User:NoSeptember/Federal judge appointment history

future improvements

 * Chart for each circuit
 * Summary chart of circuit judges nationwide
 * Add percentages (% GOP, % Dem)
 * List circuits in order of political composition, highest % GOP to highest % Democratic
 * List of circuit judges confirmed with the most votes against them (by term)

Updated Introduction
The selection of federal judges has become viewed as a political process in the last several decades. This is especially true of Supreme Court and United States court of appeals appointments. These charts show the composition of the supreme and circuit courts at the end of each four year Presidential term, categorizing the judges by the Presidential term during which they were nominated for their seat. Courts with a higher percentage of Republican appointed judges tend to be more conservative than those with many Democratic appointees, although the party of the President who appointed a judge is not always a good indicator of that judge's judicial philosophy and place on the political spectrum.

Introduction
The selection of federal judges has become viewed as a political process in the last several decades. This is especially true of Supreme Court and United States court of appeals appointments. These charts show the composition of the supreme and circuit courts at the end of each four year Presidential term, categorizing the judges by the Presidential term during which they were nominated for their seat. Courts with a higher percentage of Republican appointed judges tend to be more conservative than those with many Democratic appointees, although the party of the President who appointed a judge is not always a good indicator of that judge's judicial philosophy and place on the political spectrum.

The appointment of federal judges has become viewed as a political process in the last several decades. This is especially true of U.S. Supreme Court and court of appeals appointments. These charts show the composition of the Supreme and circuit courts at the end of each four year Presidential term, categorizing the judges by the Presidential term during which they were nominated for their seat.

Most federal courts currently have a majority of Republican President appointees. Courts with a higher percentage of Republican appointed judges tend to be more conservative than those with many Democratic appointees, although the party of the President who appointed a judge is not always a good indicator of that judge's judicial philosophy and place on the political spectrum.

* as of July 21, 2005

Fifth Circuit
Note: The 5th Circuit judges who were transferred to the 11th Circuit in 1982 are not included in the 5th Circuit numbers for 1980.

Eleventh Circuit
Note: In 1980, the 11th Circuit had not yet been created, but the judges that were later transfered to the 11th Circuit from the 5th Circuit are shown here.

Federal Circuit
Note: The Federal Circuit was created in 1982. The judges that sat on the courts that were combined into the Federal circuit are shown in 1980 for trend comparison purposes.