The United States Attorney's Office of the Southern District of Ohio represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. As of November 2021[update], the United States attorney is Kenneth L. Parker.[1]
The United States District Court for the District of Ohio was established on February 19, 1803, by 2 Stat.201.[2][3] The act of authorized one judgeship for the court. The district court in Ohio, not being assigned to a judicial circuit, was granted the same jurisdiction as U.S. circuit courts, except in appeals and writs of error, which were the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.[3] By the act of February 24, 1807, 2 Stat.420, the authority of the Ohio district court to exercise the jurisdiction of a U.S. circuit court was repealed, and Ohio was assigned to the newly organized Seventh Circuit. It also provided for a U.S. circuit court for the District of Ohio.[3]
The District was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts on February 10, 1855, by 10 Stat.604.[3] The district judge serving the District of Ohio, Humphrey H. Leavitt, was reassigned to the Southern District of Ohio.
On July 23, 1866, by 14 Stat.209, Congress reorganized the circuits and assigned Ohio to the Sixth Circuit.[3] Additional judgeships were created in 1910, 1937, 1966, 1970, 1978, 1984, and 1990.[3]
^White was confirmed and received his commission, but died without taking the oath of office or commencing service.
^Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 18, 1883, confirmed by the United States Senate on January 7, 1884, and received commission the same day.
^Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 13, 1898, confirmed by the Senate on December 20, 1898, and received commission the same day.
^Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 8, 1908, confirmed by the Senate on March 1, 1909, and received commission the same day.
^Recess appointment; formally nominated on November 16, 1937, confirmed by the Senate on December 8, 1937, and received commission on December 14, 1937.
^Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 15, 1962, confirmed by the Senate on April 11, 1962, and received commission on April 12, 1962.
Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court 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.
