Below are tables showing authorized positions for U.S. district judges, U.S. bankruptcy judges, and U.S. magistrate judges. While district and bankruptcy judgeships are authorized by congressional statute, magistrate judgeships are authorized by the Judicial Conference of the United States. For more detail regarding the authorization of these judgeships, see the Legislative History and Succession Chart(s) pages for each district court (see menu at right), Authorized Bankruptcy Judgeships, Authorized Magistrate Judgeships (by location), and Authorized Magistrate Judgeships (by fiscal year).
Authorized District Judgeships |
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| Kentucky District |
Eastern District |
Western District |
Total Judgeships |
|
| September 24, 1789 1 Stat. 73 |
1 |
|
|
1 |
| February 13, 1801 2 Stat. 89 |
|
|
|
0 |
| March 8, 1802 (effective July 1, 1802) 2 Stat. 132 |
1 |
|
|
1 |
| February 12, 1901 31 Stat. 781 |
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
| June 22, 1936 49 Stat. 1806 |
|
2 |
2 |
3 |
| February 10, 1954 68 Stat. 8 |
|
2 |
3 |
4 |
| June 2, 1970 84 Stat. 294 |
|
3 |
4 |
6 |
| October 20, 1978 92 Stat. 1629 |
|
6 |
4 |
9 |
| July 10, 1984 98 Stat. 333 |
|
6 |
5 |
10 |
| September 30, 1984 Temporary judgeship expired |
5 | 5 | 9 | |
| September 2, 1957 (effective November 30, 1987) 71 Stat. 586 |
6 |
5 |
10 |
|
| June 14, 1988 Temporary judgeship expired |
5 | 5 | 9 | |
| December 21, 2000 114 Stat. 2762 |
6 | 5 | 10 | |
Authorized Bankruptcy Judgeships |
|||
| Eastern District |
Western District |
Total Judgeships |
|
| July 10, 1984 98 Stat. 336 |
1 | 2 | 3 |
| October 27, 1986 100 Stat. 3088 |
1 | 3 | 4 |
| November 3, 1988 102 Stat. 2982 |
2 | 3 | 5 |
Authorized Magistrate Judgeships (by location) |
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| Eastern District | |||
| Location | Full-Time | Part-Time | |
| Ashland | 1 (1996–2009) | 1 (1971–1976) | |
| Ashland or Catlettsburg | 1 (1977–1995) | ||
| Ashland or Frankfort or Pikeville | 1 (2022–present) | ||
| Ashland or Pikeville | 1 (2010–2021) | ||
| Covington | 1 (1992–present) | 1 (1971–1991) | |
| Lexington | 1 (1972–present) | 1 (1971) | |
| London | 1 (1996–present) | 1 (1971–1995) | |
| Pikeville | 1 (1971–1976) | ||
| Pineville | 1 (1971–1978) | ||
| Richmond | 1 (1971–1976) | ||
| Total | 0 (1971) 1 (1972–1976) 2 (1977–1991) 3 (1992–1995) 4 (1996–present) |
7 (1971) 6 (1972–1976) 3 (1977–1978) 2 (1979–1991) 1 (1992–1995) 0 (1996–present) |
|
| Western District | |||
| Location | Full-Time | Part-Time | Combination |
| Bowling Green | 1 (1971–1991) | ||
| Bowling Green or Hopkinsville | 1 (1992–2000) | ||
| Bowling Green or Owensboro | 1 (2001–present) | ||
| Hopkinsville | 1 (1972–1991) | ||
| Louisville | 1 (1971–2000) 2 (2001–present) |
deputy clerk-magistrate 1 (1980–1995) |
|
| Louisville or Owensboro | 1 (1996–2000) | ||
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 1 (1971–1979) | ||
| Owensboro | 1 (1971–1995) | ||
| Paducah | 1 (1980–present) | 1 (1971–1979) | |
| Total | 1 (1971–1979) 2 (1980–1991) 3 (1992–1995) 4 (1996–present) |
4 (1971) 5 (1972–1979) 3 (1980–1991) 1 (1992–1995) 0 (1996–present) |
0 (1971–1979) 1 (1980–1985) 0 (1986–present) |
Authorized Magistrate Judgeships (by fiscal year) |
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| Eastern District | ||||||
| Fiscal Year(s) | Full-Time | Total | Part-Time | Total | ||
| 1971 | 0 | Ashland, Covington, Lexington, London, Pikeville, Pineville, Richmond | 7 | |||
| 1972–1976 | Lexington | 1 | Ashland, Covington, London, Pikeville, Pineville, Richmond | 6 | ||
| 1977–1978 | Ashland or Catlettsburg, Lexington | 2 | Covington, London, Pineville | 3 | ||
| 1979–1991 | Ashland or Catlettsburg, Lexington | 2 | Covington, London | 2 | ||
| 1992–1995 | Ashland or Catlettsburg, Covington, Lexington | 3 | London | 1 | ||
| 1996–2009 | Ashland, Covington, Lexington, London | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2010–2021 | Ashland or Pikeville, Covington, Lexington, London | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2022–present | Ashland or Frankfort or Pikeville, Covington, Lexington, London | 4 | 0 | |||
| Western District | ||||||
| Fiscal Year(s) | Full-Time | Total | Part-Time | Total | Combination | Total |
| 1971 | Louisville | 1 | Bowling Green, Mammoth Cave National Park, Owensboro, Paducah | 4 | 0 | |
| 1972–1979 | Louisville | 1 | Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, Mammoth Cave National Park, Owensboro, Paducah | 5 | 0 | |
| 1980–1991 | Louisville, Paducah | 2 | Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, Owensboro | 3 | Louisville (deputy clerk-magistrate) | 1 |
| 1992–1995 | Bowling Green or Hopkinsville, Louisville, Paducah | 3 | Owensboro | 1 | Louisville (deputy clerk-magistrate) | 1 |
| 1996–2000 | Bowling Green or Hopkinsville, Louisville, Louisville or Owensboro, Paducah | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2001–present | Bowling Green or Owensboro, Louisville (2), Paducah | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||