Chronological History of Authorized Judgeships

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Chronological History of Authorized Judgeships in the U.S. District Courts

This section provides dates and legislative authority for establishment, realignment, and creation of additional judgeships for the U.S. District Courts.

Information in this section is based on "Federal District Court Judges and the History of Their Courts", Erwin C. Surrency, 40 Federal Rules Decisions 139 and U.S. Statutes at Large.

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1820	State organized as one judicial district with one judgeship — 16 Cong. Ch. 47, April 21, 1820.
1824	State divided into two judicial districts, Northern and Southern with one judgeship serving both districts — 18 Cong. Ch. 28, March 10, 1824.
1839	Middle District created with one judgeship serving all three districts — 25 Cong. Ch. 20, February 6, 1839.
1886	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District with existing judgeship converted to serve the Northern and Middle Districts only — 49 Cong. Ch. 842, August 2, 1886.
1907	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District — 59 Cong. Ch. 1198, February 25, 1907.
1936	Existing judgeship for the Northern and Middle Districts converted to serve the Middle District only — 74 Cong. Ch. 515, June 5, 1936.
1938	One temporary judgeship created for the Northern District — 75 Cong. Ch. 53, March 26, 1938. This position was never made permanent.
1942	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District — 77 Cong. Ch. 827, December 24, 1942.
1961	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1966	One additional judgeship created to serve both the Middle and Southern Districts — Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1970	Existing judgeship serving the Middle and Southern Districts converted to serve the Southern District only. One additional judgeship created for the Northern District, and one additional judgeship created for the Middle District — Pub. L. No. 91-272, June 2, 1970.
1978	Three additional judgeships created for the Northern District and one additional judgeship created for the Middle District — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990	One temporary judgeship created for the Northern District — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990. This judgeship was never made permanent.
2002	One temporary judgeship created for the Northern District, effective July 15, 2003 — Pub. L. No. 107-273, November 2, 2002.
2013	The temporary judgeship in the Northern District was extended – Pub. L. No. 113-6, March 26, 2013.

Total Judgeships	13, 1 Temporary
Northern District	7, 1 Temporary
Middle District	3
Southern District	3

1958	New state organized as one judicial district with one judgeship — Pub. L. No. 85-508, July 7, 1958.
1961	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1984	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.

1913	New state organized as one judicial district with one judgeship — 63 Cong. Ch. 17, October 3, 1913.
1922	One temporary judgeship created — 67 Cong. Ch. 306, September 14, 1922.
1935	Temporary judgeship made permanent — 74 Cong. Ch. 558, August 19, 1935.
1961	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1966	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1970	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 91-272, June 2, 1970.
1978	Three additional judgeships created — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1999	Three additional judgeships created — Pub. L. No. 106-113, November 29, 1999.
2000	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 106-553, December 21, 2000.
2002	One temporary judgeship created, effective July 15, 2003 — Pub. L. No. 107-273, November 2, 2002.
2013	The temporary judgeship was extended – Pub. L. No. 113-6, March 26, 2013.

1836	New state organized as one judicial district with one judgeship — 24 Cong. Ch. 100, June 15, 1836.
1851	State divided into two judicial districts, Eastern and Western, with one judgeship serving both districts — 31 Cong. Ch. 24, March 3, 1851.
1871	One judgeship authorized for the Western District and the judgeship previously authorized to serve both districts was made a judgeship for the Eastern District only — 41 Cong. Ch. 106, March 3, 1871.
1938	One additional judgeship created to serve both districts — 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
1961	One additional judgeship created to serve both districts — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1978	Two additional judgeships created for the Eastern District — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984	One temporary judgeship created for the Western District — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990	One additional judgeship created and one temporary judgeship made permanent in the Western District, and two judgeships authorized to serve both districts were made judgeships for the Eastern District only —Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.

