen Johnson Field Lincoln March 10, 1863 December 1, 1897 34 years, 266 days
3 John Paul Stevens Ford December 17, 1975 June 30, 2010 34 years, 195 days
4 John Marshall J. Adams[d] January 31, 1801 July 6, 1835 34 years, 156 days
5 Hugo Black F. D. Roosevelt August 18, 1937 September 17, 1971 34 years, 30 days
6 John Marshall Harlan Hayes November 29, 1877 October 14, 1911 33 years, 319 days
7 Joseph Story Madison November 18, 1811 September 10, 1845 33 years, 296 days
8 William J. Brennan Jr. Eisenhower October 15, 1956[a] July 20, 1990 33 years, 278 days
9 William Rehnquist Nixon
Reagan[d]		 December 15, 1971 September 3, 2005 33 years, 262 days
10 Clarence Thomas G. H. W. Bush October 18, 1991 Incumbent 33 years, 46 days
11 James M. Wayne Jackson January 9, 1835 July 5, 1867 32 years, 177 days
12 John McLean Jackson March 7, 1829 April 4, 1861 32 years, 28 days
13 Byron White Kennedy April 12, 1962 June 28, 1993 31 years, 77 days
14 Bushrod Washington J. Adams September 29, 1798[a] November 26, 1829 31 years, 58 days
15 Anthony Kennedy Reagan February 11, 1988 July 31, 2018 30 years, 170 days
16 William Johnson Jefferson March 26, 1804 August 4, 1834 30 years, 131 days
17 Antonin Scalia Reagan September 25, 1986 February 13, 2016 29 years, 141 days
18 Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. T. Roosevelt December 4, 1902 January 12, 1932 29 years, 39 days
19 Roger B. Taney Jackson[d] March 15, 1836 October 12, 1864 28 years, 211 days
20 Samuel Freeman Miller Lincoln July 16, 1862 October 13, 1890 28 years, 89 days
21 John Catron Van Buren March 8, 1837 May 30, 1865 28 years, 83 days
22 Stephen Breyer Clinton August 3, 1994 June 30, 2022 27 years, 331 days
23 Samuel Nelson Tyler February 13, 1845 November 28, 1872 27 years, 289 days
24 Edward Douglass White Cleveland
Taft[d]		 February 19, 1894 May 19, 1921 27 years, 89 days
25 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Clinton August 5, 1993 September 18, 2020 27 years, 44 days

Total service

[edit]
Rank Justice Appointed by Began active service Ended active service Ended retired status Total service
1 John Paul Stevens Ford December 17, 1975 June 30, 2010 July 16, 2019 43 years, 211 days
2 Sandra Day O'Connor Reagan September 22, 1981 January 31, 2006 December 1, 2023 42 years, 70 days
3 Stanley Forman Reed F. D. Roosevelt January 27, 1938 February 25, 1957 April 2, 1980 42 years, 66 days
4 William J. Brennan Jr. Eisenhower October 15, 1956[a] July 20, 1990 July 24, 1997 40 years, 282 days
5 William O. Douglas F. D. Roosevelt April 15, 1939 November 12, 1975 January 19, 1980 40 years, 279 days
6 Byron White Kennedy April 12, 1962 June 28, 1993 April 15, 2002 40 years, 3 days
7 Anthony Kennedy Reagan February 11, 1988 July 31, 2018 Incumbent 36 years, 296 days
8 Stephen Johnson Field Lincoln March 10, 1863 December 1, 1897 — 34 years, 266 days
9 John Marshall J. Adams[d] January 31, 1801 July 6, 1835 — 34 years, 156 days
10 David Souter G. H. W. Bush October 3, 1990 June 30, 2009 Incumbent 34 years, 61 days
11 Hugo Black F. D. Roosevelt August 18, 1937 September 17, 1971 September 25, 1971 34 years, 38 days
12 John Marshall Harlan Hayes November 29, 1877 October 14, 1911 — 33 years, 319 days
13 Joseph Story Madison November 18, 1811 September 10, 1845 — 33 years, 296 days
14 William Rehnquist Nixon
Reagan[d]		 December 15, 1971 September 3, 2005 — 33 years, 262 days
15 Clarence Thomas G. H. W. Bush October 18, 1991 Incumbent — 33 years, 46 days
16 James M. Wayne Jackson January 9, 1835 July 5, 1867 — 32 years, 177 days
17 John McLean Jackson March 7, 1829 April 4, 1861 — 32 years, 28 days
18 James Clark McReynolds Wilson August 29, 1914 January 31, 1941 August 24, 1946 31 years, 360 days
19 Bushrod Washington J. Adams September 29, 1798[a] November 26, 1829 — 31 years, 58 days
20 William Johnson Jefferson March 26, 1804 August 4, 1834 — 30 years, 131 days
21 Stephen Breyer Clinton August 3, 1994 June 30, 2022 Incumbent 30 years, 122 days
22 Willis Van Devanter Taft December 16, 1910 June 2, 1937 February 8, 1941 30 years, 54 days
23 Antonin Scalia Reagan September 25, 1986 February 13, 2016 — 29 years, 141 days
24 Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. T. Roosevelt December 4, 1902 January 12, 1932 — 29 years, 39 days
25 Harry Blackmun Nixon May 14, 1970 August 3, 1994 March 4, 1999 28 years, 294 days

Courts of appeals

[edit]

