United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
(6th Cir.)
	United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; (6th Cir.)
Location	Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse; Cincinnati, Ohio
Appeals from	Eastern District of Kentucky; Western District of Kentucky; Eastern District of Michigan; Western District of Michigan; Northern District of Ohio; Southern District of Ohio; Eastern District of Tennessee; Middle District of Tennessee; Western District of Tennessee;
Established	December 10, 1869
Chief judge	Alice M. Batchelder
Active judges	16
Senior judges	15
	Official site

The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (in case citations, 6th Cir.) is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:

The court is composed of sixteen judges and is based at the Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is one of thirteen United States courts of appeals.

Elena Kagan is the circuit justice for the Sixth Circuit.¹ William Howard Taft, the only person ever to serve as both President and Chief Justice of the United States, once served on the circuit. Four judges of the Sixth Circuit have been elevated to serve on the Supreme Court.

Current composition of the court

The judges on the court are:

#	Title	Judge	Duty station	Born	Term of service			Appointed by
#	Title	Judge	Duty station	Born	Active	Chief	Senior	Appointed by
53	Chief Judge	Alice M. Batchelder	Medina, OH	1944	1991–present	2009–present	—	G.H.W. Bush
40	Circuit Judge	Boyce F. Martin, Jr.	Louisville, KY	1935	1979–present	1996–2003	—	Carter
49	Circuit Judge	Danny Julian Boggs	Louisville, KY	1944	1986–present	2003–2009	—	Reagan
55	Circuit Judge	Karen Nelson Moore	Cleveland, OH	1948	1995–present	—	—	Clinton
56	Circuit Judge	R. Guy Cole, Jr.	Columbus, OH	1951	1995–present	—	—	Clinton
57	Circuit Judge	Eric L. Clay	Detroit, MI	1948	1997–present	—	—	Clinton
59	Circuit Judge	Julia Smith Gibbons	Memphis, TN	1950	2002–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
60	Circuit Judge	John M. Rogers	Lexington, KY	1948	2002–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
61	Circuit Judge	Jeffrey Sutton	Columbus, OH	1960	2003–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
62	Circuit Judge	Deborah L. Cook	Akron, OH	1952	2003–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
63	Circuit Judge	David McKeague	Lansing, MI	1946	2005–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
64	Circuit Judge	Richard Allen Griffin	Traverse City, MI	1952	2005–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
66	Circuit Judge	Raymond M. Kethledge	Ann Arbor, MI	1966	2008–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
67	Circuit Judge	Helene N. White	Detroit, MI	1954	2008–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
68	Circuit Judge	Jane Branstetter Stranch	Nashville, TN	1953	2010–present	—	—	Obama
69	Circuit Judge	Bernice B. Donald	Memphis, TN	1951	2011–present	—	—	Obama
34	Senior Circuit Judge	Pierce Lively	(inactive)	1921	1972–1989	1983–1988	1989–present	Nixon
36	Senior Circuit Judge	Damon J. Keith	Detroit, MI	1922	1977–1995	(none)	1995–present	Carter
37	Senior Circuit Judge	Gilbert Stroud Merritt, Jr.	Nashville, TN	1936	1977–2001	1989–1996	2001–present	Carter
39	Senior Circuit Judge	Cornelia Groefsema Kennedy	Detroit, MI	1923	1979–1999	(none)	1999–present	Carter
44	Senior Circuit Judge	Harry W. Wellford	(inactive)	1924	1982–1991	(none)	1991–present	Reagan
45	Senior Circuit Judge	Herbert Theodore Milburn	(inactive)	1931	1984–1996	(none)	1996–present	Reagan
46	Senior Circuit Judge	Ralph B. Guy, Jr.	Ann Arbor, MI	1929	1985–1994	(none)	1994–present	Reagan
48	Senior Circuit Judge	James Leo Ryan	(inactive)	1932	1985–2000	(none)	2000–present	Reagan
50	Senior Circuit Judge	Alan Eugene Norris	Columbus, OH	1935	1986–2001	(none)	2001–present	Reagan
51	Senior Circuit Judge	Richard Fred Suhrheinrich	Lansing, MI	1936	1990–2001	(none)	2001–present	G.H.W. Bush
52	Senior Circuit Judge	Eugene Edward Siler, Jr.	London, KY	1936	1991–2001	(none)	2001–present	G.H.W. Bush
54	Senior Circuit Judge	Martha Craig Daughtrey	Nashville, TN	1942	1993–2008	(none)	2009–present	Clinton
58	Senior Circuit Judge	Ronald Lee Gilman	Memphis, TN	1942	1997–2010	(none)	2010–present	Clinton

