User:NoSeptember/Federal judge appointment history

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Contents

[edit] future improvements

  • Chart for each circuit
  • Summary chart of circuit judges nationwide
  • Add percentages (% GOP, % Dem)
  • List circuits in order of political composition, highest % GOP to highest % Democratic
  • List of circuit judges confirmed with the most votes against them (by term)

[edit] Updated Introduction

The selection of federal judges has become viewed as a political process in the last several decades. This is especially true of Supreme Court and United States court of appeals appointments. These charts show 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. Courts with a higher percentage of Republican appointed judges tend to be more conservative than those with many Democratic appointees, although 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.

[edit] Introduction

The selection of federal judges has become viewed as a political process in the last several decades. This is especially true of Supreme Court and United States court of appeals appointments. These charts show 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. Courts with a higher percentage of Republican appointed judges tend to be more conservative than those with many Democratic appointees, although 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.

The appointment of federal judges 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. These charts show 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.

Most federal courts currently have a majority of Republican President appointees. Courts with a higher percentage of Republican appointed judges tend to be more conservative than those with many Democratic appointees, although 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.

* as of July 21, 2005

[edit] Supreme Court

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ JFK
/LBJ
DDE
2
DDE
1
current*
9
7
2
-
-
-
-
2
2
2
1
-
1
1
-
-
-
-
2004
9
7
2
-
-
-
-
2
2
2
1
-
1
1
-
-
-
-
2000
9
7
2
-
-
-
-
2
2
2
1
-
1
1
-
-
-
-
1996
9
7
2
-
-
-
-
2
2
2
1
-
1
1
-
-
-
-
1992
9
8
1
-
-
-
-
-
2
2
1
-
1
2
-
1
-
-
1988
9
7
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
1
-
1
2
1
1
-
1
1984
9
7
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
1
4
1
1
-
1
1980
9
7
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
4
1
1
1
1

[edit] Court of appeals (summary of 13 circuits combined)

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ JFK
/LBJ
DDE
2
DDE
1
current*
179
97
69
13
5
33
34
26
29
20
8
9
1
1
-
-
-
-
2004
179
94
69
16
-
34
34
26
29
21
8
9
1
1
-
-
-
-
2000
179
76
78
25
-
-
34
30
35
28
11
14
1
1
-
-
-
-
1996
179
105
54
20
-
-
-
30
40
45
14
22
3
2
1
1
-
1
1992
179
119
42
18
-
-
-
-
40
50
20
40
5
3
1
1
-
1
1988
168
96
62
10
-
-
-
-
-
50
26
53
9
10
8
1
-
1
1984
168
66
76
26
-
-
-
-
-
-
33
57
15
17
14
5
-
1
1980
140
50
86
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
59
16
30
19
8
2
2
Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ JFK
/LBJ
DDE
2
DDE
1
current*
100%
54%
39%
7%
3%
18%
19%
15%
16%
11%
4%
5%
1%
1%
-
-
-
-
2004
100%
52%
39%
9%
-
19%
19%
15%
16%
12%
4%
5%
1%
1%
-
-
-
-
2000
100%
42%
44%
14%
-
-
19%
17%
20%
16%
6%
8%
1%
1%
-
-
-
-
1996
100%
59%
30%
11%
-
-
-
17%
22%
25%
8%
12%
2%
1%
1%
1%
-
1%
1992
100%
67%
23%
10%
-
-
-
-
22%
28%
11%
22%
3%
2%
1%
1%
-
1%
1988
100%
57%
37%
6%
-
-
-
-
-
30%
16%
32%
5%
6%
5%
1%
-
1%
1984
100%
39%
45%
16%
-
-
-
-
-
-
20%
34%
9%
10%
8%
3%
-
1%
1980
100%
36%
61%
3%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
42%
11%
21%
14%
6%
1%
1%
Partisan mix of the courts
(ranked in partisan order)
as of July 21, 2005
Percentage
appointed
by
Republicans
Percentage
appointed
by
Democrats
8th Circuit
82%
18%
5th
75%
25%
7th
73%
27%
Federal
67%
33%
1st
67%
33%
DC
64%
36%
4th
62%
38%
Total of 13 circuits
58%
42%
10th
58%
42%
11th
58%
42%
6th
57%
43%
3rd
50%
50%
2nd
42%
58%
9th
33%
67%

[edit] First Circuit

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ
current*
6
4
2
-
-
1
1
1
1
1
1
-
-
-
-
2004
6
4
2
-
-
1
1
1
1
1
1
-
-
-
-
2000
6
4
2
-
-
-
1
1
2
1
1
-
-
-
-
1996
6
5
1
-
-
-
-
1
3
1
1
-
-
-
-
1992
6
5
1
-
-
-
-
-
3
1
1
1
-
-
-
1988
6
3
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
1
2
-
1
1
1984
6
2
3
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
2
-
1
1
1980
4
1
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
1
1

