United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

(Redirected from Seventh Circuit)

The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (in case citations, 7th Cir.) is the U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
(7th Cir.)
LocationEverett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse
Appeals from
EstablishedJune 16, 1891
Judges11
Circuit JusticeAmy Coney Barrett
Chief JudgeDiane S. Sykes
www.ca7.uscourts.gov

The court is based at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago and is composed of eleven appellate judges. It is one of 13 United States courts of appeals.

The court offers a relatively unique internet presence that includes wiki and RSS feeds of opinions and oral arguments.[1] It is also notable for having one of the most prominent law and economics scholars, Judge Frank Easterbrook, on its court.[2] Richard Posner, another prominent law and economics scholar, also served on this court until his retirement in 2017.[3] Three judges from the Seventh Circuit, Sherman Minton, John Paul Stevens, and Amy Coney Barrett, have been appointed as Associate Justices of the Supreme Court.

The Dirksen Federal Building, seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Current composition of the court

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As of April 30, 2024:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
ActiveChiefSenior
53Chief JudgeDiane S. SykesMilwaukee, WI19572004–present2020–presentG.W. Bush
45Circuit JudgeFrank EasterbrookChicago, IL19481985–present2006–2013Reagan
49Circuit JudgeIlana RovnerChicago, IL19381992–presentG.H.W. Bush
57Circuit JudgeMichael B. BrennanMilwaukee, WI19632018–presentTrump
58Circuit JudgeMichael Y. ScudderChicago, IL19712018–presentTrump
59Circuit JudgeAmy St. EveChicago, IL19652018–presentTrump
60Circuit JudgeThomas KirschHammond, IN19742020–presentTrump
61Circuit JudgeCandace Jackson-AkiwumiChicago, IL19792021–presentBiden
62Circuit JudgeJohn Z. LeeChicago, IL19682022–presentBiden
63Circuit JudgeDoris PryorIndianapolis, IN19772022–presentBiden
64Circuit JudgeJoshua P. KolarHammond, IN19762024–presentBiden
38Senior Circuit JudgeWilliam J. Bauerinactive19261974–19941986–19931994–presentFord
44Senior Circuit JudgeJoel FlaumChicago, IL19361983–20202000–20062020–presentReagan
46Senior Circuit JudgeKenneth Francis RippleSouth Bend, IN19431985–20082008–presentReagan
47Senior Circuit JudgeDaniel Anthony Manioninactive19421986–20072007–presentReagan
55Senior Circuit JudgeDavid HamiltonBloomington, IN19572009–20222022–presentObama


Vacancies and pending nominations

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SeatPrior judge's duty stationSeat last held byVacancy reasonDate of vacancyNomineeDate of nomination
5Chicago, ILIlana RovnerSenior statusTBD[4][5]Nancy L. MaldonadoFebruary 27, 2024