List of former judges

#	Judge	State	Born/Died	Active service	Term as Chief Judge	Senior status	Appointed by	Reason for termination
1	Jackson, Howell EdmundsHowell Edmunds Jackson	TN	1832–1895	1891–1893	(none)	(none)	²	elevation to the Supreme Court
2	Taft, William HowardWilliam Howard Taft	OH	1857–1930	1892–1900	(none)	(none)	Harrison, B.B. Harrison	resignation
3	Lurton, Horace HarmonHorace Harmon Lurton	TN	1844–1914	1893–1909	(none)	(none)	Cleveland, Cleveland	elevation to the Supreme Court
4	Day, William R.William R. Day	OH	1849–1923	1899–1903	(none)	(none)	McKinley, McKinley	elevation to the Supreme Court
5	Severens, Henry FranklinHenry Franklin Severens	MI	1835–1923	1900–1911	(none)	(none)	McKinley, McKinley	resignation
6	Richards, John KelveyJohn Kelvey Richards	OH	1856–1909	1903–1909	(none)	(none)	Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt	death
7	Warrington, John WesleyJohn Wesley Warrington	OH	1844–1921	1909–1919	(none)	1919–1921	Taft, Taft	death
8	Knappen, Loyal EdwinLoyal Edwin Knappen	MI	1854–1930	1910–1924	(none)	1924–1930	Taft, Taft	death
9	Denison, Arthur CarterArthur Carter Denison	MI	1861–1942	1911–1931	(none)	(none)	Taft, Taft	resignation
10	Donahue, Maurice H.Maurice H. Donahue	OH	1864–1928	1919–1928	(none)	(none)	Wilson, Wilson	death
11	Moorman, Charles HarwoodCharles Harwood Moorman	KY	1876–1938	1925–1938	(none)	(none)	Coolidge, Coolidge	death
12	Hicks, XenophonXenophon Hicks	TN	1872–1952	1928–1952	1948–1952	1952–1952	Coolidge, Coolidge	death
13	Hickenlooper, SmithSmith Hickenlooper	OH	1880–1933	1928–1933	(none)	(none)	Coolidge, Coolidge	death
—	Mack, Julian WilliamJulian William Mack		1866–1943	1929–1930	(none)	(none)	³	reassignment to 2nd Circuit
14	Simons, Charles CasperCharles Casper Simons	MI	1876–1964	1932–1959	1952–1958	1959–1964	Hoover, Hoover	death
15	Allen, Florence EllinwoodFlorence Ellinwood Allen	OH	1884–1966	1934–1959	1958–1959	1959–1966	Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt	death
16	Hamilton, ElwoodElwood Hamilton	KY	1883–1945	1938–1945	(none)	(none)	Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt	death
17	Arant, Herschel WhitfieldHerschel Whitfield Arant	OH	1887–1941	1939–1941	(none)	(none)	Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt	death
18	Martin, Sr., John DonelsonJohn Donelson Martin, Sr.	TN	1883–1962	1940–1962	1959–1959	(none)	Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt	death
