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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.

Twitter Feed (@FedJudicialHist)

Senior U.S. District Judge Lloyd D. George (D. Nevada) died yesterday at age 90 https://t.co/jMySjLW2z9 https://t.co/ouwaPVpV8I

13 hours 8 sec ago
Today we begin a new feature, Spotlight on Judicial History. It will consist of brief essays, posted periodically, on a wide variety of interesting topics related to federal court history. Our first entry: A Brief History of Circuit Riding: https://t.co/g9epwUfsVY https://t.co/3YIsXJYpmW

14 hours 32 min ago
Jack Soble, who ran a Soviet spy ring in the U.S. for a decade, was sentenced for espionage, along with co-conspirators, by Judge Richard Levet of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York #OTD in 1957 https://t.co/fHZdlhyMe6

14 hours 40 min ago
The Supreme Court of the United States held its first session in its new building #OTD in 1935; see list of #SCOTUS meeting places here: https://t.co/vr76JYAzuB https://t.co/upgFj2tdiG

1 day 13 hours ago
Iva Toguri D'Aquino (aka Toyko Rose), convicted of treason for WWII radio broadcasts, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine by Judge Michael Roche of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California #OTD in 1949 https://t.co/ZmTUl7q9an

2 days 14 hours 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This three-volume series presents historical documents related to significant debates about the federal judiciary.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.

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