List of former judges

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#JudgeStateBorn–diedActive serviceChief JudgeSenior statusAppointed byReason for
termination
1Walter Q. GreshamIN1832–18951891–1893 Arthur / Operation of law[6]resignation
2William Allen WoodsIN1837–19011892–1901B. Harrisondeath
3James Graham JenkinsWI1834–19211893–1905 Clevelandretirement
4John William ShowalterIL1844–18981895–1898 Clevelanddeath
5Peter S. GrosscupIL1852–19211899–1911 McKinleyresignation
6Francis Elisha BakerIN1860–19241902–1924T. Rooseveltdeath
7William Henry SeamanWI1842–19151905–1915T. Rooseveltdeath
8Christian Cecil KohlsaatIL1844–19181905–1918T. Rooseveltdeath
9Julian MackIL1866–19431911–1929[7]reassigned to the 6th Circuit
10Samuel Alschuler[8]IL1859–19391915–19361936–1939 Wilsondeath
11Evan Alfred EvansWI1876–19481916–1948 Wilsondeath
12George True PageIL1859–19411919–19301930–1941 Wilsondeath
13Albert Barnes AndersonIN1857–19381925–19291929–1938 Coolidgedeath
14William Morris SparksIN1872–19501929–194819481948–1950 Hooverdeath
15Louis FitzhenryIL1870–19351933–1935F. Rooseveltdeath
16James Earl MajorIL1887–19721937–19561948–19541956–1972F. Rooseveltdeath
17Walter Emanuel TreanorIN1883–19411937–1941F. Rooseveltdeath
18Otto Kerner Sr.[8]IL1884–19521938–1952F. Rooseveltdeath
19Sherman MintonIN1890–19651941–1949F. Rooseveltelevation to Supreme Court
20F. Ryan DuffyWI1888–19791949–19661954–19591966–1979 Trumandeath
21Philip J. FinneganIL1886–19591949–1959 Trumandeath
22Walter C. LindleyIL1880–19581949–1958 Trumandeath
23Hardress Nathaniel Swaim[8]IN1880–19571949–1957 Trumandeath
24Elmer Jacob Schnackenberg[8]IL1889–19681953–1968 Eisenhowerdeath
25John Simpson HastingsIN1898–19771957–19691959–19681969–1977 Eisenhowerdeath
26William Lynn ParkinsonIN1902–19591957–1959 Eisenhowerdeath
27Winfred George KnochIL1895–19831958–19671967–1983 Eisenhowerdeath
28Latham CastleIL1900–19861959–19701968–19701970–1986 Eisenhowerdeath
29Roger KileyIL1900–19741961–19741974 Kennedydeath
30Luther Merritt SwygertIN1905–19881961–19811970–19751981–1988 Kennedydeath
31Thomas E. FairchildWI1912–20071966–19811975–19811981–2007L. Johnsondeath
32Walter J. Cummings Jr.IL1916–19991966–19991981–1986L. Johnsondeath
33Otto Kerner Jr.IL1908–19761968–1974L. Johnsonresignation
34Wilbur Frank Pell Jr.IN1915–20001970–19841984–2000 Nixondeath
35John Paul StevensIL1920–20191970–1975 Nixonelevation to Supreme Court
36Robert Arthur SprecherIL1917–19821971–1982 Nixondeath
37Philip Willis ToneIL1923–20011974–1980 Nixonresignation
39Harlington Wood Jr.IL1920–20081976–19921992–2008 Forddeath
40Richard Dickson CudahyWI1926–20151979–19941994–2015 Carterdeath
41Jesse E. EschbachIN1920–20051981–19851985–2005 Reagandeath
42Richard PosnerIL1939–present1981–20171993–2000 Reaganretirement
43John Louis CoffeyWI1922–20121982–20042004–2012 Reagandeath
48Michael Stephen KanneIN1938–20221987–2022 Reagandeath
50Diane WoodIL1950–present1995–20222013–20202022–2024 Clintonretirement
51Terence T. EvansWI1940–20111995–20102010–2011 Clintondeath
52Ann Claire WilliamsIL1949–present1999–20172017–2018 Clintonretirement
54John Daniel TinderIN1950–present2007–20152015G.W. Bushretirement
56Amy Coney BarrettIN1972–present2017–2020 Trumpelevation to Supreme Court

Chief judges

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Chief Judge
Sparks1948
Major1948–1954
Duffy1954–1959
Hastings1959–1968
Castle1968–1970
Swygert1970–1975
Fairchild1975–1981
Cummings, Jr.1981–1986
Bauer1986–1993
Posner1993–2000
Flaum2000–2006
Easterbrook2006–2013
D. Wood2013–2020
Sykes2020–present

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their circuits, and preside over any panel on which they serve, unless the circuit justice (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, with seniority determined first by commission date, then by age. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. If no judge qualifies to be chief, the youngest judge over the age of 65 who has served on the court for at least one year shall act as chief until another judge qualifies. If no judge has served on the court for more than a year, the most senior judge shall act as chief. Judges can forfeit or resign their chief judgeship or acting chief judgeship while retaining their active status as a circuit judge.[9]

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.[10]


Succession of seats

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The court has eleven 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 but vacate their seats, thus allowing the U.S. President to appoint new judges to fill their seats.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Seventh Circuit Opinions. The Seventh Circuit is now joined by the Courts of Appeals for the First, Second, Fourth, Ninth, DC, and Federal Circuits in having RSS feeds of their opinions.
  2. ^ Lewis, Neil A. (May 11, 2009). "Potential Justice Offers a Counterpoint in Chicago". New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
  3. ^ O'Connell, Jason Meisner, Patrick M. "Richard Posner announces sudden retirement from federal appeals court in Chicago". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2018-03-01.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Ilana Rovner Letter to President Biden" (PDF). U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. January 12, 2024.
  5. ^ "Futute Judicial Vacancies".
  6. ^ Gresham was appointed as a circuit judge for the Seventh Circuit in 1884 by Chester A. Arthur. The Judiciary Act of 1891 reassigned his seat to what is now the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
  7. ^ Mack did not have a permanent seat on this court. Instead, he was appointed to the ill-fated United States Commerce Court in 1910 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 upon his commission.
  8. ^ a b c d Recess appointment, later confirmed by the United States Senate.
  9. ^ 28 U.S.C. § 45
  10. ^ 62 Stat. 871, 72 Stat. 497, 96 Stat. 51
  • "Standard Search". Federal Law Clerk Information System. Archived from the original on October 21, 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2005.
    • primary but incomplete source for the duty stations
  • "Instructions for Judicial Directory". University of Texas Law School. Archived from the original on November 11, 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2005.
    • secondary source for the duty stations
    • data is current to 2002
  • "U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit". Official website of the Federal Judicial Center. Archived from the original on April 18, 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2005.
    • source for the state, lifetime, term of active judgeship, term of chief judgeship, term of senior judgeship, appointer, termination reason, and seat information
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