United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit: Information from Answers.com

Seal of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (in case citations, 8th Cir.) is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:

The court is composed of eleven active judges and is based at the Thomas F. Eagleton Courthouse in St. Louis, Missouri. It is one of thirteen United States courts of appeals.

1 Current composition of the court
2 Vacancies and pending nominations
3 List of former judges
4 Chief judges
5 Succession of seats
6 Trivia
7 See also
8 Notes
9 References
10 External links
11 Navigation

Current composition of the court

As of^[update] 2009, the judges on the court are:

#	Title	Judge	Duty station	Born	Term of service			Appointed by
#	Title	Judge	Duty station	Born	Active	Chief	Senior	Appointed by
45	Chief Judge	James B. Loken	Minneapolis, MN	1940	1990–present	2003–present	—	G.H.W. Bush
42	Circuit Judge	Roger Leland Wollman	Sioux Falls, SD	1934	1985–present	1999–2002	—	Reagan
48	Circuit Judge	Diana E. Murphy	Minneapolis, MN	1934	1994–present	(none)	—	Clinton
50	Circuit Judge	Kermit Edward Bye	Fargo, ND	1937	2000–present	(none)	—	Clinton
51	Circuit Judge	William J. Riley	Omaha, NE	1947	2001–present	(none)	—	G.W. Bush
52	Circuit Judge	Michael Joseph Melloy	Cedar Rapids, IA	1948	2002–present	(none)	—	G.W. Bush
53	Circuit Judge	Lavenski R. Smith	Little Rock, AR	1958	2002–present	(none)	—	G.W. Bush
54	Circuit Judge	Steven M. Colloton	Des Moines, IA	1963	2003–present	(none)	—	G.W. Bush
55	Circuit Judge	Raymond W. Gruender	Saint Louis, MO	1963	2004–present	(none)	—	G.W. Bush
56	Circuit Judge	William Duane Benton	Kansas City, MO	1950	2004–present	(none)	—	G.W. Bush
57	Circuit Judge	Bobby E. Shepherd	El Dorado, AR	1951	2006–present	(none)	—	G.W. Bush
32	Senior Circuit Judge	Myron H. Bright	Fargo, ND	1919	1968–1985	(none)	1985–present	L. Johnson
33	Senior Circuit Judge	Donald Roe Ross	(inactive)	1922	1970-1987	(none)	1987-present	Nixon
39	Senior Circuit Judge	John R. Gibson	Kansas City, MO	1925	1982–1994	(none)	1994–present	Reagan
40	Senior Circuit Judge	George Gardner Fagg	(inactive)	1934	1982-1999	(none)	1999-present	Reagan
41	Senior Circuit Judge	Pasco Bowman II	Kansas City, MO	1933	1983–2003	1998–1999	2003–present	Reagan
43	Senior Circuit Judge	Frank J. Magill	(inactive)	1927	1986–1997	(none)	1997–present	Reagan
44	Senior Circuit Judge	C. Arlen Beam	Lincoln, NE	1930	1987–2001	(none)	2001–present	Reagan
46	Senior Circuit Judge	David R. Hansen	Cedar Rapids, IA	1938	1991–2003	2002–2003	2003–present	G.H.W. Bush
47	Senior Circuit Judge	Morris Sheppard Arnold	Little Rock, AR	1941	1992–2006	(none)	2006–present	G.H.W. Bush

Vacancies and pending nominations

There are currently no circuit vacancies.

