Court Seat Succession and Judicial History
The organizational structure of the court is defined by twelve designated seats for active judges. These seats were originally numbered in alphabetical order based on the occupants serving at the time of the court's formation. In this system, the sole vacant seat is assigned the final number.
A critical aspect of this structure is the transition to senior status—a form of semi-retirement where judges remain on the bench but relinquish their active seat. Once a seat becomes vacant through this process, it is filled by the next circuit judge appointed by the President.
Key Facts
- The court maintains a total of 12 seats for active judges.
- Seats 1 through 5 were reassigned from the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals.
- Seats 6 through 12 were reassigned from the United States Court of Claims.
- All seat reassignments occurred on October 1, 1982, under 96 Stat. 25.
- Vacancies created by judges taking senior status are filled via Presidential appointment.
The Evolution of Judicial Seats
Seats from the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
The first five seats of the court were transitioned from the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals. These seats have seen various successions over the decades, with Seat 1 currently held by Taranto and Seat 5 by Dyk.
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Seats from the Court of Claims
Seats 6 through 12 were reassigned from the United States Court of Claims. This group includes some of the court's longest-serving members, such as Lourie in Seat 6 and Newman in Seat 9, both of whom have served since the late 1980s and early 1980s, respectively.
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Complete Succession Timeline
| Seat | Originating Court | Notable Past Occupants | Current Occupant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Customs and Patent Appeals | Baldwin, Michel | Taranto |
| 2 | Customs and Patent Appeals | Markey, Bryson | Hughes |
| 3 | Customs and Patent Appeals | Nies, Gajarsa, Wallach | Cunningham |
| 4 | Customs and Patent Appeals | Rich, Linn | Chen |
| 5 | Customs and Patent Appeals | Miller, Archer, Jr. | Dyk |
| 6 | Court of Claims | Friedman | Lourie |
| 7 | Court of Claims | Bennett, Mayer | Reyna |
| 8 | Court of Claims | Kashiwa, Plager | Prost |
| 9 | Court of Claims | Nichols, Jr. | Newman |
| 10 | Court of Claims | Smith, Schall, O'Malley | Stark |
| 11 | Court of Claims | Davis, Clevenger | Moore |
| 12 | Court of Claims | Bissell, Rader | Stoll |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many active seats are there in the court?
The court has twelve seats designated for active judges.
What happens when a judge retires into senior status?
Judges who take senior status remain on the bench, but their specific seat becomes vacant and is subsequently filled by a new Presidential appointee.
Where did the first five seats originate?
Seats 1 through 5 were reassigned from the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals on October 1, 1982.
Where did seats 6 through 12 originate?
Seats 6 through 12 were reassigned from the United States Court of Claims on October 1, 1982.
How were the seats originally numbered?
The seats were numbered in alphabetical order based on the names of the occupants at the time the court was formed.