1850	New state was organized into two judicial districts, Northern and Southern, with one judgeship each — 31 Cong. Ch. 86, September 28, 1850.
1866	State reorganized into one judicial district with one judgeship — 39 Cong. Ch. 280, July 27, 1866.
1886	State again divided into two judicial districts, Northern and Southern, with one judgeship each — 49 Cong. Ch. 928, August 5, 1886.
1907	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District — 59 Cong. Ch. 2575, March 2, 1907.
1914	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District — 63 Cong. Ch. 216, July 30, 1914.
1922	One temporary judgeship created for the Northern District and one permanent judgeship created for the Southern District — 67 Cong. Ch. 306, September 14, 1922.
1927	Temporary judgeship in the Northern District made permanent — 69 Cong. Ch. 336, March 3, 1927.
1930	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District — 71 Cong. Ch. 633, June 27, 1930.
1935	Two additional judgeships created for the Southern District — 74 Cong. Ch. 425, August 2, 1935.
1938	One additional judgeship created for each district — 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
1940	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District — 76 Cong. Ch. 209, May 24, 1940.
1946	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District — 79 Cong. Ch. 413, June 15, 1946.
1949	Two additional judgeships created for the Northern District and two additional judgeships created for the Southern District — 81 Cong. Ch. 387, August 3, 1949.
1954	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District — 83 Cong. Ch. 6, February 10, 1954.
1961	Two additional judgeships created for the Northern District and two for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1966	Districts rearranged and two additional districts, Eastern and Central created. The new Eastern District received three judgeships — one from the Southern District and two from the Northern District. The new Central District received ten judgeships from the Southern District and three new judgeships bringing the total for that district to 13. The Northern District was authorized two new judgeships to replace the ones transferred to the Eastern District. This brought the total for the Northern District back to nine. The Southern District was left with two judgeships — Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1970	Two additional judgeships created for the Northern District, three for the Central District, and three for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 91-272, June 2, 1970.
1978	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District, three for the Eastern District, one for the Central District and two for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984	Five additional judgeships created for the Central District — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990	Two additional judgeships created for the Northern District, five for the Central District, one for the Southern District, and one temporary for the Eastern District — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990. Temporary judgeship for the Eastern District was never made permanent.
1997	The temporary judgeship in the Eastern District was extended — Pub. L. No. 105-53, October 6, 1997.
2002	One temporary judgeship created for the Central District and five additional judgeships created for the Southern District, effective July 15, 2003 — Pub. L. No. 107-273, November 2, 2002.
2013	The temporary judgeship in the Central District was extended – Pub. L. No. 113-6, March 26, 2013.

Total Judgeships	60, 1 Temporary
Northern District	14
Eastern District	6
Central District	27, 1 Temporary
Southern District	13

1934	Established as one judicial district with one judgeship pursuant to the Canal Zone Code — 73 Cong. Ch. 667, June 19, 1934.
1979	District court closed as of March 31, 1982 — Pub. L. No. 96-70, September 27, 1979.

1876	New state organized as one judicial district with one judgeship — 44 Cong. Ch. 147, June 26, 1876.
1954	One additional judgeship created — 83 Cong. Ch. 6, February 10, 1954.
1961	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1970	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 91-272, June 2, 1970.
1978	Two additional judgeships created — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.

1789	District court organized under the Judiciary Act of 1789 with one judgeship — 1 Cong. Ch. 20, September 24, 1789.
1927	One additional judgeship created — 69 Cong. Ch. 300, March 3, 1927.
1961	Two additional judgeships created — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1978	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990	Two additional judgeships created — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.

1863	A court was established in the District of Columbia to be called the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia with four judgeships. Any of the judges could hold United States district court for the District of Columbia in the same manner and with the same powers and jurisdiction possessed and exercised by other district courts — 37 Cong. Ch. 91, March 3, 1863.
1870	One additional judgeship created — 41 Cong. Ch. 141, June 21, 1870.
1879	One additional judgeship created — 45 Cong. Ch. 99, February 25, 1879.
1928	One additional judgeship created — 70 Cong. Ch. 41, December 20, 1928.
1930	Two additional judgeships created — 71 Cong. Ch. 537, June 19, 1930.
1936	Act of March 3, 1863 was amended. Name of the court was changed to the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia — 74 Cong. Ch. 804, June 25, 1936.
1938	Three additional judgeships created — 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
1949	Three additional judgeships created — 81 Cong. Ch. 387, August 3, 1949.