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

[edit]
Rank Judge Court Appointed by Began active service Ended active service Total active service
1 Gerald Bard Tjoflat 5th Cir. Ford November 21, 1975 October 1, 1981 43 years, 363 days
11th Cir. reassigned October 1, 1981 November 19, 2019
2 Pauline Newman Fed. Cir. Reagan February 28, 1984 Incumbent 40 years, 279 days
3 J. Harvie Wilkinson III 4th Cir. Reagan August 13, 1984 Incumbent 40 years, 112 days
4 Frank Easterbrook 7th Cir. Reagan April 4, 1985 Incumbent 39 years, 243 days
Edith Jones 5th Cir. Reagan April 4, 1985 Incumbent 39 years, 243 days
6 William Ball Gilbert 9th Cir. B. Harrison March 18, 1892 April 27, 1931 39 years, 40 days
7 James R. Browning 9th Cir. Kennedy September 18, 1961 September 1, 2000 38 years, 349 days
8 Joel Flaum 7th Cir. Reagan May 5, 1983 November 30, 2020 37 years, 209 days
9 Stephen Reinhardt 9th Cir. Carter September 11, 1980 March 29, 2018 37 years, 199 days
10 Jerry Edwin Smith 5th Cir. Reagan December 21, 1987 Incumbent 36 years, 348 days
11 Walter Henry Sanborn 8th Cir. B. Harrison March 17, 1892 May 10, 1928 36 years, 54 days
12 Harry Pregerson 9th Cir. Carter November 2, 1979 December 11, 2015 36 years, 39 days
13 Juan R. Torruella 1st Cir. Reagan October 4, 1984 October 26, 2020 36 years, 22 days
14 Richard Posner 7th Cir. Reagan December 1, 1981 September 2, 2017 35 years, 275 days
15 E. Grady Jolly 5th Cir. Reagan July 30, 1982 October 3, 2017 35 years, 65 days
16 Michael Stephen Kanne 7th Cir. Reagan May 20, 1987 June 16, 2022 35 years, 27 days
17 Hiram Emory Widener Jr. 4th Cir. Nixon October 17, 1972 July 17, 2007 34 years, 273 days
18 Alan David Lourie Fed. Cir. G. H. W. Bush April 6, 1990 Incumbent 34 years, 241 days
19 Carolyn Dineen King 5th Cir. Carter July 13, 1979 December 31, 2013 34 years, 171 days
20 Karen L. Henderson D.C. Cir. G. H. W. Bush July 5, 1990 Incumbent 34 years, 151 days
21 Paul V. Niemeyer 4th Cir. G. H. W. Bush August 7, 1990 Incumbent 34 years, 118 days
22 James B. Loken 8th Cir. G. H. W. Bush October 17, 1990 Incumbent 34 years, 47 days
23 Dolores Sloviter 3rd Cir. Carter June 21, 1979 June 21, 2013 34 years, 0 days
24 Boyce F. Martin Jr. 6th Cir. Carter September 26, 1979 August 16, 2013 33 years, 324 days
25 Joseph Chappell Hutcheson Jr. 5th Cir. Hoover January 26, 1931 November 4, 1964 33 years, 283 days
26 Roger Leland Wollman 8th Cir. Reagan July 22, 1985 December 14, 2018 33 years, 145 days
27 W. Eugene Davis 5th Cir. Reagan November 16, 1983 December 31, 2016 33 years, 45 days
28 Walter J. Cummings Jr. 7th Cir. L. B. Johnson August 11, 1966 April 24, 1999 32 years, 256 days
29 John J. Parker 4th Cir. Coolidge October 3, 1925[a] March 17, 1958 32 years, 165 days
30 Mary M. Schroeder 9th Cir. Carter September 26, 1979 December 31, 2011 32 years, 96 days
31 Evan Alfred Evans 7th Cir. Wilson May 10, 1916 July 7, 1948 32 years, 58 days
32 Alex Kozinski 9th Cir. Reagan November 7, 1985 December 18, 2017 32 years, 41 days
33 Ilana Rovner 7th Cir. G. H. W. Bush August 17, 1992 July 10, 2024 31 years, 328 days
34 Joseph Buffington 3rd Cir. T. Roosevelt September 25, 1906[a] June 1, 1938 31 years, 249 days
35 Archibald K. Gardner 8th Cir. Hoover May 23, 1929 September 30, 1960 31 years, 130 days
36 Charles Henry Robb D.C. Cir. T. Roosevelt October 5, 1906[a] November 15, 1937 31 years, 41 days
37 Danny Julian Boggs 6th Cir. Reagan March 25, 1986 February 28, 2017 30 years, 340 days
38 Carl E. Stewart 5th Cir. Clinton May 9, 1994 Incumbent 30 years, 208 days
39 Kimbrough Stone 8th Cir. Wilson December 21, 1916 May 15, 1947 30 years, 145 days
40 Erskine Mayo Ross 9th Cir. Cleveland February 22, 1895 May 31, 1925 30 years, 98 days
41 Diarmuid O'Scannlain 9th Cir. Reagan September 26, 1986 December 31, 2016 30 years, 96 days
42 Josiah Alexander Van Orsdel D.C. Cir. T. Roosevelt November 14, 1907[a] August 7, 1937 29 years, 266 days
43 Karen Nelson Moore 6th Cir. Clinton March 24, 1995 Incumbent 29 years, 254 days
44 David L. Bazelon D.C. Cir. Truman October 21, 1949[a] June 30, 1979 29 years, 252 days
45 Alfred P. Murrah 10th Cir. F. D. Roosevelt September 4, 1940 May 1, 1970 29 years, 239 days
46 Julian Mack 7th Cir. Taft January 31, 1911 July 1, 1929 29 years, 219 days
2nd Cir. reassigned July 1, 1929 September 6, 1940
6th Cir. June 30, 1930
47 R. Lanier Anderson III 5th Cir. Carter July 13, 1979 October 1, 1981 29 years, 202 days
11th Cir. reassigned October 1, 1981 January 31, 2009
48 John Robert Brown 5th Cir. Eisenhower July 27, 1955 July 20, 1984 28 years, 359 days
49 John Biggs Jr. 3rd Cir. F. D. Roosevelt February 16, 1937 October 30, 1965 28 years, 256 days
50 José A. Cabranes 2nd Cir. Clinton August 10, 1994 March 9, 2023 28 years, 211 days