19	McAllister, Thomas FrancisThomas Francis McAllister	MI	1896–1976	1941–1963	1959–1961	1963–1976	Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt	death
20	Miller, Jr., ShackelfordShackelford Miller, Jr.	KY	1892–1965	1945–1965	1961–1962	1965–1965	Truman, Truman	death
21	Stewart, PotterPotter Stewart	OH	1915–1985	1954–1958	(none)	(none)	Eisenhower, Eisenhower	elevation to the Supreme Court
22	Cecil, Lester LeFevreLester LeFevre Cecil	OH	1893–1983	1959–1965	1962–1963	1965–1982	Eisenhower, Eisenhower	death
23	Weick, Paul CharlesPaul Charles Weick	OH	1899–1997	1959–1981	1963–1969	1981–1997	Eisenhower, Eisenhower	death
24	O'Sullivan, Clifford PatrickClifford Patrick O'Sullivan	MI	1897–1975	1960–1969	(none)	1969–1975	Eisenhower, Eisenhower	death
25	Phillips, HarryHarry Phillips	TN	1909–1985	1963–1979	1969–1979	1979–1985	Kennedy, Kennedy	death
26	Edwards, Jr., George CliftonGeorge Clifton Edwards, Jr.	MI	1914–1995	1963–1985	1979–1983	1985–1995	Kennedy, Kennedy	death
27	Celebrezze, Anthony J.Anthony J. Celebrezze	OH	1910–1998	1965–1980	(none)	1980–1998	Johnson, L.L. Johnson	death
28	Peck II, John WeldJohn Weld Peck II	OH	1913–1993	1966–1978	(none)	1978–1993	Johnson, L.L. Johnson	death
29	McCree, Wade H.Wade H. McCree	MI	1920–1987	1966–1977	(none)	(none)	Johnson, L.L. Johnson	resignation
30	Combs, Bert T.Bert T. Combs	KY	1911–1991	1967–1970	(none)	(none)	Johnson, L.L. Johnson	resignation
31	Brooks, Henry LuesingHenry Luesing Brooks	KY	1905–1971	1969–1971	(none)	(none)	Nixon, Nixon	death
32	Miller, William ErnestWilliam Ernest Miller	TN	1908–1976	1970–1976	(none)	(none)	Nixon, Nixon	death
33	Kent, W. WallaceW. Wallace Kent	MI	1916–1973	1970–1973	(none)	(none)	Nixon, Nixon	death
35	Engel, Jr., Albert J.Albert J. Engel, Jr.	MI	1924–2013	1973–1989	1988–1989	1989–2013	Nixon	death
38	Brown, BaileyBailey Brown	TN	1917–2004	1979–1982	(none)	1982–1997	Carter, Carter	retirement
41	Jones, Nathaniel R.Nathaniel R. Jones	OH	1926–present	1979–1995	(none)	1995–2002	Carter, Carter	retirement
42	Contie, Jr., Leroy JohnLeroy John Contie, Jr.	OH	1920–2001	1982–1986	(none)	1986–2001	Reagan, Reagan	death
43	Krupansky, Robert B.Robert B. Krupansky	OH	1921–2004	1982–1991	(none)	1991–2004	Reagan, Reagan	death
47	Nelson, David AldrichDavid Aldrich Nelson	OH	1932–2010	1985–1999	(none)	1999–2010	Reagan, Reagan	death
65	Neilson, Susan BiekeSusan Bieke Neilson	MI	1956–2006	2005–2006	(none)	(none)	Bush, G.W.G.W. Bush	death