1845	New state organized as one judicial district with one judgeship — 28 Cong. Ch. 75, March 3, 1845.
1847	State divided into two judicial districts, Northern and Southern, with one judgeship each — 29 Cong. Ch. 20, February 23, 1847.
1922	One temporary judgeship created for the Southern District — 67 Cong. Ch. 306, September 14, 1922. Temporary judgeship for the Southern District was never made permanent.
1929	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District — 70 Cong. Ch. 72, January 17, 1929.
1930	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District — 71 Cong. Ch. 635, June 27, 1930.
1940	One temporary judgeship created to serve entire state — 76 Cong. Ch. 209, May 24, 1940.
1949	Temporary judgeship made permanent — 81 Cong. Ch. 387, August 3, 1949.
1954	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District — 83 Cong. Ch. 6, February 10, 1954.
1961	Two additional judgeships created for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1962	New Middle District created. Three judgeships of the Southern District were assigned to the Middle District — Pub. L. No. 87-562, July 30, 1962.
1966	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District, one for the Middle District and two for the Southern District. The statewide judgeship made permanent in 1949 was converted to a permanent position in the Middle District only — Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1970	One additional judgeship created for the Middle District and two additional for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 91-272, June 2, 1970.
1978	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District, three for the Middle District and five for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984	Three additional judgeships created for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District, two for the Middle District and one for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.
1999	Four additional judgeships created for the Middle District — Pub. L. No. 106-113, November 29, 1999.
2000	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 106-553, December 21, 2000.
2002	One temporary judgeship created for the Southern District, effective July 15, 2003 — Pub. L. No. 107-273, November 2, 2002.
2013	The temporary judgeship in the Southern District was extended – Pub. L. No. 113-6, March 26, 2013.

Total Judgeships	36, 1 Temporary
Northern District	4
Middle District	15
Southern District	17, 1 Temporary

1789	State organized as one judicial district by the Judiciary Act of 1789 with one judgeship — 1 Cong. Ch. 20, September 24, 1789.
1848	State was divided into two judicial districts, Northern and Southern, with one judgeship serving both districts — 30 Cong. Ch. 151, August 11, 1848.
1882	Separate judgeship authorized for each district — 47 Cong. Ch. 87, April 25, 1882.
1915	One additional temporary judgeship created for the Southern District. This position was never converted to a permanent judgeship — 63 Cong. Ch. 96, March 3, 1915.
1926	State reorganized into three judicial districts with one judgeship for each district — 69 Cong. Ch. 414, May 28, 1926.
1940	One temporary judgeship created for the Northern District — 76 Cong. Ch. 209, May 24, 1940.
1949	Temporary position created for the Middle District — 81 Cong. Ch. 37, March 29, 1949.
	Temporary position in the Northern District was made permanent — 81 Cong. Ch. 387, August 3, 1949.
1961	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District and the temporary judgeship in the Middle District made permanent — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1970	Three additional judgeships created for the Northern District and one for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 91-272, June 2, 1970.
1978	Five additional judgeships created for the Northern District and one for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984	One additional judgeship created for the Middle District — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990	One additional judgeship created for the Middle District — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.