Total service

[edit]
Rank Judge Court Appointed by Began active service Ended active service Ended senior status Total service
1 J. Clifford Wallace 9th Cir. Nixon June 28, 1972 April 8, 1996 Incumbent 52 years, 158 days
2 Levin H. Campbell 1st Cir. Nixon June 30, 1972 January 3, 1992 Incumbent 52 years, 156 days
3 Alfred Goodwin 9th Cir. Nixon November 30, 1971 January 31, 1991 December 27, 2022 51 years, 27 days
4 James R. Browning 9th Cir. Kennedy September 18, 1961 September 1, 2000 May 6, 2012 50 years, 231 days
5 Albert Branson Maris 3rd Cir. F. D. Roosevelt June 24, 1938 December 31, 1958 February 7, 1989 50 years, 228 days
6 William J. Bauer 7th Cir. Ford December 20, 1974 October 31, 1994 Incumbent 49 years, 349 days
7 Gerald Bard Tjoflat 5th Cir. Ford November 21, 1975 October 1, 1981 — 49 years, 12 days
11th Cir. reassigned October 1, 1981 November 19, 2019 Incumbent
8 Thomas Walter Swan 2nd Cir. Coolidge December 22, 1926 July 1, 1953 July 13, 1975 48 years, 203 days
9 Myron H. Bright 8th Cir. L. B. Johnson June 7, 1968 June 1, 1985 December 12, 2016 48 years, 188 days
10 Wilfred Feinberg 2nd Cir. L. B. Johnson March 7, 1966 January 31, 1991 July 31, 2014 48 years, 146 days
11 Ruggero J. Aldisert 3rd Cir. L. B. Johnson July 29, 1968 December 31, 1986 December 28, 2014 46 years, 152 days
12 William Judson Holloway Jr. 10th Cir. L. B. Johnson September 16, 1968 May 31, 1992 April 25, 2014 45 years, 221 days
13 Orie Leon Phillips 10th Cir. Hoover April 29, 1929 January 1, 1956 November 14, 1974 45 years, 199 days
14 Amalya Kearse 2nd Cir. Carter June 21, 1979 June 11, 2002 Incumbent 45 years, 165 days
Jon O. Newman 2nd Cir. Carter June 21, 1979 July 1, 1997 Incumbent 45 years, 165 days
16 R. Lanier Anderson III 5th Cir. Carter July 13, 1979 October 1, 1981 — 45 years, 143 days
11th Cir. reassigned October 1, 1981 January 31, 2009 Incumbent
Carolyn Dineen King 5th Cir. Carter July 13, 1979 December 31, 2013 Incumbent 45 years, 143 days
18 Mary M. Schroeder 9th Cir. Carter September 26, 1979 December 31, 2011 Incumbent 45 years, 68 days
19 Stephanie Kulp Seymour 10th Cir. Carter November 2, 1979 October 16, 2005 Incumbent 45 years, 31 days
20 Dorothy Wright Nelson 9th Cir. Carter December 20, 1979 January 1, 1995 Incumbent 44 years, 349 days
21 Harry T. Edwards D.C. Cir. Carter February 20, 1980 November 3, 2005 Incumbent 44 years, 287 days
22 William Canby 9th Cir. Carter May 23, 1980 May 23, 1996 Incumbent 44 years, 194 days
23 Joseph William Woodrough 8th Cir. F. D. Roosevelt April 12, 1933 January 3, 1961 October 2, 1977 44 years, 173 days
24 Peter T. Fay 5th Cir. Ford September 21, 1976 October 1, 1981 — 44 years, 132 days
11th Cir. reassigned October 1, 1981 January 19, 1994 January 31, 2021
25 Gilbert S. Merritt Jr. 6th Cir. Carter October 31, 1977 January 17, 2001 January 17, 2022 44 years, 78 days
26 Frank M. Coffin 1st Cir. L. B. Johnson October 2, 1965 February 1, 1989 December 7, 2009 44 years, 66 days
27 J. Edward Lumbard 2nd Cir. Eisenhower July 12, 1955 July 20, 1971 June 3, 1999 43 years, 326 days
28 Pierce Lively 6th Cir. Nixon October 5, 1972 January 1, 1989 March 12, 2016 43 years, 159 days
29 John Cooper Godbold 5th Cir. L. B. Johnson July 22, 1966 October 1, 1981 — 43 years, 153 days
11th Cir. reassigned October 1, 1981 October 23, 1987 December 22, 2009
30 David L. Bazelon D.C. Cir. Truman October 21, 1949[a] June 30, 1979 February 19, 1993 43 years, 121 days
31 Dolores Sloviter 3rd Cir. Carter June 21, 1979 June 21, 2013 October 12, 2022 43 years, 113 days
32 Leonard I. Garth 3rd Cir. Nixon August 6, 1973 June 30, 1986 September 22, 2016 43 years, 47 days
33 Bailey Aldrich 1st Cir. Eisenhower September 10, 1959 August 31, 1972 September 25, 2002 43 years, 15 days
34 Donald Roe Ross 8th Cir. Nixon December 12, 1970 June 13, 1987 December 18, 2013 43 years, 6 days
35 Robert Hugh McWilliams Jr. 10th Cir. Nixon October 14, 1970 August 31, 1984 April 10, 2013 42 years, 178 days
36 Patrick Higginbotham 5th Cir. Reagan July 30, 1982 August 28, 2006 Incumbent 42 years, 126 days
E. Grady Jolly 5th Cir. Reagan July 30, 1982 October 3, 2017 Incumbent 42 years, 126 days
38 Monroe G. McKay 10th Cir. Carter December 1, 1977 December 31, 1993 March 28, 2020 42 years, 118 days
39 John Biggs Jr. 3rd Cir. F. D. Roosevelt February 16, 1937 October 30, 1965 April 15, 1979 42 years, 58 days
40 Joseph Chappell Hutcheson Jr. 5th Cir. Hoover January 26, 1931 November 4, 1964 January 18, 1973 41 years, 358 days
41 Elbert Tuttle 5th Cir. Eisenhower August 4, 1954 October 1, 1981 — 41 years, 324 days
11th Cir. reassigned October 1, 1981 June 1, 1968 June 23, 1996
42 John Minor Wisdom 5th Cir. Eisenhower June 27, 1957 January 15, 1977 May 15, 1999 41 years, 322 days
43 Joel Flaum 7th Cir. Reagan May 5, 1983 November 30, 2020 Incumbent 41 years, 212 days
44 Damon Keith 6th Cir. Carter October 21, 1977 May 1, 1995 April 28, 2019 41 years, 189 days
45 Thomas Morrow Reavley 5th Cir. Carter July 13, 1979 August 1, 1990 December 1, 2020 41 years, 141 days
46 Pasco Bowman II 8th Cir. Reagan July 19, 1983 August 1, 2003 Incumbent 41 years, 137 days
47 Kimbrough Stone 8th Cir. Wilson December 21, 1916 May 15, 1947 February 27, 1958 41 years, 68 days
48 Joseph Buffington 3rd Cir. T. Roosevelt September 25, 1906[a] June 1, 1938 October 21, 1947 41 years, 26 days
49 W. Eugene Davis 5th Cir. Reagan November 16, 1983 December 31, 2016 Incumbent 41 years, 17 days
50 Joseph F. Weis Jr. 3rd Cir. Nixon March 15, 1973 April 1, 1988 March 19, 2014 41 years, 4 days

