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

District of Columbia
1893Three judgeships created. – 52 Cong. Ch. 74, February 9, 1893.
1930Two additional judgeships created. – 71 Cong. Ch. 538, June 19, 1930.
1938One additional judgeship created. – 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
1949Three additional judgeships created. – 81 Cong. Ch. 387, August 3, 1949.
1978Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
2008One judgeship was transferred to the Ninth Circuit - Pub. L. No. 110-177, January 7, 2008.
  Total Judgeships – 11
First Circuit
1801Three circuit judgeships created. – 6 Cong. Ch. 4, February 13, 1801.
1802Act of February 13, 1801 repealed. Circuit judgeships abolished. – 7 Cong. Ch. 31, April 29, 1802.
1869One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
1891Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
1905One additional judgeship created. – 58 Cong. Ch. 51, January 21, 1905.
1978One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
 Total Judgeships – 6
Second Circuit
1801Three circuit judgeships created. – 6 Cong. Ch. 4, February 13, 1801.
1802Act of February 13, 1801 repealed. Circuit judgeships abolished. – 7 Cong. Ch. 31, April 29, 1802.
1869One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
1887One additional judgeship created. – 49 Cong. Ch. 347, March 3, 1887.
1891Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
1902One additional judgeship created. – 57 Cong. Ch. 530, April 17, 1902.
1929One additional judgeship created. – 70 Cong. Ch. 73, January 17, 1929.
1938One additional judgeship created. – 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
1961Three additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1978Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
 Total Judgeships – 13
Third Circuit
1801Three circuit judgeships created. – 6 Cong. Ch. 4, February 13, 1801.
1802Act of February 13, 1801 repealed. Circuit judgeships abolished. – 7 Cong. Ch. 31, April 29, 1802.
1869One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
1891Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
1899One additional judgeship created. – 55 Cong. Ch. 186, February 23, 1899.
1930One additional judgeship created. – 71 Cong. Ch. 438, June 10, 1930.
1936One temporary judgeship created. – 74 Cong. Ch. 753, June 24, 1936.
1938Temporary judgeship made permanent. – 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
1944One additional judgeship created. – 78 Cong. Ch. 521, December 7, 1944.
1949One additional judgeship created. – 81 Cong. Ch. 387, August 3, 1949.
1961One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1968One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 90-347, June 18, 1968.
1978One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.
 Total Judgeships – 14
Fourth Circuit
1801Three circuit judgeships created. – 6 Cong. Ch. 4, February 13, 1801.
1802Act of February 13, 1801 repealed. Circuit judgeships abolished. – 7 Cong. Ch. 31, April 29, 1802.
1869One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
1891Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
1922One additional judgeship created. – 67 Cong. Ch. 306, September 14, 1922.
1961Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1966Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1978Three additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990Four additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.
 Total Judgeships – 15
Fifth Circuit
1801Three circuit judgeships created. – 6 Cong. Ch. 4, February 13, 1801.
1802Act of February 13, 1801 repealed. Circuit judgeships abolished. – 7 Cong. Ch. 31, April 29, 1802.
1869One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
1891Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
1899One additional judgeship created. – 55 Cong. Ch. 56, January 25, 1899.
1930One additional judgeship created. – 71 Cong. Ch. 438, June 10, 1930.
1938One additional judgeship created. – 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
1942One additional judgeship created. – 77 Cong. Ch. 731, December 14, 1942.
1954One additional judgeship created. – 83 Cong. Ch. 6, February 10, 1954.
1961Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1966Four additional temporary judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1968The four temporary positions created in 1966 were made permanent and two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 90-347, June 18, 1968.
1978Eleven additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1980Fifth Circuit reorganized into two circuits, the Fifth (with 14 judgeships) and the Eleventh (with 12 judgeships). – Pub. L. No. 96-452, October 14, 1980.
1984Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.
 Total Judgeships – 17
Sixth Circuit
1801One circuit judgeship and two district judgeships (one each from Kentucky and Tennessee) created. – 6 Cong. Ch. 4, February 13, 1801.