List of former judges

#	Judge	State	Born/Died	Active service	Term as Chief Judge	Senior status	Appointed by	Reason for termination
1	Caldwell, Henry ClayHenry Clay Caldwell	AR	1832–1915	1891–1903	(none)	(none)	^[1]	retirement
2	Sanborn, Walter HenryWalter Henry Sanborn	MN	1845–1928	1892–1928	(none)	(none)	B. Harrison	death
3	Thayer, Amos MaddenAmos Madden Thayer	MO	1841–1905	1894–1905	(none)	(none)	Cleveland	death
4	Van Devanter, WillisWillis Van Devanter		1859–1941	1903–1910	(none)	(none)	T. Roosevelt	elevation to Supreme Court
5	Hook, William CatherWilliam Cather Hook	KS	1857–1921	1903–1921	(none)	(none)	T. Roosevelt	death
6	Adams, Elmer BraggElmer Bragg Adams	MO	1842–1916	1905^[2]–1916	(none)	(none)	T. Roosevelt	death
—	Carland, John EmmettJohn Emmett Carland	SD	1853–1922	1911–1922	(none)	(none)	^[3]	death
7	Smith, Walter I.Walter I. Smith	IA	1862–1922	1911–1922	(none)	(none)	Taft	death
8	Stone, KimbroughKimbrough Stone	MO	1875–1958	1916–1947	(none)	1947–1958	Wilson	death
9	Lewis, Robert E.Robert E. Lewis	CO	1857–1941	1921–1929	(none)	(none)	Harding	reassignment to 10th Circuit
10	Kenyon, William SquireWilliam Squire Kenyon	IA	1869–1933	1922–1933	(none)	(none)	Harding	death
11	Booth, Wilbur FranklinWilbur Franklin Booth	MN	1861–1944	1925–1932	(none)	1932–1944	Coolidge	death
12	Van Valkenburgh, Arba SeymourArba Seymour Van Valkenburgh	MO	1862–1944	1925–1933	(none)	1933–1944	Coolidge	death
13	Cotteral, John HazeltonJohn Hazelton Cotteral	OK	1864–1933	1928–1929	(none)	(none)	Coolidge	reassignment to 10th Circuit
14	Gardner, Archibald K.Archibald K. Gardner	SD	1867–1962	1929–1960	1948–1959	1960–1962	Hoover	death
15	Sanborn, Jr., John B.John B. Sanborn, Jr.	MN	1883–1964	1932–1958	(none)	1959–1964	Hoover	death
16	Woodrough, Joseph WilliamJoseph William Woodrough	NE	1873–1977	1933–1961	(none)	1961–1977	F. Roosevelt	death
17	Faris, Charles BreckenridgeCharles Breckenridge Faris	MO	1864–1938	1935–1935	(none)	1935–1938	F. Roosevelt	death
18	Thomas, SethSeth Thomas	IA	1873–1962	1935^(b)–1954	(none)	1954–1962	F. Roosevelt	death
19	Johnsen, Harvey M.Harvey M. Johnsen	NE	1895–1975	1940–1965	1959–1965	1965–1975	F. Roosevelt	death
20	Riddick, Walter GarrettWalter Garrett Riddick	AR	1883–1953	1941–1953	(none)	(none)	F. Roosevelt	death
21	Collet, John CaskieJohn Caskie Collet	MO	1898–1955	1947–1955	(none)	(none)	Truman	death
22	Vogel, Charles JosephCharles Joseph Vogel	ND	1898–1980	1954–1968	1965–1968	1968–1980	Eisenhower	death
23	Van Oosterhout, Martin DonaldMartin Donald Van Oosterhout	IA	1900–1979	1954–1971	1968–1970	1971–1979	Eisenhower	death
24	Whittaker, Charles EvansCharles Evans Whittaker	MO	1901–1973	1956–1957	(none)	(none)	Eisenhower	elevation to Supreme Court
25	Matthes, Marion CharlesMarion Charles Matthes	MO	1906–1980	1958–1973	1970–1973	1973–1980	Eisenhower	death
26	Blackmun, HarryHarry Blackmun	MN	1908–1999	1959–1970	(none)	(none)	Eisenhower	elevation to Supreme Court
27	Ridge, Albert AlphonsoAlbert Alphonso Ridge	MO	1898–1967	1961–1965	(none)	1965–1967	Kennedy	death
28	Mehaffy, PatPat Mehaffy	AR	1904–1981	1963–1974	1973–1974	1974–1981	Kennedy	death
29	Gibson, Floyd RobertFloyd Robert Gibson	MO	1910–2001	1965–1979	1974–1979	1979–2001	L. Johnson	death
30	Lay, Donald P.Donald P. Lay	MN	1926–2007	1966–1992	1979–1992	1992–2007	L. Johnson	death
31	Heaney, Gerald WilliamGerald William Heaney	MN	1918–present	1966–1988	(none)	1988–2006	L. Johnson	retirement
34	Stephenson, Roy LaverneRoy Laverne Stephenson	IA	1917–1982	1971–1982	(none)	1982–1982	Nixon	death
35	Webster, William HedgcockWilliam Hedgcock Webster	MO	1924–present	1973–1978	(none)	(none)	Nixon	resignation to become FBI Director
36	Henley, Jesse SmithJesse Smith Henley	AR	1917–1997	1975–1982	(none)	1982–1997	Ford	death
37	McMillian, TheodoreTheodore McMillian	MO	1919–2006	1978–2003	(none)	2003–2006	Carter	death
38	Arnold, Richard SheppardRichard Sheppard Arnold	AR	1936–2004	1980–2001	1992–1998	2001–2004	Carter	death
49	Kelly, John DavidJohn David Kelly	ND	1934–1998	1998–1998	(none)	(none)	Clinton	death

Chief judges

Chief Judge
Gardner	1948–1959
Johnsen	1959–1965
Vogel	1965–1968
Van Oosterhout	1968–1970
Matthes	1970–1973
Mehaffy	1973–1974
Gibson	1974–1979
Lay	1979–1992
Arnold	1992–1998
Bowman	1998–1999
Wollman	1999–2002
Hansen	2002–2003
Loken	2003–present

In order to qualify for the office of Chief Judge, 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 in the office of Chief Judge 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. Unlike the Chief Justice of the United States, a Chief Judge returns to active service after the expiration of his or her term and does not create a vacancy on the bench by the fact of his or her promotion. See 28 U.S.C. § 45.

The above rules have applied since October 1, 1982. The office of Chief Judge was created in 1948 and until August 6, 1959 was filled by 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. From then until 1982 it was filled by the senior such judge who had not turned 70.