District courts

[edit]

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

Active service

[edit]
Rank Judge Court Appointed by Began active service Ended active service Total active service
1 Henry Potter D.N.C. Jefferson April 7, 1802 December 20, 1857 55 years, 257 days
2 Manuel Real C.D. Cal. L. B. Johnson November 3, 1966 November 4, 2018 52 years, 1 day
3 Willard Hall D. Del. Monroe May 6, 1823[a] December 6, 1871 48 years, 214 days
4 Ashur Ware D. Me. Monroe February 15, 1822 May 31, 1866 44 years, 105 days
5 Harold P. Burke W.D.N.Y. F. D. Roosevelt June 18, 1937 June 15, 1981 43 years, 362 days
6 John Jay Jackson Jr. W.D. Va. Lincoln August 3, 1861 June 11, 1864 43 years, 224 days
D. W. Va. reassigned June 11, 1864 July 1, 1901
N.D. W. Va. July 1, 1901 March 15, 1905
7 David Norton Edelstein S.D.N.Y. Truman November 1, 1951[a] November 1, 1994 43 years, 0 days
8 Paul Jones N.D. Ohio Harding March 2, 1923 August 4, 1965 42 years, 155 days
9 John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. S.D. W. Va. Ford September 3, 1976 November 1, 2018 42 years, 59 days
10 Ricardo Hinojosa S.D. Tex. Reagan May 5, 1983 Incumbent 41 years, 212 days
11 Elijah Paine D. Vt. J. Adams March 3, 1801 April 1, 1842 41 years, 29 days
12 Joseph L. Tauro D. Mass. Nixon October 17, 1972 September 26, 2013 40 years, 344 days
13 Carmen Consuelo Cerezo D.P.R. Carter June 30, 1980 February 28, 2021 40 years, 243 days
14 Terrence Boyle E.D.N.C. Reagan May 3, 1984 Incumbent 40 years, 214 days
15 Ogden Hoffman Jr. N.D. Cal. Fillmore February 27, 1851 July 27, 1866 40 years, 163 days
S.D. Cal. reassigned August 31, 1852 January 18, 1854
D. Cal. July 27, 1866 August 5, 1886
N.D. Cal. August 5, 1886 August 9, 1891
16 James William Locke S.D. Fla. Grant February 1, 1872 July 4, 1912 40 years, 154 days
17 John Davis D. Mass. J. Adams February 20, 1801 July 10, 1841 40 years, 140 days
18 Samuel Betts S.D.N.Y. J. Q. Adams December 21, 1826 April 30, 1867 40 years, 130 days
19 John Pitman D.R.I. Monroe August 4, 1824[a] November 17, 1864 40 years, 105 days
20 Harold Loyd Murphy N.D. Ga. Carter July 29, 1977 March 31, 2017 39 years, 245 days
21 Stephen Victor Wilson C.D. Cal. Reagan October 17, 1985 Incumbent 39 years, 47 days
Henry Travillion Wingate S.D. Miss. Reagan October 17, 1985 Incumbent 39 years, 47 days
23 Alan Bond Johnson D. Wyo. Reagan December 17, 1985 Incumbent 38 years, 352 days
24 J. Robert Elliott M.D. Ga. Kennedy February 17, 1962 December 31, 2000 38 years, 318 days
25 Martin Leach-Cross Feldman E.D. La. Reagan October 5, 1983 January 26, 2022 38 years, 113 days
26 Charles Ronald Norgle Sr. N.D. Ill. Reagan October 4, 1984 October 4, 2022 38 years, 0 days
27 Rensselaer Nelson D. Minn. Buchanan May 20, 1858 May 16, 1896 37 years, 362 days
28 Joseph Peter Stadtmueller E.D. Wis. Reagan June 1, 1987 Incumbent 37 years, 185 days
29 Edward Roscoe Meek N.D. Tex. McKinley July 13, 1898[a] December 31, 1935 37 years, 171 days
30 Mac Swinford E.D. Ky.
W.D. Ky.		 F. D. Roosevelt August 21, 1937 February 3, 1975 37 years, 166 days
31 Edward Weinfeld S.D.N.Y. Truman August 5, 1950 January 17, 1988 37 years, 165 days
32 Lynn Hughes S.D. Tex. Reagan December 17, 1985 February 12, 2023 37 years, 57 days
33 John C. Knox S.D.N.Y. Wilson April 12, 1918 April 30, 1955 37 years, 18 days
34 Mary Lou Robinson N.D. Tex. Carter April 26, 1979 February 11, 2016 36 years, 291 days
35 Elizabeth A. Kovachevich M.D. Fla. Reagan March 9, 1982 December 14, 2018 36 years, 280 days
36 Humphrey H. Leavitt D. Ohio Jackson June 30, 1834 February 10, 1855 36 years, 275 days
S.D. Ohio reassigned February 10, 1855 April 1, 1871
37 William Elwood Steckler S.D. Ind. Truman April 7, 1950 December 31, 1986 36 years, 268 days
38 Richard Peters D. Pa. Washington January 12, 1792 April 20, 1818 36 years, 223 days
E.D. Pa. reassigned April 20, 1818 August 22, 1828
39 John McNairy D. Tenn. Washington February 20, 1797 April 29, 1802 36 years, 193 days
E.D. Tenn.
W.D. Tenn.		 reassigned April 29, 1802 September 1, 1833
40 William G. Young D. Mass. Reagan April 4, 1985 July 1, 2021 36 years, 88 days
41 Gunnar Nordbye D. Minn. Hoover March 18, 1931[a] March 6, 1967 35 years, 353 days
42 Charles L. Brieant S.D.N.Y. Nixon July 29, 1971 May 31, 2007 35 years, 306 days
43 James M. Love D. Iowa Pierce October 5, 1855[a] July 20, 1882 35 years, 270 days
S.D. Iowa reassigned July 20, 1882 July 2, 1891
44 Matthew Harvey D.N.H. Jackson November 2, 1830[a] April 7, 1866 35 years, 156 days
45 Alexander Boarman W.D. La. Garfield May 18, 1881 August 30, 1916 35 years, 104 days
46 Robert Love Taylor E.D. Tenn. Truman November 2, 1949[a] January 15, 1985 35 years, 74 days
47 James Edmund Boyd W.D.N.C. McKinley July 11, 1900[a] August 21, 1935 35 years, 41 days
48 Rya W. Zobel D. Mass. Carter March 23, 1979 April 1, 2014 35 years, 9 days