[edit] Second Circuit

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ JFK
/LBJ
current*
13
5
7
1
-
3
5
2
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2004
13
5
7
1
-
3
5
2
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2000
13
2
10
1
-
-
5
4
2
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
1996
13
5
6
2
-
-
-
4
3
1
1
2
-
-
-
-
1992
13
10
2
1
-
-
-
-
3
3
3
2
1
-
-
-
1988
13
9
3
1
-
-
-
-
-
3
4
2
1
1
1
-
1984
13
7
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
2
2
1
1
1
1980
11
6
4
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
2
4
1
1

[edit] Third Circuit

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ
current*
14
6
6
2
-
3
4
1
2
1
-
1
-
-
-
2004
14
8
6
-
-
4
4
1
2
2
-
1
-
-
-
2000
14
6
6
2
-
-
4
1
2
3
1
1
-
-
-
1996
14
11
2
1
-
-
-
1
3
7
1
1
-
-
-
1992
14
11
1
2
-
-
-
-
3
7
1
1
-
-
-
1988
12
9
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
7
1
2
-
1
1
1984
12
6
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
2
1
4
2
1980
10
6
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
1
5
2

[edit] Fourth Circuit

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ JFK
/LBJ
DDE
2
current*
15
8
5
2
-
2
3
2
3
1
1
-
-
1
-
-
-
2004
15
8
5
2
-
2
3
2
3
1
1
-
-
1
-
-
-
2000
15
6
5
4
-
-
3
2
3
1
1
-
-
1
-
-
-
1996
15
9
4
2
-
-
-
2
4
1
1
2
1
2
-
-
-
1992
15
9
3
3
-
-
-
-
4
1
1
3
1
2
-
-
-
1988
11
6
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
2
4
1
2
1
-
-
1984
11
6
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
4
1
2
1
-
-
1980
10
4
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
1
2
2
-
1

[edit] Fifth Circuit

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ JFK
/LBJ
DDE
2
DDE
1
current*
17
12
4
1
1
2
-
3
4
2
3
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
2004
17
11
4
2
-
2
-
3
4
2
3
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
2000
17
9
5
3
-
-
-
4
4
2
3
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
1996
17
11
6
-
-
-
-
4
4
3
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
1992
17
11
2
4
-
-
-
-
4
3
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
1988
16
9
6
1
-
-
-
-
-
3
4
6
1
1
-
-
-
-
1984
16
7
7
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
7
1
1
-
-
-
-
1980
14
3
10
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
1
1
2
-
-
1

Note: The 5th Circuit judges who were transferred to the 11th Circuit in 1982 are not included in the 5th Circuit numbers for 1980.

[edit] Sixth Circuit

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ JFK
/LBJ
DDE
2
current*
16
8
6
2
2
4
2
3
1
1
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
2004
16
6
6
4
-
4
2
3
1
1
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
2000
16
5
7
4
-
-
2
3
3
2
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
1996
16
7
6
3
-
-
-
3
3
4
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
1992
16
9
5
2
-
-
-
-
3
5
1
5
-
-
-
-
-
1988
16
10
5
1
-
-
-
-
-
5
3
5
1
1
-
-
-
1984
16
6
6
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
5
1
1
-
1
-
1980
11
3
8
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
1
1
1
1
1

[edit] Seventh Circuit

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ JFK
/LBJ
current*
11
8
3
-
-
1
1
2
1
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
2004
11
8
3
-
-
1
1
2
1
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
2000
11
8
3
-
-
-
1
2
1
4
3
-
-
-
-
-
1996
11
8
3
-
-
-
-
2
1
4
3
-
-
-
1
-
1992
11
9
2
-
-
-
-
-
1
4
3
1
1
-
1
-
1988
11
9
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
3
1
2
-
1
-
1984
11
6
2
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
1
2
-
1
-
1980
9
4
4
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
2
2
2
1

[edit] Eighth Circuit

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ
current*
11
9
2
-
-
6
1
1
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
2004
11
9
2
-
-
6
1
1
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
2000
11
6
4
1
-
-
1
1
3
2
1
2
-
-
-
1996
11
8
3
-
-
-
-
1
3
3
2
2
-
-
-
1992
11
9
2
-
-
-
-
-
3
3
3
2
-
-
-
1988
10
6
3
1
-
-
-
-
-
3
3
2
-
-
1
1984
10
4
5
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
2
-
1
3
1980
9
3
5
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
1
2
3