1802Act of February 13, 1801 repealed. Circuit judgeships abolished. – 7 Cong. Ch. 31, April 29, 1802.
1869One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
1891Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
1899One additional judgeship created. – 55 Cong. Ch. 56, January 25, 1899.
1928One additional judgeship created. – 70 Cong. Ch. 508, May 8, 1928.
1938One additional judgeship created. – 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
1940One additional judgeship created. – 76 Cong. Ch. 209, May 24, 1940.
1966Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1968One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 90-347, June 18, 1968.
1978Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984Four additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.
 Total Judgeships – 16
Seventh Circuit
1869One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
1891Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
1895One additional judgeship created. – 53 Cong. Ch. 59, February 8, 1895.
1905One additional judgeship created. – 58 Cong. Ch. 1427, March 3, 1905.
1938One additional judgeship created. – 75 Cong. Ch. 290, May 31, 1938.
1949One additional judgeship created. – 81 Cong. Ch. 387, August 3, 1949.
1961One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1966One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1978One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984
 Total Judgeships – 11
Eighth Circuit
1869One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
1891Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
1894One additional judgeship created. – 53 Cong. Ch. 147, July 23, 1894.
1903One additional judgeship created. – 57 Cong. Ch. 345, January 31, 1903.
1925Two additional judgeships created. – 68 Cong. Ch. 437, March 3, 1925.
1929Eighth Circuit divided and the Tenth Circuit created. Of the six judgeships authorized for the former Eighth Circuit, four were assigned to the new Eighth Circuit and two were transferred to the Tenth Circuit. One additional judgeship for the Eighth Circuit created. – 70 Cong. Ch. 363, February 28, 1929.
1940Two additional judgeships created. – 76 Cong. Ch. 209, May 24, 1940.
1966One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 89-372, March 18, 1966.
1978One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.
 Total Judgeships – 11
Ninth Circuit
1869One circuit judgeship created. – 41 Cong. Ch. 22, April 10, 1869.
1891Circuit Court of Appeals established. One additional judgeship created. – 51 Cong. Ch. 517, March 3, 1891.
1895One additional judgeship created. – 53 Cong. Ch. 94, February 18, 1895.
1929One temporary judgeship created. – 70 Cong. Ch. 413, March 1, 1929.
1933Temporary judgeship made permanent. – 73 Cong. Ch. 102, June 16, 1933.
1935One additional judgeship created. – 74 Cong. Ch. 425, August 2, 1935.
1937Two additional judgeships created. – 75 Cong. Ch. 80, April 14, 1937.
1954Two additional judgeships created. – 83 Cong. Ch. 6, February 10, 1954.
1968Four additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 90-347, June 18, 1968.
1978Ten additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984Five additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
2009One additional judgeship, effective January 21, 2009, was transferred from the DC Circuit. – Pub. L. No. 110-177, January 7, 2008.
 Total Judgeships – 29
Tenth Circuit
1929Four judgeships created, two of which were transferred from the Eighth Circuit when it was divided into the Eighth and Tenth Circuits. – 70 Cong. Ch. 363, February 28, 1929.
1949One additional judgeship created. – 81 Cong. Ch. 387, August 3, 1949.
1961One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 87-36, May 19, 1961.
1968One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 90-347, June 18, 1968.
1978One additional judgeship created. – Pub. L. No. 95-486, October 20, 1978.
1984Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 98-353, July 10, 1984.
1990Two additional judgeships created. – Pub. L. No. 101-650, December 1, 1990.
 Total Judgeships – 12
Eleventh Circuit
1980Twelve circuit judgeships created when the Fifth Circuit was reorganized into a new Fifth and Eleventh Circuit, and the judgeships transferred from the old Fifth Circuit. – Pub. L. No. 96-452, October 14, 1980.
 Total Judgeships – 12
Federal Circuit
1982Federal Circuit consisting of all Federal judicial districts. Circuit court with 12 judgeships. – Pub. L. No. 97-164, April 2, 1982.
 Total Judgeships – 12
 

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