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
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
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|
Clinton
|
41
|
Circuit Judge
|
Richard Posner
|
Chicago, IL
|
1939
|
1981–present
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|
Reagan
|
43
|
Circuit Judge
|
Joel Martin Flaum
|
Chicago, IL
|
1936
|
1983–present
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|
Reagan
|
44
|
Circuit Judge
|
Frank H. Easterbrook
|
Chicago, IL
|
1948
|
1985–present
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|
Reagan
|
47
|
Circuit Judge
|
Michael Stephen Kanne
|
Lafayette, IN
|
1938
|
1987–present
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|
Reagan
|
48
|
Circuit Judge
|
Ilana Rovner
|
Chicago, IL
|
1938
|
1992–present
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|
G. H. W. Bush
|
51
|
Circuit Judge
|
Ann Claire Williams
|
Chicago, IL
|
1949
|
1999–present
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|
Clinton
|
52
|
Circuit Judge
|
Diane S. Sykes
|
Milwaukee, WI
|
1957
|
2004–present
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|
G. W. Bush
|
54
|
Circuit Judge
|
David F. Hamilton
|
Bloomington, IN
|
1957
|
2009–present
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|
Obama
|
55
|
Circuit Judge
|
vacant
|
–
|
–
|
–
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|
–
|
56
|
Circuit Judge
|
vacant
|
–
|
–
|
–
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|
–
|
37
|
Senior Circuit Judge
|
William Joseph Bauer
|
Chicago, IL
|
1926
|
1974–1994
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|
Ford
|
39
|
Senior Circuit Judge
|
Richard Dickson Cudahy
|
Chicago, IL
|
1926
|
1979–1994
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|
Carter
|
45
|
Senior Circuit Judge
|
Kenneth Francis Ripple
|
South Bend, IN
|
1943
|
1985–2008
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|
Reagan
|
46
|
Senior Circuit Judge
|
Daniel Anthony Manion
|
South Bend, IN
|
1942
|
1986–2007
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|
Reagan
|
Vacancies and pending nominations
List of former judges
Thirty-nine 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 AllenWilliam Allen Woods
|
Indiana
|
1837–1901
|
1892–1901
|
——
|
——
|
Harrison, B.B. Harrison
|
death
|
3
|
Jenkins, James GrahamJames Graham Jenkins
|
Wisconsin
|
1834–1921
|
1893–1905
|
——
|
——
|
Cleveland, Cleveland
|
retirement
|
4
|
Showalter, John WilliamJohn William Showalter
|
Illinois
|
1844–1898
|
1895–1898
|
——
|
——
|
Cleveland, Cleveland
|
death
|
5
|
Grosscup, Peter StengerPeter Stenger Grosscup
|
Illinois
|
1852–1921
|
1899–1911
|
——
|
——
|
McKinley, McKinley
|
resignation
|
6
|
Baker, Francis ElishaFrancis Elisha Baker
|
Indiana
|
1860–1924
|
1902–1924
|
——
|
——
|
Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt
|
death
|
7
|
Seaman, William HenryWilliam Henry Seaman
|
Wisconsin
|
1842–1915
|
1905–1915
|
——
|
——
|
Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt
|
death
|
8
|
Kohlsaat, Christian CecilChristian Cecil Kohlsaat
|
Illinois
|
1844–1918
|
1905–1918
|
——
|
——
|
Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt
|
death
|
9
|
Alschuler, SamuelSamuel Alschuler[3]
|
Illinois
|
1859–1939
|
1915–1936
|
——
|
1936–1939
|
Wilson, Wilson
|
death
|
10
|
Evans, Evan AlfredEvan Alfred Evans
|
Wisconsin
|
1876–1948
|
1916–1948
|
——
|
——
|
Wilson, Wilson
|
death
|
11
|
Page, George TrueGeorge True Page
|
Illinois
|
1859–1941
|
1919–1930
|
——
|
1930–1941
|
Wilson, Wilson
|
death
|
12
|
Anderson, Albert BarnesAlbert Barnes Anderson
|
Indiana
|
1857–1938
|
1925–1929
|
——
|
1929–1938
|
Coolidge, Coolidge
|
death
|
13
|
Sparks, William MorrisWilliam Morris Sparks
|
Indiana
|
1872–1950
|
1929–1948
|
1948–1948
|
1948–1950
|
Hoover, Hoover