[edit] Ninth Circuit

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ JFK
/LBJ
current*
28
8
16
4
-
4
11
2
2
2
-
3
-
-
-
-
2004
28
8
16
4
-
4
11
2
2
2
-
3
-
-
-
-
2000
28
7
18
3
-
-
11
3
4
3
-
4
-
-
-
-
1996
28
10
10
8
-
-
-
3
4
6
-
6
-
-
-
1
1992
28
14
13
1
-
-
-
-
4
7
2
12
-
1
-
1
1988
28
11
14
3
-
-
-
-
-
7
2
13
-
2
-
1
1984
28
8
16
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
15
3
2
-
1
1980
23
7
16
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
15
3
4
-
1

[edit] Tenth Circuit

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ JFK
/LBJ
current*
12
7
5
-
-
4
-
4
1
2
-
1
-
-
-
-
2004
12
7
5
-
-
4
-
4
1
2
-
1
-
-
-
-
2000
12
5
5
2
-
-
-
4
1
4
-
1
-
-
-
-
1996
12
7
5
-
-
-
-
4
1
6
-
1
-
-
-
-
1992
12
7
3
2
-
-
-
-
1
6
-
3
-
-
-
-
1988
10
6
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
3
-
-
1
-
1984
10
1
4
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
1
1
-
1980
8
3
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
3
1
1

[edit] Eleventh Circuit

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ
current*
12
7
5
-
-
1
3
1
4
1
-
1
1
-
-
2004
12
7
5
-
-
1
3
1
4
1
-
1
1
-
-
2000
12
6
5
1
-
-
3
1
4
1
-
1
1
-
-
1996
12
8
2
2
-
-
-
1
4
2
-
1
2
-
-
1992
12
8
3
1
-
-
-
-
4
2
-
3
2
-
-
1988
12
6
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
6
3
1
-
1984
12
4
8
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7
3
1
1
1980
12
4
8
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7
3
1
1

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

[edit] DC Circuit

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ JFK
/LBJ
current*
12
7
4
1
2
1
-
3
2
2
-
1
-
-
-
-
2004
12
7
4
1
2
1
-
3
2
2
-
1
-
-
-
-
2000
12
5
4
3
-
-
-
3
2
3
-
1
-
-
-
-
1996
12
6
5
1
-
-
-
3
2
4
-
2
-
-
-
-
1992
12
7
4
1
-
-
-
-
2
5
-
4
-
-
-
-
1988
12
6
5
1
-
-
-
-
-
5
1
4
-
-
1
-
1984
12
3
7
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
4
-
-
2
1
1980
11
3
8
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
3
2
2

[edit] Federal Circuit

Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans
Appointed
by
Democrats
Vacant GWB
2
GWB
1
WJC
2
WJC
1
GHWB RWR
2
RWR
1
JEC RMN
/GRF
RMN
1
LBJ JFK
/LBJ
DDE
2
DDE
1
current*
12
8
4
-
-
1
3
1
4
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2004
12
8
4
-
-
1
3
1
4
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2000
12
7
4
1
-
-
3
1
4
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1996
12
10
1
1
-
-
-
1
5
3
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
1992
12
10
1
1
-
-
-
-
5
3
1
1
-
-
-
-
-
1
1988
12
7
3
2
-
-
-
-
-
3
2
3
-
1
-
-
-
1
1984
12
7
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
3
1
3
1
1
-
1
1980
11
6
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
1
4
1
1
-
1

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.

[edit] Acronym Key

Acronym President Term Date Range
GWB 2 George W. Bush second January 20, 2005 - present
GWB 1 George W. Bush first January 20, 2001 - January 20, 2005
WJC 2 Bill Clinton second January 20, 1997 - January 20, 2001
WJC 1 Bill Clinton first January 20, 1993 - January 20, 1997
GHWB George H. W. Bush only January 20, 1989 - January 20, 1993
RWR 2 Ronald Reagan second January 20, 1985 - January 20, 1989
RWR 1 Ronald Reagan first January 20, 1981 - January 20, 1985
JEC Jimmy Carter only January 20, 1977 - January 20, 1981
RMN/GRF Nixon and Ford split January 20, 1973 - January 20, 1977
RMN 1 Richard Nixon first January 20, 1969 - January 20, 1973
LBJ Lyndon Johnson second January 20, 1965 - January 20, 1969
JFK/LBJ Kennedy and Johnson split January 20, 1961 - January 20, 1965
DDE 2 Dwight Eisenhower second January 20, 1957 - January 20, 1961
DDE 1 Dwight Eisenhower first January 20, 1953 - January 20, 1957

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Ideological Voting on Federal Courts of Appeals

Catexgory:Judicial Branch of the United States Government Catxegory:Politics of the U.S.