1900	A Federal District Court was established and presided over by one judge appointed for a six-year term — 56 Cong. Ch. 339, April 30, 1900.
1909	One additional judgeship created — 60 Cong. Ch. 269, March 3, 1909.
1959	Admitted as a state, Federal District Court established as a constitutional court with two judgeships — Pub. L. No. 86-3, March 18, 1959.
1984	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990	One temporary judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.
1997	The temporary judgeship was extended — Pub. L. No. 105-53, October 6, 1997.
2009	The temporary judgeship was extended — Pub. L. No. 111-8, March 11, 2009.
	The temporary judgeship was extended — Pub. L. No. 111-117, December 16, 2009.
2011	The temporary judgeship was extended — Pub. L. No. 112-10, April 15, 2011.
	The temporary judgeship was extended — Pub. L. No. 112-74, December 23, 2011.
2013	The temporary judgeship was extended – Pub. L. No. 113-6, March 26, 2013.

1890	New state organized as one judicial district with one judgeship — 51 Cong. Ch. 656, July 3, 1890.
1954	One additional judgeship created — 83 Cong. Ch. 6, February 10, 1954.

1819	New state was organized into one judicial district with one judgeship — 15 Cong. Ch. 70, March 3, 1819.
1855	State divided into two judicial districts, Northern and Southern, with one judgeship each — 33 Cong. Ch. 96, February 13, 1855.
1905	State divided into three judicial districts, Northern, Eastern, and Southern, with two judgeships in Northern and one in each of the other districts — 58 Cong. Ch. 1427, March 3, 1905.
1922	One temporary judgeship created for the Northern District and one temporary for the Eastern District — 67 Cong. Ch. 306, September 14, 1922.
1928	Temporary judgeship created in 1922 for the Northern District was made permanent — 70 Cong. Ch. 882, May 29, 1928.
1930	Temporary judgeship created in 1922 for the Eastern District was made permanent — 71 Cong. Ch. 852, July 3, 1930.
1931	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District and two for the Northern District — 71 Cong. Ch. 244, February 20, 1931, and 71 Cong. Ch. 296, February 25, 1931.
1938	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District — 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
1940	Temporary judgeship created for the Northern District — 76 Cong. Ch. 209, May 24, 1940. This position was never made permanent.
1950	Two additional judgeships created for the Northern District — 81 Cong. Ch. 708, August 14, 1950.
1961	Two additional judgeships created for the Northern District — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1966	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District — Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1970	Two additional judgeships created for the Northern District — Pub. L. No. 91-272, June 2, 1970.
1978	State reorganized into Northern, Central and Southern Districts with 13 judgeships for the Northern District and two each for the Central and Southern Districts — Pub. L. No. 95-408, October 2, 1978, and Pub. L. No. 95-573, November 2, 1978.
	Three additional judgeships created for the Northern District and one for the Central District — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984	Four additional permanent judgeships and one temporary judgeship created for the Northern District and one additional permanent judgeship for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District, one temporary judgeship created for the Central District, one temporary judgeship created for the Southern District, and temporary judgeship created for the Northern District in 1984 was made permanent — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.
1997	The temporary judgeships were extended in the Central District and the Southern District of Illinois — Pub. L. No. 105-53, October 6, 1997.
2002	The temporary judgeships created in 1990 for the Central District and the Southern District were made permanent, effective July 15, 2003 — Pub. L. No. 107-273, November 2, 2002.

1817	New state was organized into one judicial district with one judgeship — 14 Cong. Ch. 100, March 3, 1817.
1925	One additional judgeship was created — 68 Cong. Ch. 83, January 16, 1925.
1928	State was divided into two judicial districts, Northern and Southern, with one judgeship each — 70 Cong. Ch. 393, April 21, 1928.
1954	One additional judgeship created for each district — 83 Cong. Ch. 6, February 10, 1954.
1961	One additional judgeship created for each district — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1966	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1978	One additional judgeship created for each district — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984	One temporary judgeship created for the Northern District — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990	Temporary judgeship created in 1984 for the Northern District was made permanent — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.

1845	Iowa was organized as one judicial district with one judgeship — 28 Cong. Ch. 76, March 3, 1845.
1882	State divided into two judicial districts with one judgeship each — 47 Cong. Ch. 312, July 20, 1882.
1928	Temporary judgeship created for the Southern District — 70 Cong. Ch. 10, January 19, 1928. This position was never made permanent.
1961	One additional judgeship created to serve both districts — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1978	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1990	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District, and the judgeship authorized to serve both districts was made a judgeship for the Northern District only — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.

