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United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Current United States federal appellate court

The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (in case citations, 7th Cir.) is the U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:

The court is based at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago and is composed of eleven appellate judges. It is one of 13 United States courts of appeals.

The court offers a relatively unique internet presence that includes wiki and RSS feeds of opinions and oral arguments. It is also notable for having one of the most prominent law and economics scholars, Judge Frank Easterbrook, on its court. Richard Posner, another prominent law and economics scholar, also served on this court until his retirement in 2017. Three judges from the Seventh Circuit, Sherman Minton, John Paul Stevens, and Amy Coney Barrett, have been appointed as Associate Justices of the Supreme Court.

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Current composition of the court

As of December 4, 2024[update]:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
ActiveChiefSenior
53Chief JudgeDiane S. SykesMilwaukee, WI19572004–present2020–present—G.W. Bush
45Circuit JudgeFrank EasterbrookChicago, IL19481985–present2006–2013—Reagan
57Circuit JudgeMichael B. BrennanMilwaukee, WI19632018–present——Trump
58Circuit JudgeMichael Y. ScudderChicago, IL19712018–present——Trump
59Circuit JudgeAmy St. EveChicago, IL19652018–present——Trump
60Circuit JudgeThomas KirschHammond, IN19742020–present——Trump
61Circuit JudgeCandace Jackson-AkiwumiChicago, IL19792021–present——Biden
62Circuit JudgeJohn Z. LeeChicago, IL19682022–present——Biden
63Circuit JudgeDoris PryorIndianapolis, IN19772022–present——Biden
64Circuit JudgeJoshua P. KolarHammond, IN19762024–present——Biden
65Circuit JudgeNancy L. MaldonadoChicago, IL19752024–present——Biden
38Senior Circuit JudgeWilliam J. Bauerinactive19261974–19941986–19931994–presentFord
46Senior Circuit JudgeKenneth Francis RippleSouth Bend, IN19431985–2008—2008–presentReagan
49Senior Circuit JudgeIlana RovnerChicago, IL19381992–2024—2024–presentG.H.W. Bush
55Senior Circuit JudgeDavid HamiltonBloomington, IN19572009–2022—2022–presentObama

Vacancies and pending nominations

SeatPrior Judge's Duty StationSeat last held byVacancy reasonDate of vacancyNomineeDate of nomination
1Milwaukee, WIDiane S. SykesSenior statusOctober 1, 20254––