Succession of seats

The court has had thirteen seats for active judges. Two of these seats were reassigned to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, leaving a eleven-seat court. The seats are numbered in the order in which they were filled. Judges who retire into senior status remain on the bench but leave their seat vacant. That seat is filled by the next circuit judge appointed by the President.

Seat 1
Established on December 10, 1869 by the Circuit Judges Act as a circuit judgeship for the Eighth Circuit
Reassigned to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit by the Judiciary Act of 1891
Caldwell	AR	1891–1903
Hook	KS	1903–1921
Lewis	CO	1921–1929
Reassigned on February 28, 1929 to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit by 45 Stat. 1346

Seat 2
Established on June 16, 1891 by the Judiciary Act of 1891
W. Sanborn	MN	1892–1928
Cotteral	OK	1928–1929
Reassigned on February 28, 1929 to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit by 45 Stat. 1346

Seat 3
Established on July 23, 1894 by 28 Stat. 115
Thayer	MO	1894–1905
Adams	MO	1905–1916
Stone	MO	1916–1947
Collet	MO	1947–1955
Whittaker	MO	1956–1957
Matthes	MO	1958–1973
Webster	MO	1973–1978
McMillian	MO	1978–2003
Benton	MO	2004–present

Seat 4
Established on January 31, 1903 by 32 Stat. 791
Van Devanter	WY	1903–1910
W. Smith	IA	1911–1922
Kenyon	IA	1922–1933
Faris	MO	1935–1935
Thomas	IA	1935–1954
Van Oosterhout	IA	1954–1971
Stephenson	IA	1971–1982
Fagg	IA	1982–1999
Melloy	IA	2002–present

Seat 5
Established on March 3, 1925 by 43 Stat. 1116
Booth	MN	1925–1932
J. Sanborn	MN	1932–1959
Blackmun	MN	1959–1970
Ross	NE	1970–1987
Beam	NE	1987–2001
Riley	NE	2001–present

Seat 6
Established on March 3, 1925 by 43 Stat. 1116
Van Valkenburgh	MO	1925–1933
Woodrough	NE	1933–1961
Mehaffy	AR	1963–1974
Henley	AR	1975–1982
Bowman	MO	1983–2003
Gruender	MO	2004–present

Seat 7
Established on February 28, 1929 by 45 Stat. 1346
Gardner	SD	1929–1960
Ridge	MO	1961–1965
F. Gibson	MO	1965–1979
J. Gibson	MO	1982–1994
Murphy	MN	1994–present

Seat 8
Established on May 24, 1940 by 54 Stat. 219
Johnsen	NE	1940–1965
Lay	NE	1966–1992
M. Arnold	AR	1992–2006
Shepherd	AR	2006–present

Seat 9
Established on May 24, 1940 by 54 Stat. 219
Riddick	AR	1941–1953
Vogel	ND	1954–1968
Bright	ND	1968–1985
Magill	ND	1986–1997
Kelly	ND	1998–1998
Bye	ND	2000–present

Seat 10
Established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Heaney	MN	1966–1988
Loken	MN	1990–present

Seat 11
Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
R. Arnold	AR	1980–2001
L. Smith	AR	2002–present

Seat 12
Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
Wollman	SD	1985–present

Seat 13
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Hansen	IA	1991–2003
Colloton	IA	2003–present

Trivia

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (January 2008)

The Eighth Circuit is the most Republican U.S. Court of Appeals in the nation, with 9 of its 11 active judges (82%) appointed by Republican Presidents. The opposite end of the political spectrum is represented by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which has the highest percentage of Democratic appointees at 57%.

See Federal judicial appointment history.

The Eighth Circuit is also one of only two Courts of Appeals in the nation to have a majority of its judges appointed by a single President. George W. Bush has appointed seven of the Eighth Circuit's eleven allotted judges since assuming office in 2001. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, however, is a majority-Clinton court, with seven of its thirteen judges appointed during his two terms as President

See Federal judicial appointment history.

Notes

^ Caldwell was appointed as a circuit judge for the Eighth Circuit in 1890 by Benjamin Harrison. The Judiciary Act of 1891 reassigned his seat to what is now the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
^ Recess appointment, confirmed by the United States Senate at a later date.
^ Carland did not have a permanent seat on this court. Instead, he was appointed to the ill-fated United States Commerce Court in 1911 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. Carland was assigned to the Eighth Circuit upon his commission.

References

"Standard Search". Federal Law Clerk Information System. https://lawclerks.ao.uscourts.gov/web/jobSearch. Retrieved June 10 2005.
- primary but incomplete source for the duty stations
"Instructions for Judicial Directory". Website of the University of Texas Law School. http://www.utexas.edu/law/depts/career/downloads/judicial_listing.html. Retrieved July 4 2005.
- secondary source for the duty stations
- data is current to 2002
"U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit". Official website of the Federal Judicial Center. http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/usca_08_frm?OpenFrameSet. Retrieved June 10 2005.
- source for the state, lifetime, term of active judgeship, term of chief judgeship, term of senior judgeship, appointer, termination reason, and seat information

External links

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United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

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