The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (in case citations, 11th Cir.) is a federal appellate court over the following U.S. district courts:

These districts were originally part of the Fifth Circuit, but were split off to form the Eleventh Circuit on October 1, 1981. For this reason, Fifth Circuit decisions from before this split are considered binding precedent in the Eleventh Circuit.

The court is based at the Elbert P. Tuttle U.S. Court of Appeals Building in Atlanta, Georgia. The building is named for Elbert Tuttle, who served as Chief Judge of the Fifth Circuit in the 1960s and was known for issuing decisions which advanced the civil rights of African-Americans.

The Eleventh Circuit is one of the 13 United States courts of appeals.

Current composition of the court

As of January 2, 2025[update]:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
ActiveChiefSenior
29Chief JudgeWilliam H. Pryor Jr.Birmingham, AL19622004–present2020–present—G.W. Bush
31Circuit JudgeAdalberto JordanMiami, FL19612012–present——Obama
32Circuit JudgeRobin S. RosenbaumFort Lauderdale, FL19662014–present——Obama
34Circuit JudgeJill A. PryorAtlanta, GA19632014–present——Obama
35Circuit JudgeKevin NewsomBirmingham, AL19722017–present——Trump
36Circuit JudgeElizabeth L. BranchAtlanta, GA19682018–present——Trump
37Circuit JudgeBritt GrantAtlanta, GA19782018–present——Trump
38Circuit JudgeRobert J. LuckTallahassee, FL19792019–present——Trump
39Circuit JudgeBarbara LagoaMiami, FL19672019–present——Trump
40Circuit JudgeAndrew L. BrasherBirmingham, AL19812020–present——Trump
41Circuit JudgeNancy AbuduAtlanta, GA19742023–present——Biden
42Circuit JudgeEmbry KiddOrlando, FL19832025–present——Biden
9Senior JudgeGerald Bard TjoflatJacksonville, FL19291981–20191989–19962019–presentFord / Operation of law
15Senior JudgeR. Lanier Anderson IIIMacon, GA19361981–20091999–20022009–presentCarter / Operation of law
19Senior JudgeJames Larry EdmondsonJasper, GA19471986–20122002–20092012–presentReagan
22Senior JudgeJoel Fredrick DubinaMontgomery, AL19471990–20132009–20132013–presentG.H.W. Bush
23Senior JudgeSusan H. BlackJacksonville, FL19431992–2011—2011–presentG.H.W. Bush
24Senior JudgeEdward Earl CarnesMontgomery, AL19501992–20202013–20202020–presentG.H.W. Bush
26Senior JudgeFrank M. HullAtlanta, GA19481997–2017—2017–presentClinton
27Senior JudgeStanley MarcusWest Palm Beach, FL19461997–2019—2019–presentClinton
28Senior JudgeCharles R. WilsonTampa, FL19541999–2024—2024–presentClinton
33Senior JudgeJulie E. CarnesAtlanta, GA19502014–2018—2018–presentObama

List of former judges

#JudgeStateBorn–diedActive serviceChief JudgeSenior statusAppointed byReason for termination
1Richard RivesAL1895–1982——1981–1982Truman / Operation of lawdeath
2Elbert TuttleGA1897–1996——1981–1996Eisenhower / Operation of lawdeath
3Warren Leroy JonesFL1895–1993——1981–1993Eisenhower / Operation of lawdeath
4John Cooper GodboldAL1920–20091981–19871981–19861987–2009L. Johnson / Operation of lawdeath
5David William DyerFL1910–1998——1981–1998L. Johnson / Operation of lawdeath
6John SimpsonFL1903–1987——1981–1987L. Johnson / Operation of lawdeath
7Lewis Render MorganGA1913–2001——1981–2001L. Johnson / Operation of lawdeath
8Paul Hitch RoneyFL1921–20061981–19891986–19891989–2006Nixon / Operation of lawdeath
10James Clinkscales HillFL1924–20171981–1989—1989–2017Ford / Operation of lawdeath
11Peter T. FayFL1929–20211981–1994—1994–2021Ford / Operation of lawdeath
12Robert Smith VanceAL1931–19891981–1989——Carter / Operation of lawdeath
13Phyllis A. KravitchGA1920–20171981–1996—1996–2017Carter / Operation of lawdeath
14Frank Minis JohnsonAL1918–19991981–1991—1991–1999Carter / Operation of lawdeath
16Joseph W. HatchettFL1932–20211981–19991996–1999—Carter / Operation of lawretirement
17Albert John HendersonGA1920–19991981–1986—1986–1999Carter / Operation of lawdeath
18Thomas Alonzo ClarkFL1920–20051981–1991—1991–2005Carter / Operation of lawdeath
20Emmett Ripley CoxAL1935–20211988–2000—2000–2021Reagandeath
21Stanley F. Birch Jr.GA1945–present1990–2010——G.H.W. Bushretirement
25Rosemary BarkettFL1939–present1994–2013——Clintonretirement
30Beverly B. MartinGA1955–present2010–2021——Obamaretirement

Chief judges

Chief Judge
Godbold1981–1986
Roney1986–1989
Tjoflat1989–1996
Hatchett1996–1999
Anderson1999–2002
Edmondson2002–2009
Dubina2009–2013
E. Carnes2013–2020
W. Pryor, Jr.2020–present

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their circuits, and preside over any panel on which they serve, unless the circuit justice (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, with seniority determined first by commission date, then by age. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. If no judge qualifies to be chief, the youngest judge over the age of 65 who has served on the court for at least one year shall act as chief until another judge qualifies. If no judge has served on the court for more than a year, the most senior judge shall act as chief. Judges can forfeit or resign their chief judgeship or acting chief judgeship while retaining their active status as a circuit judge.