49 Robert Alexander Inch E.D.N.Y. Harding April 28, 1923[a] January 6, 1958 34 years, 253 days
50 Thomas Charles Munger D. Neb. T. Roosevelt March 1, 1907 July 31, 1941 34 years, 152 days
51 David C. Norton D.S.C. G. H. W. Bush July 12, 1990 Incumbent 34 years, 144 days
52 Allen Sharp N.D. Ind. Nixon October 11, 1973 November 1, 2007 34 years, 21 days
53 Matthew Deady D. Ore. Buchanan March 9, 1859 March 24, 1893 34 years, 15 days
54 Thomas Blake Kennedy D. Wyo. Harding October 25, 1921 November 6, 1955 34 years, 12 days
55 Francis Ford D. Mass. F. D. Roosevelt June 24, 1938 July 1, 1972 34 years, 7 days
56 Emory Speer S.D. Ga. Arthur February 18, 1885 December 13, 1918 33 years, 298 days
57 Tillman Davis Johnson D. Utah Wilson November 2, 1915[a] May 28, 1949 33 years, 207 days
58 William Truslow Newman N.D. Ga. Cleveland August 13, 1886[a] February 14, 1920 33 years, 185 days
59 Charles Nelson Pray D. Mont. Coolidge February 8, 1924 April 10, 1957 33 years, 61 days
60 William Bondy S.D.N.Y. Harding March 2, 1923 May 1, 1956 33 years, 60 days
61 John Calvin Pollock D. Kan. T. Roosevelt December 1, 1903 January 24, 1937 33 years, 54 days
62 Andrew McConnell January Cochran E.D. Ky. McKinley April 24, 1901[a] June 12, 1934 33 years, 49 days
63 Ross Wilkins D. Mich. Jackson January 26, 1837 February 24, 1863 33 years, 23 days
E.D. Mich. reassigned February 24, 1863 February 18, 1870
64 William E. Baker N.D. W. Va. Harding April 4, 1921[a] April 3, 1954 32 years, 364 days
65 Allen Burroughs Hannay S.D. Tex. F. D. Roosevelt August 12, 1942 August 6, 1975 32 years, 359 days
66 Thomas John Morris D. Md. Hayes July 1, 1879 June 6, 1912 32 years, 341 days
67 Myron H. Thompson M.D. Ala. Carter September 29, 1980 August 22, 2013 32 years, 327 days
68 Steven Douglas Merryday M.D. Fla. G. H. W. Bush February 10, 1992 Incumbent 32 years, 297 days
K. Michael Moore S.D. Fla. G. H. W. Bush February 10, 1992 Incumbent 32 years, 297 days
70 Lee H. Rosenthal S.D. Tex. G. H. W. Bush May 13, 1992 December 1, 2024 32 years, 202 days
71 Frank J. Battisti N.D. Ohio Kennedy September 22, 1961 April 1, 1994 32 years, 191 days
72 Sidney A. Fitzwater N.D. Tex. Reagan March 19, 1986 September 22, 2018 32 years, 187 days
73 Jennings Bailey S.C.D.C. Wilson May 22, 1918 June 25, 1936 32 years, 163 days
D.D.C. reassigned June 25, 1936 November 1, 1950
74 Stephen Sanders Chandler Jr. W.D. Okla. F. D. Roosevelt May 13, 1943 October 20, 1975 32 years, 160 days
75 Arthur J. Tuttle E.D. Mich. Taft August 6, 1912 December 2, 1944 32 years, 118 days
76 Nathaniel M. Gorton D. Mass. G. H. W. Bush September 24, 1992 Incumbent 32 years, 70 days
77 Samuel H. Treat S.D. Ill. Pierce March 3, 1855 March 27, 1887 32 years, 24 days
78 William H. Atwell N.D. Tex. Harding January 9, 1923 December 31, 1954 31 years, 356 days
79 Walter Scott Smith Jr. W.D. Tex. Reagan October 4, 1984 September 14, 2016 31 years, 346 days
80 Charles L. Benedict E.D.N.Y. Lincoln March 9, 1865 January 1, 1897 31 years, 298 days
81 Charles F. Amidon D.N.D. Cleveland August 31, 1896[a] June 2, 1928 31 years, 276 days
82 David Lynn Russell E.D. Okla.
N.D. Okla.		 Reagan December 17, 1981 December 1, 1990 31 years, 202 days
W.D. Okla. December 17, 1981 July 7, 2013
83 Barbara Jacobs Rothstein W.D. Wash. Carter February 20, 1980 September 1, 2011 31 years, 193 days
84 Samuel Hugh Dillin S.D. Ind. Kennedy September 22, 1961 March 31, 1993 31 years, 190 days
85 Colin Neblett D.N.M. Wilson February 5, 1917 July 6, 1948 31 years, 152 days
86 James Thomas Foley N.D.N.Y. Truman February 2, 1949 June 30, 1980 31 years, 149 days
87 William J. Zloch S.D. Fla. Reagan November 4, 1985 January 31, 2017 31 years, 88 days
88 William H. Kirkpatrick E.D. Pa. Coolidge March 3, 1927 May 1, 1958 31 years, 59 days
89 Leonie Brinkema E.D. Va. Clinton October 20, 1993 Incumbent 31 years, 44 days
90 John Alden Riner D. Wyo. B. Harrison September 22, 1890 October 31, 1921 31 years, 39 days
91 George Clinton Sweeney D. Mass. F. D. Roosevelt August 24, 1935 September 30, 1966 31 years, 37 days
92 Henry W. Goddard S.D.N.Y. Harding January 4, 1923 February 1, 1954 31 years, 28 days
93 Clarence Addison Brimmer Jr. D. Wyo. Ford September 16, 1975 September 27, 2006 31 years, 11 days
94 Patti B. Saris D. Mass. Clinton November 24, 1993 Incumbent 31 years, 9 days
Richard G. Stearns D. Mass. Clinton November 24, 1993 Incumbent 31 years, 9 days
96 Sim Lake S.D. Tex. Reagan August 12, 1988 July 5, 2019 30 years, 327 days
97 Nathaniel Pope D. Ill. Monroe March 3, 1819 January 23, 1850 30 years, 326 days
98 John R. Hazel W.D.N.Y. McKinley June 5, 1900 March 5, 1931 30 years, 273 days
99 Samuel Frederick Biery Jr. W.D. Tex. Clinton March 11, 1994 Incumbent 30 years, 267 days
Orlando Luis Garcia W.D. Tex. Clinton March 11, 1994 Incumbent 30 years, 267 days

