The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (in case citations , 7th Cir. ) is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts :
The court is based at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago, Illinois . It is one of thirteen United States courts of appeals , composed of eleven judges.
The court offers a unique internet presence that includes wiki and RSS feeds of opinions and oral arguments. No other United States District or Appellate Court offers oral arguments using these feeds to the internet, with the exception of United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit , that offer RSS features. It is also notable for having two of the most prominent law and economics scholars, Judge Easterbrook and Judge Posner , on its court.[ 1]
There are two current vacancies on the Seventh Circuit.
Current composition of the court [ edit ]
As of February 18, 2015, the judges on the court were as follows:
#
Title
Judge
Duty station
Born
Term of service
Appointed by
Active
Chief
Senior
49
Chief Judge
Diane Pamela Wood
Chicago, IL
1950
1995–present
2013–present
—
Clinton
41
Circuit Judge
Richard Posner
Chicago, IL
1939
1981–present
1993–2000
—
Reagan
43
Circuit Judge
Joel Martin Flaum
Chicago, IL
1936
1983–present
2000–2006
—
Reagan
44
Circuit Judge
Frank H. Easterbrook
Chicago, IL
1948
1985–present
2006–2013
—
Reagan
47
Circuit Judge
Michael Stephen Kanne
Lafayette, IN
1938
1987–present
—
—
Reagan
48
Circuit Judge
Ilana Rovner
Chicago, IL
1938
1992–present
—
—
G. H. W. Bush
51
Circuit Judge
Ann Claire Williams
Chicago, IL
1949
1999–present
—
—
Clinton
52
Circuit Judge
Diane S. Sykes
Milwaukee, WI
1957
2004–present
—
—
G. W. Bush
54
Circuit Judge
David F. Hamilton
Bloomington, IN
1957
2009–present
—
—
Obama
55
Circuit Judge
vacant
–
–
–
—
—
–
56
Circuit Judge
vacant
–
–
–
—
—
–
37
Senior Circuit Judge
William Joseph Bauer
Chicago, IL
1926
1974–1994
1986–1993
1994–present
Ford
45
Senior Circuit Judge
Kenneth Francis Ripple
South Bend, IN
1943
1985–2008
—
2008–present
Reagan
46
Senior Circuit Judge
Daniel Anthony Manion
South Bend, IN
1942
1986–2007
—
2007–present
Reagan
Vacancies and pending nominations [ edit ]
List of former judges [ edit ]
Forty-two judges have served on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, but no longer do:
#
Judge
State
Born–died
Active
Chief
Senior
Appointed by
Reason for
termination
1
Gresham, Walter Q. Walter Q. Gresham
Indiana
1832–1895
1891–1893
——
——
Arthur, C. C. Arthur [ 2]
resignation
2
Woods, William Allen William Allen Woods
Indiana
1837–1901
1892–1901
——
——
Harrison, B. B. Harrison
death
3
Jenkins, James Graham James Graham Jenkins
Wisconsin
1834–1921
1893–1905
——
——
Cleveland, Cleveland
retirement
4
Showalter, John William John William Showalter
Illinois
1844–1898
1895–1898
——
——
Cleveland, Cleveland
death
5
Grosscup, Peter Stenger Peter Stenger Grosscup
Illinois
1852–1921
1899–1911
——
——
McKinley, McKinley
resignation
6
Baker, Francis Elisha Francis Elisha Baker
Indiana
1860–1924
1902–1924
——
——
Roosevelt, T. T. Roosevelt
death
7
Seaman, William Henry William Henry Seaman
Wisconsin
1842–1915
1905–1915
——
——
Roosevelt, T. T. Roosevelt
death
8
Kohlsaat, Christian Cecil Christian Cecil Kohlsaat
Illinois
1844–1918
1905–1918
——
——
Roosevelt, T. T. Roosevelt
death
9
Alschuler, Samuel Samuel Alschuler [ 3]
Illinois
1859–1939
1915–1936
——
1936–1939
Wilson, Wilson
death