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

Succession of seats

The court has twelve seats for active judges, numbered in the order in which they were initially filled. Judges who assume senior status enter a kind of retirement in which they remain on the bench but vacate their seats, thus allowing the U.S. President to appoint new judges to fill their seats.

Seat 1
Seat 1 Established on May 31, 1938 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 52 Stat. 584 Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994 Godbold AL 1981–1987 Cox AL 1988–2000 W. Pryor, Jr. AL 2004–presentSeat 2 Established on June 18, 1968 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 82 Stat. 184 Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994 Roney FL 1981–1989 Barkett FL 1994–2013 Rosenbaum FL 2014–presentSeat 3 Established on March 18, 1966 as a temporary seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 80 Stat. 75 Made permanent on June 18, 1968 by 82 Stat. 184 Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994 Tjoflat FL 1981–2019 Luck FL 2019–presentSeat 4 Established on May 19, 1961 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 75 Stat. 80 Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994 Hill GA 1981–1989 Birch, Jr. GA 1990–2010 J. Pryor GA 2014–present
Established on May 31, 1938 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 52 Stat. 584
Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994
GodboldAL1981–1987
CoxAL1988–2000
W. Pryor, Jr.AL2004–present
Seat 2
Established on June 18, 1968 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 82 Stat. 184
Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994
RoneyFL1981–1989
BarkettFL1994–2013
RosenbaumFL2014–present
Seat 3
Established on March 18, 1966 as a temporary seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 80 Stat. 75
Made permanent on June 18, 1968 by 82 Stat. 184
Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994
TjoflatFL1981–2019
LuckFL2019–present
Seat 4
Established on May 19, 1961 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 75 Stat. 80
Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994
HillGA1981–1989
Birch, Jr.GA1990–2010
J. PryorGA2014–present
Seat 5
Seat 5 Established on December 14, 1942 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 56 Stat. 1050 Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994 Fay FL 1981–1994 Marcus FL 1997–2019 Lagoa FL 2019–presentSeat 6 Established on May 19, 1961 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 75 Stat. 80 Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994 Vance AL 1981–1989 Dubina AL 1990–2013 Newsom AL 2017–presentSeat 7 Established on February 10, 1954 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 68 Stat. 8 Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994 Kravitch GA 1981–1996 Hull GA 1997–2017 Branch GA 2018–presentSeat 8 Established on October 20, 1978 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 92 Stat. 1629 Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994 Johnson AL 1981–1991 E. Carnes AL 1992–2020 Brasher AL 2020–present
Established on December 14, 1942 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 56 Stat. 1050
Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994
FayFL1981–1994
MarcusFL1997–2019
LagoaFL2019–present
Seat 6
Established on May 19, 1961 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 75 Stat. 80
Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994
VanceAL1981–1989
DubinaAL1990–2013
NewsomAL2017–present
Seat 7
Established on February 10, 1954 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 68 Stat. 8
Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994
KravitchGA1981–1996
HullGA1997–2017
BranchGA2018–present
Seat 8
Established on October 20, 1978 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 92 Stat. 1629
Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994
JohnsonAL1981–1991
E. CarnesAL1992–2020
BrasherAL2020–present
Seat 9
Seat 9 Established on October 20, 1978 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 92 Stat. 1629 Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994 Anderson GA 1981–2009 Martin GA 2010–2021 Abudu GA 2023–presentSeat 10 Established on October 20, 1978 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 92 Stat. 1629 Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994 Henderson GA 1981–1986 Edmondson GA 1986–2012 J. Carnes GA 2014–2018 Grant GA 2018–presentSeat 11 Established on October 20, 1978 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 92 Stat. 1629 Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994 Hatchett FL 1981–1999 Wilson FL 1999–2024 Kidd FL 2025–presentSeat 12 Established on October 20, 1978 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 92 Stat. 1629 Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994 Clark FL 1981–1991 Black FL 1992–2011 Jordan FL 2012–present
Established on October 20, 1978 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 92 Stat. 1629
Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994
AndersonGA1981–2009
MartinGA2010–2021
AbuduGA2023–present
Seat 10
Established on October 20, 1978 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 92 Stat. 1629
Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994
HendersonGA1981–1986
EdmondsonGA1986–2012
J. CarnesGA2014–2018
GrantGA2018–present
Seat 11
Established on October 20, 1978 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 92 Stat. 1629
Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994
HatchettFL1981–1999
WilsonFL1999–2024
KiddFL2025–present
Seat 12
Established on October 20, 1978 as a seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by 92 Stat. 1629
Reassigned on October 1, 1981 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by 94 Stat. 1994
ClarkFL1981–1991
BlackFL1992–2011
JordanFL2012–present

See also

Notes

Citations

Sources

  • . Federal Law Clerk Information System. Archived from on October 21, 2005. primary but incomplete source for the duty stations
  • . Website of the University of Texas Law School. Archived from on November 11, 2005. secondary source for the duty stations data is current to 2002
  • . Official website of the Federal Judicial Center. Archived from on April 24, 2005. source for the state, lifetime, term of active judgeship, term of chief judgeship, term of senior judgeship, appointer, termination reason, and seat information

External links

  • Courthouse map links: 33°45′23″N 84°23′25″W/33.75639°N 84.39028°W/ 33.75639; -84.39028