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Federal judicial appointment history 

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 (2007) have a majority of Republican President appointees. However, 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.

Contents

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		 HST
2		 FDR
/HST		 FDR
3		 FDR
2
current*
9
7
2
-
2
-
-
2
2
2
-
-
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
-
-
-
-
1976
9
7
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
4
1
1
1
1
-
-
-
-
1972
9
6
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
1
1
1
1
-
-
-
1
1968
9
4
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
1
1
3
-
-
-
2
1964
9
4
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
1
3
1
-
-
2
1960
9
5
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
3
1
-
-
3
1956
9
3
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
1
1
-
4
1952
9
0
9
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
2
1
4
1948
9
0
9
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
2
5
Year Total Appointed
by
Republicans		 Appointed
by
Democrats		 Vacant FDR
/HST		 FDR
3		 FDR
2		 FDR
1		 HCH JCC WGH
/JCC		 TWW
2		 TWW
1		 WHT
1948
9
0
9
-
2
2
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1944
9
2
7
-
-
2
5
-
1
1
-
-
-
-
1940
9
3
6
-
-
-
5
-
2
1
-
-
1
-
1936
9
7
2
-
-
-
-
-
3
1
2
-
2
1
1932
9
7
2
-
-
-
-
-
3
1
2
-
2
1

Courts 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
102
66
10
25
32
33
26
22
15
7
7
1
-
-
-
-
-
2004
179
94
69
16
-
35
34
26
29
20
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
  • There are temporarily only 178 existing appellate federal judgeships, due to the elimination of a 12th seat on the D.C. Circuit by the Court Security Improvement Act of 2007. However, the Act also provided for the creation of a 29th seat on the Ninth Circuit in January 2009. All figures on this page are calculated as if there are still 179 seats.
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%
57%
37%
6%
14%
18%
18
15%
12%
8%
4%
4%
1%
-
-
-
-
-
2004
100%
53%
39%
9%
-
20%
19%
15%
16%
11%
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 circuit courts

Partisan mix of the courts
(ranked in partisan order)		 Percentage
of occupied seats
appointed
by
Republicans		 Percentage
of occupied seats
appointed
by
Democrats		 Republican/
Democrat/
Vacant		 Percentage
of total seats
appointed
by
Republicans		 Percentage
of total seats
appointed
by
Democrats		 Percentage
of total seats
currently
vacant
8th
82%
18%
9 / 2 / 0
82%
18%
0%
5th
76%
24%
13 / 4 / 0
76%
24%
0%
7th
73%
27%
8 / 3 / 0
73%
27%
0%
DC
70%
30%
7 / 3 / 1
64%
27%
9%
10th
67%
33%
8 / 4 / 0
67%
33%
0%
Federal
67%
33%
8 / 4 / 0
67%
33%
0%
6th
60%
40%
10 / 6 / 0
60%
40%
0%
1st
60%
40%
3 / 2 / 1
50%
33%
16%
Total of 13 circuits
60%
40%
102 / 66 / 10
57%
37%
6%
11th
58%
42%
7 / 5 / 0
58%
42%
0%
4th
54%
46%
6 / 5 / 4
40%
33%
26%
3rd
50%
50%
6 / 6 / 2
43%
43%
14%
2nd
50%
50%
6 / 6 / 1
46%
46%
8%
9th
41%
59%
11 / 16 / 1
39%
57%
4%

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
3
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

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
6
6
1
1
4
4
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2004
13
6
7
-
-
4
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

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
2
4
1
-
1
-
1
-
-
-
2004
14
7
6
1
-
4
4
1
2
1
-
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

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
6
5
4
1
2
3
2
2
-
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

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
13
4
0
4
2
-
3
3
2
2
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.

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
10
6
0
4
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

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
1
2
1
3
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

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
-
1
6
1
1
1
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

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
11
16
1
3
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

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
8
4
-
2
4
-
4
1
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

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 transferred to the 11th Circuit from the 5th Circuit are shown here.

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*
11
7
3
1
3
-
-
3
2
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
2004
12
5
4
3
-
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

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
1
3
1
3
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.

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
HST 2 Harry Truman second January 20, 1949 - January 20, 1953
FDR/HST Roosevelt and Truman split January 20, 1945 - January 20, 1949
FDR 3 Franklin Roosevelt third January 20, 1941 - January 20, 1945
FDR 2 Franklin Roosevelt second January 20, 1937 - January 20, 1941

See also

v • d • e
United States courts of appeals

External links
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