List of former judges

#JudgeStateBorn–diedActive serviceChief JudgeSenior statusAppointed byReason fortermination
1Walter Q. GreshamIN1832–18951891–1893—— Arthur / Operation of law5resignation
2William Allen WoodsIN1837–19011892–1901——B. Harrisondeath
3James Graham JenkinsWI1834–19211893–1905—— Clevelandretirement
4John William ShowalterIL1844–18981895–1898—— Clevelanddeath
5Peter S. GrosscupIL1852–19211899–1911—— McKinleyresignation
6Francis Elisha BakerIN1860–19241902–1924——T. Rooseveltdeath
7William Henry SeamanWI1842–19151905–1915——T. Rooseveltdeath
8Christian Cecil KohlsaatIL1844–19181905–1918——T. Rooseveltdeath
9Julian MackIL1866–19431911–1929——6reassigned to the 6th Circuit
10Samuel Alschuler7IL1859–19391915–1936—1936–1939 Wilsondeath
11Evan Alfred EvansWI1876–19481916–1948—— Wilsondeath
12George True PageIL1859–19411919–1930—1930–1941 Wilsondeath
13Albert Barnes AndersonIN1857–19381925–1929—1929–1938 Coolidgedeath
14William Morris SparksIN1872–19501929–194819481948–1950 Hooverdeath
15Louis FitzhenryIL1870–19351933–1935——F. Rooseveltdeath
16James Earl MajorIL1887–19721937–19561948–19541956–1972F. Rooseveltdeath
17Walter Emanuel TreanorIN1883–19411937–1941——F. Rooseveltdeath
18Otto Kerner Sr.8IL1884–19521938–1952——F. Rooseveltdeath
19Sherman MintonIN1890–19651941–1949——F. Rooseveltelevation to Supreme Court
20F. Ryan DuffyWI1888–19791949–19661954–19591966–1979 Trumandeath
21Philip J. FinneganIL1886–19591949–1959—— Trumandeath
22Walter C. LindleyIL1880–19581949–1958—— Trumandeath
23Hardress Nathaniel Swaim9IN1880–19571949–1957—— Trumandeath
24Elmer Jacob Schnackenberg10IL1889–19681953–1968—— Eisenhowerdeath
25John Simpson HastingsIN1898–19771957–19691959–19681969–1977 Eisenhowerdeath
26William Lynn ParkinsonIN1902–19591957–1959—— Eisenhowerdeath
27Winfred George KnochIL1895–19831958–1967—1967–1983 Eisenhowerdeath
28Latham CastleIL1900–19861959–19701968–19701970–1986 Eisenhowerdeath
29Roger KileyIL1900–19741961–1974—1974 Kennedydeath
30Luther Merritt SwygertIN1905–19881961–19811970–19751981–1988 Kennedydeath
31Thomas E. FairchildWI1912–20071966–19811975–19811981–2007L. Johnsondeath
32Walter J. Cummings Jr.IL1916–19991966–19991981–1986—L. Johnsondeath
33Otto Kerner Jr.IL1908–19761968–1974——L. Johnsonresignation
34Wilbur Frank Pell Jr.IN1915–20001970–1984—1984–2000 Nixondeath
35John Paul StevensIL1920–20191970–1975—— Nixonelevation to Supreme Court
36Robert Arthur SprecherIL1917–19821971–1982—— Nixondeath
37Philip Willis ToneIL1923–20011974–1980—— Nixonresignation
39Harlington Wood Jr.IL1920–20081976–1992—1992–2008 Forddeath
40Richard Dickson CudahyWI1926–20151979–1994—1994–2015 Carterdeath
41Jesse E. EschbachIN1920–20051981–1985—1985–2005 Reagandeath
42Richard PosnerIL1939–present1981–20171993–2000— Reaganretirement
43John Louis CoffeyWI1922–20121982–2004—2004–2012 Reagandeath
44Joel FlaumIL1936–20241983–20202000–20062020–2024 Reagandeath
47Daniel Anthony ManionIN1942–20241986–2007—2007–2024 Reagandeath
48Michael Stephen KanneIN1938–20221987–2022—— Reagandeath
50Diane WoodIL1950–present1995–20222013–20202022–2024 Clintonretirement
51Terence T. EvansWI1940–20111995–2010—2010–2011 Clintondeath
52Ann Claire WilliamsIL1949–present1999–2017—2017–2018 Clintonretirement
54John Daniel TinderIN1950–present2007–2015—2015G.W. Bushretirement
56Amy Coney BarrettIN1972–present2017–2020—— Trumpelevation to Supreme Court

Chief judges

Chief Judge
Sparks1948
Major1948–1954
Duffy1954–1959
Hastings1959–1968
Castle1968–1970
Swygert1970–1975
Fairchild1975–1981
Cummings, Jr.1981–1986
Bauer1986–1993
Posner1993–2000
Flaum2000–2006
Easterbrook2006–2013
D. Wood2013–2020
Sykes2020–present

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their circuits, and preside over any panel on which they serve, unless the circuit justice (the Supreme Court justice responsible for the circuit) is also on the panel. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the circuit judges.

To be chief, 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 is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges, with seniority determined first by commission date, then by age. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. If no judge qualifies to be chief, the youngest judge over the age of 65 who has served on the court for at least one year shall act as chief until another judge qualifies. If no judge has served on the court for more than a year, the most senior judge shall act as chief. Judges can forfeit or resign their chief judgeship or acting chief judgeship while retaining their active status as a circuit judge.11

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was 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. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.12

Succession of seats

The court has eleven seats for active judges, numbered in the order in which they were initially filled. Judges who assume senior status enter a kind of retirement in which they remain on the bench but vacate their seats, thus allowing the U.S. President to appoint new judges to fill their seats.