Chief judges

Chief Judge
Hicks	1948–1952
Simons	1952–1958
Allen	1958–1959
Martin	1959–1959
McAllister	1959–1961
S. Miller	1961–1962
Cecil	1962–1963
Weick	1963–1969
Phillips	1969–1979
Edwards	1979–1983
Lively	1983–1988
Engel	1988–1989
Merritt	1989–1996
Martin	1996–2003
Boggs	2003–2009
Batchelder	2009–present

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their circuits, and preside over any panel on which they serve unless the circuit justice (i.e., 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. 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.

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 chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

The court has sixteen 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 Sixth Circuit
Reassigned to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit by the Judiciary Act of 1891
Jackson	TN	1891–1893
Lurton	TN	1893–1909
Knappen	MI	1910–1924
Moorman	KY	1925–1938
Hamilton	KY	1938–1945
S. Miller	KY	1945–1965
Combs	KY	1967–1970
Kent	MI	1970–1973
Engel	MI	1973–1989
Suhrheinrich	MI	1990–2001
McKeague	MI	2005–present

Seat 2
Established on June 16, 1891 by the Judiciary Act of 1891
Taft	OH	1892–1900
Severens	MI	1900–1911
Denison	MI	1911–1931
Simons	MI	1932–1959
O'Sullivan	MI	1960–1969
W. Miller	TN	1970–1976
Merritt	TN	1977–2001
Gibbons	TN	2002–present

Seat 3
Established on January 25, 1899 by 30 Stat. 803
Day	OH	1899–1903
Richards	OH	1903–1909
Warrington	OH	1909–1919
Donahue	OH	1919–1928
Hickenlooper	OH	1928–1933
Allen	OH	1934–1959
Weick	OH	1959–1981
Krupansky	OH	1982–1991
Moore	OH	1995–present

Seat 4
Established on May 8, 1928 by 45 Stat. 492
Hicks	TN	1928–1952
Stewart	OH	1954–1958
Cecil	OH	1959–1965
Celebrezze	OH	1965–1980
Contie	OH	1982–1986
Norris	OH	1986–2001
Cook	OH	2003–present

Seat 5
Established on May 31, 1938 by 52 Stat. 584
Arant	OH	1939–1941
McAllister	MI	1941–1963
Edwards	MI	1963–1985
Ryan	MI	1985–2000
Kethledge	MI	2008–present

Seat 6
Established on May 24, 1940 by 54 Stat. 219
J. Martin	TN	1940–1962
Phillips	TN	1963–1979
Brown	TN	1979–1982
Wellford	TN	1982–1991
Siler	KY	1991–2001
Rogers	KY	2002–present

Seat 7
Established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Peck	OH	1966–1978
Jones	OH	1979–1995
Cole	OH	1995–present

Seat 8
Established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
McCree	MI	1966–1977
Keith	MI	1977–1995
Griffin	MI	2005–present

Seat 9
Established on June 18, 1968 by 82 Stat. 184
Brooks	KY	1969–1971
Lively	KY	1972–1989
Batchelder	OH	1991–present

Seat 10
Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Kennedy	MI	1979–1999
Neilson	MI	2005–2006
White	MI	2008–present

Seat 11
Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
B. Martin	KY	1979–present

Seat 12
Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
Milburn	TN	1984–1996
Gilman	TN	1997–2010
Donald	TN	2011–present

Seat 13
Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
Guy	MI	1985–1994
Clay	MI	1997–present

Seat 14
Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
Nelson	OH	1985–1999
Sutton	OH	2003–present

Seat 15
Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
Boggs	KY	1986–present

Seat 16
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Daughtrey	TN	1993–2008
Stranch	TN	2010–present

Notes

^ U.S. Supreme Court: Allotment Order (September 28, 2010)
^ Jackson was appointed to as a circuit judge for the Sixth Circuit in 1886 by Grover Cleveland. The Judiciary Act of 1891 reassigned his seat to what is now the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
^ Mack did not have a permanent seat on this court. Instead, he was appointed to the ill-fated United States Commerce Court in 1911 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 immediately prior to his assignment to the Sixth Circuit.

References

"Standard Search". Federal Law Clerk Information System. Retrieved June 26, 2005.
- primary but incomplete source for the duty stations
"Instructions for Judicial Directory". Website of the University of Texas Law School. Archived from the original on November 11, 2005. Retrieved July 4, 2005.
- secondary source for the duty stations
- data is current to 2002
"U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit". Official website of the Federal Judicial Center. Archived from the original on January 1, 2005. Retrieved June 26, 2005.
- source for the state, lifetime, term of active judgeship, term of chief judgeship, term of senior judgeship, appointer, termination reason, and seat information
"Susan Bieke Neilson: She had a passion for justice". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on September 14, 2006. Retrieved February 7, 2006.
- obituary for death of Susan Bieke Neilson

External links

Wikisource has original works written by or about:
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

[1] U.S. Supreme Court: Allotment Order (September 28, 2010)

[2] Jackson was appointed to as a circuit judge for the Sixth Circuit in 1886 by Grover Cleveland. The Judiciary Act of 1891 reassigned his seat to what is now the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

[3] Mack did not have a permanent seat on this court. Instead, he was appointed to the ill-fated United States Commerce Court in 1911 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 immediately prior to his assignment to the Sixth Circuit.

1

2

3