1861	State organized as one judicial district with one judgeship — 36 Cong. Ch. 20, January 29, 1861.
1949	One additional judgeship created — 81 Cong. Ch. 387, August 3, 1949.
1961	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1966	One temporary judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1970	Temporary judgeship made permanent — Pub. L. No. 91-272, June 2, 1970.
1978	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1990	One temporary judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.
1997	The temporary judgeship was extended — Pub. L. No. 105-53, October 6, 1997.
2007	The temporary judgeship was extended — Pub. L. No. 110-5, February 15, 2007.
	The temporary judgeship was extended — Pub. L. No. 110-161, December 26, 2007.
2009	The temporary judgeship was extended — Pub. L. No. 111-8, March 11, 2009.
	The temporary judgeship was extended — Pub. L. No. 111-117, December 16, 2009.
2011	The temporary judgeship was extended — Pub. L. No. 112-10, April 15, 2011.
	The temporary judgeship was extended — Pub. L. No. 112-74, December 23, 2011.
2013	The temporary judgeship was extended – Pub. L. No. 113-6, March 26, 2013.

1789	Judiciary Act of 1789 established one judicial district with one judgeship — 1 Cong. Ch. 20, September 24, 1789.
1901	State divided into two judicial districts, Eastern and Western, with one judgeship each — 56 Cong. Ch. 355, February 12, 1901.
1936	One additional judgeship created to serve both districts — 74 Cong. Ch. 696, June 22, 1936.
1954	One additional judgeship created for the Western District — 83 Cong. Ch. 6, February 10, 1954.
1970	One additional judgeship created for each district — Pub. L. No. 91-272, June 2, 1970.
1978	Two additional permanent judgeships and one temporary created for the Eastern District — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978. The temporary judgeship was never made permanent.
1984	One additional judgeship created for the Western District — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
2000	One additional judgeship created for the Eastern District — Pub. L. No. 106-553, December 21, 2000.

Total Judgeships	10
Eastern District	5
Western District	4
Eastern & Western Districts	1

1812	State established as one judicial district with one judgeship — 12 Cong. Ch. 50, April 8, 1812.
1823	State divided into two judicial districts, Eastern and Western, with one judgeship serving both — 17 Cong. Ch. 44, March 3, 1823.
1845	State again made one judicial district — 28 Cong. Ch. 5, February 13, 1845.
1849	State again divided into Eastern and Western districts with a judgeship for each district — 30 Cong. Ch. 114, March 3, 1849.
1866	State again made one judicial district with one judgeship — 39 Cong. Ch. 280, July 27, 1866.
1881	State again divided into Eastern and Western Districts with a judgeship for each district — 46 Cong. Ch. 144, March 3, 1881.
1938	One additional judgeship created for each district — 75 Cong. Ch. 47, March 18, 1938, and 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
1961	Two additional judgeships created for the Eastern District and one additional for the Western District — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1966	Four additional judgeships created for the Eastern District — Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1970	Two additional judgeships created for the Eastern District and one for the Western District — Pub. L. No. 91-272, June 2, 1970.
1971	New Middle District created. One judgeship from the Eastern District was transferred to the new district — Pub. L. No. 92-208, December 18, 1971.
1978	Four additional judgeships created for the Eastern District, one for the Middle District and one for the Western District — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984	One additional judgeship created for the Western District — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990	One additional judgeship created for the Western District — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.
1997	One permanent judgeship was transferred from the Eastern District to the Middle District of Louisiana — Pub. L. No. 105-53, October 6, 1997.

1789	Area now constituting the state of Maine was created as a judicial district by the Judiciary Act of 1789 with one judgeship — 1 Cong. Ch. 20, September 24, 1789.
1978	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1990	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.