|
death
|
14
|
FitzHenry, LouisLouis FitzHenry
|
Illinois
|
1870–1935
|
1933–1935
|
——
|
——
|
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt
|
death
|
15
|
Major, James EarlJames Earl Major
|
Illinois
|
1887–1972
|
1937–1956
|
1948–1954
|
1956–1972
|
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt
|
death
|
16
|
Treanor, Walter EmanuelWalter Emanuel Treanor
|
Indiana
|
1883–1941
|
1937–1941
|
——
|
——
|
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt
|
death
|
17
|
Kerner, Sr., OttoOtto Kerner, Sr.[3]
|
Illinois
|
1884–1952
|
1938–1952
|
——
|
——
|
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt
|
death
|
18
|
Minton, ShermanSherman Minton
|
Indiana
|
1890–1965
|
1941–1949
|
——
|
——
|
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt
|
elevation to the Supreme Court
|
19
|
Duffy, F. RyanF. 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 NathanielHardress Nathaniel Swaim[3]
|
Indiana
|
1880–1957
|
1949–1957
|
——
|
——
|
Truman, Truman
|
death
|
23
|
Schnackenberg, Elmer JacobElmer Jacob Schnackenberg[3]
|
Illinois
|
1889–1968
|
1953–1968
|
——
|
——
|
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
|
death
|
24
|
Hastings, John SimpsonJohn Simpson Hastings
|
Indiana
|
1898–1977
|
1957–1969
|
1959–1968
|
1969–1977
|
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
|
death
|
25
|
Parkinson, William LynnWilliam Lynn Parkinson
|
Indiana
|
1902–1959
|
1957–1959
|
——
|
——
|
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
|
death
|
26
|
Knoch, Winfred GeorgeWinfred George Knoch
|
Illinois
|
1895–1983
|
1958–1967
|
——
|
1967–1983
|
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
|
death
|
27
|
Castle, LathamLatham Castle
|
Illinois
|
1900–1986
|
1959–1970
|
1968–1970
|
1970–1986
|
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
|
death
|
28
|
Kiley, Roger JosephRoger Joseph Kiley
|
Illinois
|
1900–1974
|
1961–1974
|
——
|
1974–1974
|
Kennedy, Kennedy
|
death
|
29
|
Swygert, Luther MerrittLuther 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., OttoOtto Kerner, Jr.
|
Illinois
|
1908–1976
|
1968–1974
|
——
|
——
|
Johnson, L.L. Johnson
|
resignation
|
33
|
Pell, Jr., Wilbur FrankWilbur Frank Pell, Jr.
|
Indiana
|
1915–2000
|
1970–1984
|
——
|
1984–2000
|
Nixon, Nixon
|
death
|
34
|
Stevens, John PaulJohn Paul Stevens
|
Illinois
|
1920–present
|
1970–1975
|
——
|
——
|
Nixon, Nixon
|
elevation to the Supreme Court
|
35
|
Sprecher, Robert ArthurRobert Arthur Sprecher
|
Illinois
|
1917–1982
|
1971–1982
|
——
|
——
|
Nixon, Nixon
|
death
|
36
|
Tone, Philip WillisPhilip Willis Tone
|
Illinois
|
1923–2001
|
1974–1980
|
——
|
——
|
Nixon, Nixon
|
resignation
|
38
|
Harlington Wood, Jr.
|
Illinois
|
1920–2008
|
1976–1992
|
——
|
1992–2008
|
Ford, Ford
|
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
|
——
|
——
|
G. W. Bush, G. W. Bush
|
retirement
|
Chief judges
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
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
OBAMACARE Legal Challenge
On January 6, 2014(1:14-cv-00009-WCG/14-2723), United States District Court
Eastern District Of Wisconsin, Constitutional Challenge [N] Senator Ron Johnson & Brooke Ericson v. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, et al. challenged that the government violates Section 1312(d)(3)(D), which was passed so Members of
Congress and their staffs would be subject to the ACA in the same way as
constituents and not get extra subsidies. 38 lawmakers joined the lawsuit by the senator. The court ruled the Senator did not have standing and dismissed the case. The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago said Johnson also lacked legal standing by a unanimous three-judge panel in April 2015.[4][5][6][7][8][9]
References
- "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