10
Evans, Evan Alfred Evan Alfred Evans
Wisconsin
1876–1948
1916–1948
——
——
Wilson, Wilson
death
11
Page, George True George True Page
Illinois
1859–1941
1919–1930
——
1930–1941
Wilson, Wilson
death
12
Anderson, Albert Barnes Albert Barnes Anderson
Indiana
1857–1938
1925–1929
——
1929–1938
Coolidge, Coolidge
death
13
Sparks, William Morris William Morris Sparks
Indiana
1872–1950
1929–1948
1948–1948
1948–1950
Hoover, Hoover
death
14
FitzHenry, Louis Louis FitzHenry
Illinois
1870–1935
1933–1935
——
——
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
15
Major, James Earl James Earl Major
Illinois
1887–1972
1937–1956
1948–1954
1956–1972
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
16
Treanor, Walter Emanuel Walter Emanuel Treanor
Indiana
1883–1941
1937–1941
——
——
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
17
Kerner, Sr., Otto Otto Kerner, Sr. [ 3]
Illinois
1884–1952
1938–1952
——
——
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
18
Minton, Sherman Sherman Minton
Indiana
1890–1965
1941–1949
——
——
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
elevation to the Supreme Court
19
Duffy, F. Ryan F. Ryan Duffy
Wisconsin
1888–1979
1949–1966
1954–1959
1966–1979
Truman, Truman
death
20
Finnegan, Philip J. Philip J. Finnegan
Illinois
1886–1959
1949–1959
——
——
Truman, Truman
death
21
Lindley, Walter C. Walter C. Lindley
Illinois
1880–1958
1949–1958
——
——
Truman, Truman
death
22
Swaim, Hardress Nathaniel Hardress Nathaniel Swaim [ 3]
Indiana
1880–1957
1949–1957
——
——
Truman, Truman
death
23
Schnackenberg, Elmer Jacob Elmer Jacob Schnackenberg [ 3]
Illinois
1889–1968
1953–1968
——
——
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
death
24
Hastings, John Simpson John Simpson Hastings
Indiana
1898–1977
1957–1969
1959–1968
1969–1977
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
death
25
Parkinson, William Lynn William Lynn Parkinson
Indiana
1902–1959
1957–1959
——
——
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
death
26
Knoch, Winfred George Winfred George Knoch
Illinois
1895–1983
1958–1967
——
1967–1983
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
death
27
Castle, Latham Latham Castle
Illinois
1900–1986
1959–1970
1968–1970
1970–1986
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
death
28
Kiley, Roger Joseph Roger Joseph Kiley
Illinois
1900–1974
1961–1974
——
1974–1974
Kennedy, Kennedy
death
29
Swygert, Luther Merritt Luther Merritt Swygert
Indiana
1905–1988
1961–1981
1970–1975
1981–1988
Kennedy, Kennedy
death
30
Cummings, Jr., Walter J. Walter J. Cummings, Jr.
Illinois
1916–1999
1966–1999
1981–1986
——
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
31
Fairchild, Thomas E. Thomas E. Fairchild
Wisconsin
1912–2007
1966–1981
1975–1981
1981–2007
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
32
Kerner, Jr., Otto Otto Kerner, Jr.
Illinois
1908–1976
1968–1974
——
——
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
resignation
33
Pell, Jr., Wilbur Frank Wilbur Frank Pell, Jr.
Indiana
1915–2000
1970–1984
——
1984–2000
Nixon, Nixon
death
34
Stevens, John Paul John Paul Stevens
Illinois
1920–present
1970–1975
——
——
Nixon, Nixon
elevation to the Supreme Court
35
Sprecher, Robert Arthur Robert Arthur Sprecher
Illinois
1917–1982
1971–1982
——
——
Nixon, Nixon
death
36
Tone, Philip Willis Philip Willis Tone
Illinois
1923–2001
1974–1980
——
——
Nixon, Nixon
resignation
38
Harlington Wood, Jr.