Total service

[edit]
Rank Judge Court Appointed by Began active service Ended active service Ended senior status Total service
1 William Joseph Nealon Jr. M.D. Pa. Kennedy December 13, 1962[a] January 1, 1989 August 30, 2018 55 years, 260 days
2 Henry Potter D.N.C. Jefferson April 7, 1802 December 20, 1857 — 55 years, 257 days
3 Seybourn Harris Lynne N.D. Ala. Truman January 3, 1946 January 9, 1973 September 10, 2000 54 years, 251 days
4 Edward J. McManus N.D. Iowa Kennedy July 16, 1962 February 9, 1985 March 20, 2017 54 years, 247 days
5 Jack B. Weinstein E.D.N.Y. L. B. Johnson April 15, 1967 March 1, 1993 June 15, 2021 54 years, 61 days
6 James Lawrence King S.D. Fla. Nixon October 19, 1970 December 20, 1992 Incumbent 54 years, 45 days
7 George C. Young N.D. Fla.
S.D. Fla.		 Kennedy September 18, 1961 September 17, 1966 — 53 years, 218 days
M.D. Fla. reassigned October 29, 1962 October 19, 1981 April 24, 2015
8 Manuel Real C.D. Cal. L. B. Johnson November 3, 1966 November 4, 2018 June 26, 2019 52 years, 235 days
9 John P. Fullam E.D. Pa. L. B. Johnson August 11, 1966 April 1, 1990 March 8, 2018 51 years, 209 days
10 Alexander Harvey II D. Md. L. B. Johnson September 22, 1966 March 8, 1991 December 4, 2017 51 years, 73 days
11 William Augustus Bootle M.D. Ga. Eisenhower May 20, 1954 March 11, 1972 January 25, 2005 50 years, 250 days
12 Myron Donovan Crocker S.D. Cal. Eisenhower September 21, 1959 September 18, 1966 — 50 years, 134 days
E.D. Cal. reassigned September 18, 1966 January 1, 1981 February 2, 2010
13 Charles Miller Metzner S.D.N.Y. Eisenhower September 10, 1959 September 30, 1977 November 30, 2009 50 years, 81 days
14 Walter T. McGovern W.D. Wash. Nixon April 23, 1971 September 30, 1987 July 8, 2021 50 years, 76 days
15 Carl Olaf Bue Jr. S.D. Tex. Nixon October 15, 1970 September 2, 1987 December 24, 2020 50 years, 70 days
16 William Terrell Hodges M.D. Fla. Nixon December 15, 1971 May 2, 1999 January 4, 2022 50 years, 20 days
17 Donald Alsop D. Minn. Ford December 20, 1974 August 28, 1992 Incumbent 49 years, 349 days
18 Wesley E. Brown D. Kan. Kennedy April 4, 1962 September 1, 1979 January 23, 2012 49 years, 294 days
19 William Henry Stafford Jr. N.D. Fla. Ford May 14, 1975 May 31, 1996 Incumbent 49 years, 203 days
20 John Thomas Curtin W.D.N.Y. L. B. Johnson December 14, 1967 July 1, 1989 April 14, 2017 49 years, 121 days
21 Daniel Holcombe Thomas S.D. Ala. Truman March 9, 1951 August 25, 1971 April 13, 2000 49 years, 35 days
22 David Norton Edelstein S.D.N.Y. Truman November 1, 1951[a] November 1, 1994 August 19, 2000 48 years, 292 days
23 Charles S. Haight Jr. S.D.N.Y. Ford March 29, 1976 September 23, 1995 Incumbent 48 years, 249 days
24 Donald West VanArtsdalen E.D. Pa. Nixon October 15, 1970 October 21, 1985 May 21, 2019 48 years, 218 days
25 Willard Hall D. Del. Monroe May 6, 1823[a] December 6, 1871 — 48 years, 214 days
26 John William Ditter Jr. E.D. Pa. Nixon October 15, 1970 October 19, 1986 April 7, 2019 48 years, 174 days
27 Edwin F. Hunter W.D. La. Eisenhower October 3, 1953[a] February 19, 1976 February 22, 2002 48 years, 142 days
28 Frederick Jacob Reagan Heebe E.D. La. L. B. Johnson March 26, 1966 August 26, 1992 August 10, 2014 48 years, 137 days
29 John C. Knox S.D.N.Y. Wilson April 12, 1918 April 30, 1955 August 23, 1966 48 years, 133 days
30 John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. S.D. W. Va. Ford September 3, 1976 November 1, 2018 Incumbent 48 years, 91 days
31 Albert Vickers Bryan Jr. E.D. Va. Nixon July 29, 1971 December 1, 1991 August 27, 2019 48 years, 29 days
32 William Joseph Campbell N.D. Ill. F. D. Roosevelt October 10, 1940 March 19, 1970 October 19, 1988 48 years, 9 days
33 Samuel Conti N.D. Cal. Nixon October 16, 1970 November 1, 1987 August 29, 2018 47 years, 317 days
