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Spotlight

Federal Judicial History

The Center conducts research and produces resources on the history of the judicial branch of the federal government.  These resources include compilations of historical data on the courts, information about judges and judicial administration, as well as publications on federal judicial history. The Center also maintains a biographical directory of Article III judges from 1789 to the present, engages in outreach and education on federal judicial history, and works to promote the preservation of the history of the judicial branch.

Spotlight on Judicial History

Native Prohibition in the Federal Courts (posted 3/1/2022)
The Breakup of "Ma Bell": United States v. AT&T (posted 2/1/2022)
Reporting of Decisions in the Early Federal Courts (posted 11/1/2021)

Timelines of Federal Judicial History

Twitter Feed (@FedJudicialHist)

  • Senior U.S. District Judge Joseph A. DiClerico, Jr. (D. N.H.) died April 2 at age 81 https://t.co/15XkxyJ6AH https://t.co/KNtKH49Xhr
    1 day 7 hours ago
  • Senior U.S. District Judge George Kendall Sharp (M.D. Fla.) died March 24 at age 87 https://t.co/ogyST9ABQ3 https://t.co/HHOzDtGSHz
    6 days 8 hours ago
  • 8/ This concludes our Twitter series on the Other Federal Judicial Service positions listed in the Advanced Search of the Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges, 1789-present. We hope you've enjoyed it! /end
    1 week 5 days ago
  • 7/ After the U.S. declared war on Japan (which had invaded and occupied parts of China) in 1941, Japan ended concessions for Americans in the area and imprisoned the court's judge. In 1943, the U.S. signed a treaty with the Chinese government abolishing the court.
    1 week 5 days ago
  • 6/ The court was based in Shanghai and also held sessions in Canton, Tientsin, and Hankau. Its judge was appointed by the president with Senate confirmation for a ten-year term. Appeals from the court went to the Ninth Circuit.
    1 week 5 days ago

Pages

Debates on the Federal Judiciary: A Documentary History

This three-volume series presents historical documents related to significant debates about the federal judiciary.

Volume I: 1787-1875
The first volume traces the long process of defining the judiciary within the relatively brief outline provided by the Constitution.

Volume II: 1875-1939
Volume II introduces readers to public debates on proposals to alter the organization, jurisdiction, and administration of the federal courts, as well as the tenure and authority of federal judges, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. 

Volume III: 1939-2005
The concluding volume of the series covers debates concerning structural changes to the federal courts, criminal justice reform, proposed civil justice initiatives, and the discipline of federal judges.

Approaches to Federal Judicial History

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This volume presents a range of scholarly approaches to the field of federal judicial history. Essays by scholars and public historians evaluate the current state of the field and offer insights into new potential areas of study.

To submit questions about federal judicial history, email us at history@fjc.gov.