Illinois
1920–2008
1976–1992
——
1992–2008
Ford, Ford
death
39
Richard Dickson Cudahy
Illinois
1926–2015
1979–1994
——
1994–2015
Carter, Carter
death
40
Eschbach, Jesse E. Jesse E. Eschbach
Indiana
1920–2005
1981–1985
——
1985–2005
Reagan, Reagan
death
42
John Louis Coffey
Wisconsin
1922–2012
1982–2004
——
2004–2011
Reagan, Reagan
retirement
50
Terence T. Evans
Wisconsin
1940–2011
1995–2010
——
2010–2011
Clinton, Clinton
death
53
John Daniel Tinder
Indiana
1950–present
2007–2015
——
2015
G. W. Bush, G. W. Bush
retirement
Chief judges [ edit ]
Chief Judge
Sparks
1948–1948
Major
1948–1954
Duffy
1954–1959
Hastings
1959–1968
Castle
1968–1970
Swygert
1970–1975
Fairchild
1975–1981
Cummings
1981–1986
Bauer
1986–1993
Posner
1993–2000
Flaum
2000–2006
Easterbrook
2006–2013
Wood
2013–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.
The current Chief Judge of the Seventh Circuit is Judge Diane Wood , who succeeded Judge Frank H. Easterbrook in October 2013. Judge Wood is the first female chief judge of the court.
Succession of seats [ edit ]
The court has eleven seats for active judges, 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 Judiciary Act of 1869 as a circuit judgeship for the Seventh Circuit
Reassigned to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit by the Judiciary Act of 1891
Gresham
IN
1891–1893
Jenkins
WI
1893–1905
Seaman
WI
1905–1915
E. Evans
WI
1916–1948
Duffy
WI
1949–1966
Fairchild
WI
1966–1981
Coffey
WI
1982–2004
Sykes
WI
2004–present
Seat 2
Established on June 16, 1891, by the Judiciary Act of 1891
Woods
IN
1892–1901
Baker
IN
1902–1924
Anderson
IN
1925–1929
Sparks
IN
1929–1948
Finnegan
IL
1949–1959
Castle
IL
1959–1970
Sprecher
IL
1971–1982
Flaum
IL
1983–present
Seat 3
Established on February 8, 1895, by 28 Stat. 643
Showalter
IL
1895–1898
Grosscup
IL
1899–1911
Alschuler
IL
1915–1936
Treanor
IN
1937–1941
Minton
IN
1941–1949
Lindley
IL
1949–1958
Knoch
IL
1958–1967
Kerner, Jr.
IL
1968–1974
Bauer
IL
1974–1994
D. Wood
IL
1995–present
Seat 4
Established on March 3, 1905, by 33 Stat. 992
Kohlsaat
IL
1905–1918
Page
IL
1919–1930
FitzHenry
IL
1933–1935
Major
IL
1937–1956
Hastings
IN
1957–1969
Pell
IN
1970–1984
Manion
IN
1986–2007
Tinder
IN
2007–2015
vacant
n/a
2015–present
Seat 5
Established on May 31, 1938, by 52 Stat. 584
Kerner, Sr.
IL
1938–1952
Schnackenberg
IL
1953–1968
Stevens
IL
1970–1975
H. Wood
IL
1976–1992
Rovner
IL
1992–present
Seat 6
Established on August 3, 1949, by 63 Stat. 493
Swaim
IN
1949–1957
Parkinson
IN
1957–1959
Kiley
IL
1961–1974
Tone
IL
1974–1980
Posner
IL
1981–present
Seat 7
Established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
Swygert
IN
1961–1981
Eschbach
IN
1981–1985
Kanne
IN
1987–present
Seat 8
Established on March 18, 1966, by 80 Stat. 75
Cummings
IL
1966–1999
Williams
IL
1999–present
Seat 9
Established on October 20, 1978, by 92 Stat. 1629, 1632
Cudahy
IL
1979–1994
T. Evans
WI
1995–2010
vacant
n/a
2010–present
Seat 10
Established on July 10, 1984, by 98 Stat. 333
Easterbrook
IL
1985–present
Seat 11
Established on July 10, 1984, by 98 Stat. 333
Ripple
IN
1985–2008
Hamilton
IN
2009–present
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
"Standard Search" . Federal Law Clerk Information System . 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
External links [ edit ]