34 Albert L. Reeves W.D. Mo. Harding June 24, 1923 February 2, 1954 March 24, 1971 47 years, 273 days
35 William Benner Enright S.D. Cal. Nixon June 30, 1972 July 12, 1990 March 7, 2020 47 years, 251 days
36 Edward Louis Filippine E.D. Mo. Carter July 22, 1977 June 11, 1995 Incumbent 47 years, 134 days
37 Garnett Thomas Eisele E.D. Ark. Nixon August 6, 1970 August 1, 1991 November 26, 2017 47 years, 112 days
38 Marion Speed Boyd W.D. Tenn. F. D. Roosevelt September 27, 1940 August 1, 1966 January 9, 1988 47 years, 104 days
39 James Hughes Hancock N.D. Ala. Nixon April 17, 1973 May 1, 1996 July 24, 2020 47 years, 98 days
40 Warren Keith Urbom D. Neb. Nixon April 24, 1970 December 31, 1990 July 28, 2017 47 years, 95 days
41 James von der Heydt D. Alaska L. B. Johnson November 3, 1966 July 15, 1984 December 1, 2013 47 years, 28 days
42 John L. Kane Jr. D. Colo. Carter December 16, 1977 April 8, 1988 Incumbent 46 years, 353 days
43 William Clark O'Kelley N.D. Ga. Nixon October 16, 1970 October 1, 1996 July 5, 2017 46 years, 262 days
44 George M. Bourquin D. Mont. Taft March 8, 1912 March 9, 1934 November 15, 1958 46 years, 252 days
45 Gunnar Nordbye D. Minn. Hoover March 18, 1931[a] March 6, 1967 November 5, 1977 46 years, 232 days
46 Roy Winfield Harper E.D. Mo.
W.D. Mo.		 Truman August 7, 1947[a] December 19, 1947 — 46 years, 187 days
December 20, 1947[a] June 20, 1948
June 22, 1948[a] January 5, 1971 February 13, 1994
47 Charles William Kraft Jr. E.D. Pa. Eisenhower August 12, 1955[a] November 11, 1970 January 18, 2002 46 years, 159 days
48 Jose Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. S.D. Fla. Carter July 28, 1978 November 30, 1996 Incumbent 46 years, 128 days
49 Joseph L. Tauro D. Mass. Nixon October 17, 1972 September 26, 2013 November 30, 2018 46 years, 44 days
50 Stephen Sanders Chandler Jr. W.D. Okla. F. D. Roosevelt May 13, 1943 October 20, 1975 April 27, 1989 45 years, 349 days
51 Caleb Merrill Wright D. Del. Eisenhower July 27, 1955 October 8, 1973 May 12, 2001 45 years, 289 days
52 Rya W. Zobel D. Mass. Carter March 23, 1979 April 1, 2014 Incumbent 45 years, 255 days
53 Maurice B. Cohill Jr. W.D. Pa. Ford May 21, 1976 November 28, 1994 January 1, 2022 45 years, 225 days
54 R. James Harvey E.D. Mich. Nixon December 19, 1973 March 31, 1984 July 20, 2019 45 years, 213 days
55 Dan Monroe Russell Jr. S.D. Miss. L. B. Johnson October 2, 1965 October 25, 1983 April 16, 2011 45 years, 196 days
56 James Paul Churchill E.D. Mich. Ford December 20, 1974 December 31, 1989 June 29, 2020 45 years, 192 days
57 Thomas Virgil Pittman M.D. Ala. L. B. Johnson June 29, 1966 June 2, 1970 — 45 years, 191 days
S.D. Ala. July 15, 1981 January 6, 2012
58 Elijah Allen Cox N.D. Miss. Coolidge March 2, 1929 March 22, 1957 August 28, 1974 45 years, 179 days
59 Thomas P. Griesa S.D.N.Y. Nixon June 30, 1972 March 13, 2000 December 24, 2017 45 years, 177 days
60 Joyce Hens Green D.D.C. Carter May 11, 1979 July 1, 1995 October 10, 2024 45 years, 152 days
Harold Loyd Murphy N.D. Ga. Carter July 29, 1977 March 31, 2017 December 28, 2022 45 years, 152 days
62 William Daniel Murray D. Mont. Truman May 9, 1949 December 31, 1965 October 3, 1994 45 years, 147 days
63 Marvin Aspen N.D. Ill. Carter July 24, 1979 July 1, 2002 Incumbent 45 years, 132 days
Orinda Dale Evans N.D. Ga. Carter July 24, 1979 December 31, 2008 Incumbent 45 years, 132 days
65 Robert Earl Maxwell N.D. W. Va. L. B. Johnson August 11, 1965 July 19, 1995 November 20, 2010 45 years, 101 days
66 Richard Paul Matsch D. Colo. Nixon March 8, 1974 July 1, 2003 May 26, 2019 45 years, 79 days
67 Howard F. Sachs W.D. Mo. Carter September 26, 1979 October 31, 1992 Incumbent 45 years, 68 days
68 Bruce Sterling Jenkins D. Utah Carter September 22, 1978 September 30, 1994 November 7, 2023 45 years, 46 days