1789	State organized as one judicial district with one judgeship by the Judiciary Act of 1789 — 1 Cong. Ch. 20, September 24, 1789.
1910	One temporary judgeship created — 61 Cong. Ch. 56, February 24, 1910. This position was never made permanent.
1927	Second permanent judgeship was created — 69 Cong. Ch. 297, March 3, 1927.
1961	Two additional judgeships created — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1966	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1970	Two additional judgeships created — Pub. L. No. 91-272, June 2, 1970.
1978	Two additional judgeships created — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.

1858	State established as one judicial district with one judgeship — 35 Cong. Ch. 31, May 11, 1858.
1903	One additional judgeship created — 57 Cong. Ch. 402, February 4, 1903.
1922	One temporary judgeship created — 67 Cong. Ch. 306, September 14, 1922. This judgeship was never made permanent.
1925	One temporary judgeship created — 68 Cong. Ch. 397, March 2, 1925.
1930	One additional permanent judgeship created — 71 Cong. Ch. 346, May 28, 1930.
1935	Temporary judgeship created in 1925 was made a permanent judgeship — 74 Cong. Ch. 558, August 19, 1935.
1978	One additional permanent and one temporary judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984	One additional permanent judgeship created and one temporary judgeship created in 1978 was made a permanent judgeship — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.

1818	New state organized as one judicial district with one judgeship — 15 Cong. Ch. 29, April 3, 1818.
1838	State divided into two judicial districts, Northern and Southern, with one judgeship presiding in both — 25 Cong. Ch. 115, June 18, 1838.
1929	The existing judgeship was made a judgeship for the Southern District only. One additional judgeship created for the Northern District — 70 Cong. Ch. 418, March 1, 1929.
1961	One additional judgeship created for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1966	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District and one for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1984	One additional judgeship created for the Northern District and two for the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990	One additional judgeship created in the Southern District — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.

1822	State was organized as one judicial district with one judgeship — 17 Cong. Ch. 12, March 16, 1822.
1857	State was divided into two judicial districts, Eastern and Western, with one judgeship for each district — 34 Cong. Ch. 100, March 3, 1857.
1922	Temporary judgeship created for each district — 67 Cong. Ch. 306, September 14, 1922.
1935	Both temporary judgeships created in 1922 were made permanent — 74 Cong. Ch. 558, August 19, 1935.
1936	One judgeship created to serve both districts — 74 Cong. Ch. 693, June 22, 1936.
1942	One temporary judgeship created to serve both districts — 77 Cong. Ch. 817, December 24, 1942.
1954	Temporary position created in 1942 made permanent — 83 Cong. Ch. 6, February 10, 1954.
1961	One additional judgeship created for the Western District — Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1970	One additional judgeship created for the Eastern District — Pub. L. No. 91-272, June 2, 1970.
1978	One additional judgeship created for the Eastern District and two for the Western District — Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984	One additional judgeship created for the Eastern District — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990	One additional judgeship and one temporary judgeship created in the Eastern District — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.
1997	The temporary judgeship in the Eastern District was extended — Pub. L. No. 105-53, October 6, 1997.
2005	The temporary judgeship in the Eastern District was further extended — Pub. L. No. 109-115, November 30, 2005.
2013	The temporary judgeship in the Eastern District was extended – Pub. L. No. 113-6, March 26, 2013.

1889	State organized as one judicial district with one judgeship — 50 Cong. Ch. 180, February 22, 1889.
1922	One temporary judgeship created — 67 Cong. Ch. 306, September 14, 1922.
1938	Temporary position created in 1922 made permanent — 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
1984	One additional judgeship was created — Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.

1867	State was organized as one judicial district with one judgeship — 40 Cong. Ch. 7, March 25, 1867.
1907	One additional judgeship created — 59 Cong. Ch. 2073, February 27, 1907.
1970	One additional judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 91-272, June 2, 1970.
1990	One temporary judgeship created — Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990. This judgeship was never made permanent.
1997	The temporary judgeship was extended — Pub. L. No. 105-53, October 6, 1997.