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
GreshamIN1891–1893
JenkinsWI1893–1905
SeamanWI1905–1915
E. EvansWI1916–1948
DuffyWI1949–1966
FairchildWI1966–1981
CoffeyWI1982–2004
SykesWI2004–present
Seat 2
Established on June 16, 1891 by the Judiciary Act of 1891
WoodsIN1892–1901
BakerIN1902–1924
AndersonIN1925–1929
SparksIN1929–1948
FinneganIL1949–1959
CastleIL1959–1970
SprecherIL1971–1982
FlaumIL1983–2020
Jackson-AkiwumiIL2021–present
Seat 3
Established on February 8, 1895 by 28 Stat. 643
ShowalterIL1895–1898
GrosscupIL1899–1911
AlschulerIL1915–1936
TreanorIN1937–1941
MintonIN1941–1949
LindleyIL1949–1958
KnochIL1958–1967
Kerner, Jr.IL1968–1974
BauerIL1974–1994
D. WoodIL1995–2022
LeeIL2022–present
Seat 4
Established on March 3, 1905 by 33 Stat. 992
KohlsaatIL1905–1918
PageIL1919–1930
FitzHenryIL1933–1935
MajorIL1937–1956
HastingsIN1957–1969
Pell, Jr.IN1970–1984
ManionIN1986–2007
TinderIN2007–2015
BarrettIN2017–2020
KirschIN2020–present
Seat 5
Established on May 31, 1938 by 52 Stat. 584
Kerner, Sr.IL1938–1952
SchnackenbergIL1954–1968
StevensIL1970–1975
H. Wood, Jr.IL1976–1992
RovnerIL1992–2024
MaldonadoIL2024–present
Seat 6
Established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493
SwaimIN1950–1957
ParkinsonIN1957–1959
KileyIL1961–1974
ToneIL1974–1980
PosnerIL1981–2017
Scudder, Jr.IL2018–present
Seat 7
Established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
SwygertIN1961–1981
EschbachIN1981–1985
KanneIN1987–2022
KolarIN2024–present
Seat 8
Established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Cummings, Jr.IL1966–1999
WilliamsIL1999–2017
St. EveIL2018–present
Seat 9
Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629, 1632
CudahyWI1979–1994
T. EvansWI1995–2010
BrennanWI2018–present
Seat 10
Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
EasterbrookIL1985–present
Seat 11
Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
RippleIN1985–2008
HamiltonIN2009–2022
PryorIN2022–present

See also

  • "Standard Search". Federal Law Clerk Information System. Archived from the original on October 21, 2005. 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
Wikisource has original works on the topic: United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

References

  1. Seventh Circuit Opinions. The Seventh Circuit is now joined by the Courts of Appeals for the First, Second, Fourth, Ninth, DC, and Federal Circuits in having RSS feeds of their opinions. http://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/opinion.html ↩

  2. Lewis, Neil A. (May 11, 2009). "Potential Justice Offers a Counterpoint in Chicago". New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2010. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/us/politics/12wood.html ↩

  3. O'Connell, Jason Meisner, Patrick M. "Richard Posner announces sudden retirement from federal appeals court in Chicago". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2018-03-01.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-judge-richard-posner-retires-met-20170901-story.html ↩

  4. "Future Judicial Vacancies". www.uscourts.gov. March 20, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025. https://www.uscourts.gov/data-news/judicial-vacancies/future-judicial-vacancies ↩

  5. Gresham was appointed as a circuit judge for the Seventh Circuit in 1884 by Chester A. Arthur. The Judiciary Act of 1891 reassigned his seat to what is now the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. /wiki/United_States_circuit_court ↩

  6. Mack did not have a permanent seat on this court. Instead, he was appointed to the ill-fated United States Commerce Court in 1910 by William Howard Taft. Aside from their duties on the Commerce Court, the judges of the Commerce Court also acted as at-large appellate judges, able to be assigned by the Chief Justice of the United States to whichever circuit most needed help. Mack was assigned to the Seventh Circuit upon his commission. /wiki/United_States_Commerce_Court ↩

  7. Recess appointment, later confirmed by the United States Senate. /wiki/United_States_Senate ↩

  8. Recess appointment, later confirmed by the United States Senate. /wiki/United_States_Senate ↩

  9. Recess appointment, later confirmed by the United States Senate. /wiki/United_States_Senate ↩

  10. Recess appointment, later confirmed by the United States Senate. /wiki/United_States_Senate ↩

  11. 28 U.S.C. § 45 /wiki/Title_28_of_the_United_States_Code ↩

  12. 62 Stat. 871, 72 Stat. 497, 96 Stat. 51 /wiki/United_States_Statutes_at_Large ↩