69 Sylvia H. Rambo M.D. Pa. Carter July 24, 1979 April 18, 2001 August 30, 2024 45 years, 37 days
70 Barbara Brandriff Crabb W.D. Wis. Carter November 2, 1979 March 24, 2010 Incumbent 45 years, 31 days
Frank Howell Seay E.D. Okla. Carter November 2, 1979 September 25, 2003 Incumbent 45 years, 31 days
Anne Elise Thompson D.N.J. Carter November 2, 1979 June 1, 2001 Incumbent 45 years, 31 days
73 Joseph Putnam Willson W.D. Pa. Eisenhower July 14, 1953 October 18, 1968 August 3, 1998 45 years, 20 days
74 William Bertelsman E.D. Ky. Carter November 27, 1979 February 1, 2001 Incumbent 45 years, 6 days
Dudley Hollingsworth Bowen Jr. S.D. Ga. Carter November 27, 1979 June 25, 2006 Incumbent 45 years, 6 days
76 Terry J. Hatter Jr. C.D. Cal. Carter December 20, 1979 April 22, 2005 Incumbent 44 years, 349 days
77 Alan N. Bloch W.D. Pa. Carter November 2, 1979 April 12, 1997 October 6, 2024 44 years, 339 days
78 William Elwood Steckler S.D. Ind. Truman April 7, 1950 December 31, 1986 March 8, 1995 44 years, 335 days
79 Solomon Blatt Jr. D.S.C. Nixon May 28, 1971 May 7, 1990 April 20, 2016 44 years, 328 days
80 Barbara Jacobs Rothstein W.D. Wash. Carter February 20, 1980 September 1, 2011 Incumbent 44 years, 287 days
81 Charles Wycliffe Joiner E.D. Mich. Nixon June 9, 1972 August 15, 1984 March 10, 2017 44 years, 274 days
82 Gordon Thompson Jr. S.D. Cal. Nixon October 16, 1970 December 28, 1994 July 5, 2015 44 years, 262 days
83 Charles Edward Wyzanski Jr. D. Mass. F. D. Roosevelt December 19, 1941 September 1, 1971 September 3, 1986 44 years, 258 days
84 Jennings Bailey S.C.D.C. Wilson May 22, 1918 June 25, 1936 — 44 years, 232 days
D.D.C. reassigned June 25, 1936 November 1, 1950 January 9, 1963
85 William Earl Britt E.D.N.C. Carter May 23, 1980 December 7, 1997 Incumbent 44 years, 194 days
Walter Herbert Rice S.D. Ohio Carter May 23, 1980 November 30, 2004 Incumbent 44 years, 194 days
87 Frederick Alvin Daugherty E.D. Okla.
N.D. Okla.
W.D. Okla.		 Kennedy October 5, 1961[a] January 12, 1982 April 7, 2006 44 years, 184 days
88 Matthew Francis McGuire D.D.C. F. D. Roosevelt August 1, 1941 October 7, 1966 January 24, 1986 44 years, 176 days
89 Samuel Hugh Dillin S.D. Ind. Kennedy September 22, 1961 March 31, 1993 March 13, 2006 44 years, 172 days
90 Thelton Henderson N.D. Cal. Carter June 30, 1980 November 28, 1998 Incumbent 44 years, 156 days
91 Justin L. Quackenbush E.D. Wash. Carter June 18, 1980 June 27, 1995 October 27, 2024 44 years, 131 days
92 Thomas Francis Murphy S.D.N.Y. Truman July 2, 1951 December 3, 1970 October 26, 1995 44 years, 116 days
93 Ashur Ware D. Me. Monroe February 15, 1822 May 31, 1866 — 44 years, 105 days
94 Myron H. Thompson M.D. Ala. Carter September 29, 1980 August 22, 2013 Incumbent 44 years, 65 days
95 Charles P. Kocoras N.D. Ill. Carter September 30, 1980 June 30, 2006 Incumbent 44 years, 64 days
Consuelo Bland Marshall C.D. Cal. Carter September 30, 1980 October 24, 2005 Incumbent 44 years, 64 days
97 John Clyde Bowen W.D. Wash. F. D. Roosevelt March 20, 1934 June 5, 1961 April 27, 1978 44 years, 38 days
98 Harold P. Burke W.D.N.Y. F. D. Roosevelt June 18, 1937 June 15, 1981 July 17, 1981 44 years, 29 days
99 John F. Grady N.D. Ill. Ford November 21, 1975 May 23, 1994 December 2, 2019 44 years, 11 days
100 Kevin Duffy S.D.N.Y. Nixon October 17, 1972 January 10, 1998 September 30, 2016 43 years, 349 days

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl Recess appointment.
  2. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d e f 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

[edit]

References

[edit]
  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. ^ a b c d e "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.
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