The number of authorized judgeships in the U.S. district courts, the federal trial courts, has dropped by two in 2004 because temporary judgeships in the Eastern District of California and the District of Nebraska lapsed.

     There were 680 authorized district court judgeships when the year began, but the number dropped to 678 when a judge in the Eastern District of California took senior status November 1. Previously, the District of Nebraska lost a judgeship when a judge took senior status in May.

     Nationwide, 11 temporary judgeships still exist. Although the district judges appointed to temporary judgeships have lifetime appointments, legislation creating temporary judgeships usually specifies that the first vacancy in the district after a set date cannot be filled.