United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts

United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
(D. Mass.)
Map

Appeals to First Circuit
Established September 24, 1789
Judges assigned 13
Chief judge Patti B. Saris
Official site

The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (in case citations, D. Mass.) is the federal district court whose territorial jurisdiction is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA.[1] The first court session was held in Boston in 1789. The second term was held in Salem in 1790 and court session locations alternated between the two cities until 1813. That year, Boston became the court's permanent home. A western division was opened in Springfield in 1979 and a central division was opened in Worcester in 1987. The court's main building is the John Joseph Moakley Federal Courthouse on Fan Pier in South Boston.

Appeals from the District of Massachusetts are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, also located in the Moakley courthouse (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

US Attorney's Office

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. The current U.S. Attorney is Carmen Ortiz.

Federal Public Defender's Office

The Federal Public Defender's Office represents individuals who cannot afford to hire a lawyer in federal criminal cases and related matters. The office is assigned to cases by the district courts in three districts (New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts), and by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.[2]

Judges

Current composition of the court

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
37 Chief Judge Patti B. Saris Boston, MA 1951 1993–present 2013–present — Clinton
32 District Judge William G. Young Boston, MA 1940 1985–present 1999–2005 — Reagan
35 District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton Boston, MA 1938 1992–present — — G.H.W. Bush
38 District Judge Richard G. Stearns Boston, MA 1944 1993–present — — Clinton
41 District Judge George A. O'Toole, Jr. Boston, MA 1947 1995–present — — Clinton
42 District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV Boston, MA 1955 2004–present — — G.W. Bush
43 District Judge Denise J. Casper Boston, MA 1968 2010–present — — Obama
44 District Judge Timothy S. Hillman Worcester, MA 1948 2012–present — — Obama
45 District Judge Indira Talwani Boston, MA 1960 2014–present — — Obama
46 District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni Springfield, MA 1964 2014–present — — Obama
47 District Judge Leo T. Sorokin Boston, MA 1961 2014–present — — Obama
48 District Judge Allison Dale Burroughs Boston, MA 1961 2014–present — — Obama
49 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
24 Senior District Judge Joseph L. Tauro Boston, MA 1931 1972–2013 1992–1999 2013–present Nixon
30 Senior District Judge Rya W. Zobel Boston, MA 1931 1979–2014 — 2014–present Carter
31 Senior District Judge Mark L. Wolf Boston, MA 1946 1985–2013 2006–2012 2013–present Reagan
33 Senior District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock Boston, MA 1947 1986–2015 — 2015–present Reagan
34 Senior District Judge Edward F. Harrington Boston, MA 1933 1988–2001 — 2001–present Reagan
40 Senior District Judge Michael Ponsor Springfield, MA 1946 1994–2011 — 2011–present Clinton

Vacancies and pending nominations

Seat Seat last held by Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Nominee Date of nomination
6 Douglas P. Woodlock Senior Status June 1, 2015 Inga S. Bernstein July 30, 2015

Former judges

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Age at appointment Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Lowell, JohnJohn Lowell MA 1743–1802 1789–1801 — {{{age at appointment}}} — Washington, Washington appointment to circuit court
2 Davis, JohnJohn Davis MA 1761–1847 1801–1841 — {{{age at appointment}}} — Adams, Adams resignation
3 Sprague, PelegPeleg Sprague MA 1793–1880 1841–1865 — {{{age at appointment}}} — Tyler, Tyler resignation
4 Lowell, JohnJohn Lowell MA 1824–1897 1865–1879 — {{{age at appointment}}} — Lincoln, Lincoln appointment to circuit court
5 Nelson, Thomas LeverettThomas Leverett Nelson MA 1827–1897 1879–1897 — {{{age at appointment}}} — Hayes, Hayes death
6 Lowell, Francis CabotFrancis Cabot Lowell MA 1855–1911 1898–1905 — {{{age at appointment}}} — McKinley, McKinley appointment to 1st Cir.
7 Dodge, FredericFrederic Dodge MA 1847–1927 1905–1912 — {{{age at appointment}}} — Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt appointment to 1st Cir.
8 Morton Jr., James MadisonJames Madison Morton Jr. MA 1869–1940 1912–1932 — {{{age at appointment}}} — Taft, Taft appointment to 1st Cir.
9 Brewster, Elisha HumeElisha Hume Brewster MA 1871–1946 1922–1941 — {{{age at appointment}}} 1941–1946 Harding, Harding death
10 Lowell, James ArnoldJames Arnold Lowell MA 1869–1933 1922–1933 — {{{age at appointment}}} — Harding, Harding death
11 McLellan, Hugh DeanHugh Dean McLellan MA 1876–1953 1932–1941 — {{{age at appointment}}} — Hoover, Hoover resignation
12 Sweeney, George ClintonGeorge Clinton Sweeney MA 1895–1966 1935–1966 1948–1965 {{{age at appointment}}} 1966 Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt death
13 Ford, FrancisFrancis Ford MA 1882–1975 1938–1972 — {{{age at appointment}}} 1972–1975 Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt death
14 Healey, Arthur D.Arthur D. Healey MA 1889–1948 1941–1948 — {{{age at appointment}}} — Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt death
15 Wyzanski, Jr., Charles EdwardCharles Edward Wyzanski, Jr. MA 1906–1986 1941–1971 1965–1971 {{{age at appointment}}} 1971–1986 Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt death
16 McCarthy, William T.William T. McCarthy MA 1885–1964 1949–1960 — {{{age at appointment}}} 1960–1964 Truman, Truman death
17 Aldrich, BaileyBailey Aldrich MA 1907–2002 1954–1959 — {{{age at appointment}}} — Eisenhower, Eisenhower appointment to 1st Cir.
18 Julian, AnthonyAnthony Julian MA 1902–1984 1959–1972 1971–1972 {{{age at appointment}}} 1972–1984 Eisenhower, Eisenhower death
19 Caffrey, Andrew AugustineAndrew Augustine Caffrey MA 1920–1993 1960[3]–1986 1972–1986 {{{age at appointment}}} 1986–1993 Eisenhower, Eisenhower death
20 Garrity Jr., Wendell ArthurWendell Arthur Garrity Jr. MA 1920–1999 1966–1985 — {{{age at appointment}}} 1985–1999 Johnson, L.L. Johnson death
21 Murray, Frank JeromeFrank Jerome Murray MA 1904–1995 1967–1977 — {{{age at appointment}}} 1977–1995 Johnson, L.L. Johnson death
22 Campbell, Levin H.Levin H. Campbell MA 1927–present 1971–1972 — {{{age at appointment}}} — Nixon, Nixon appointment to 1st Cir.
23 Freedman, Frank HarlanFrank Harlan Freedman MA 1924–2003 1972–1992 1986–1992 {{{age at appointment}}} 1992–2003 Nixon, Nixon death
25 Skinner, Walter JayWalter Jay Skinner MA 1927–2005 1973–1992 — {{{age at appointment}}} 1992–2005 Nixon, Nixon death
26 Mazzone, A. DavidA. David Mazzone MA 1928–2004 1978–1993 — {{{age at appointment}}} 1993–2004 Carter, Carter death
27 Keeton, RobertRobert Keeton MA 1919–2007 1979–2003 — {{{age at appointment}}} 2003–2006 Carter, Carter retirement
28 McNaught, John JosephJohn Joseph McNaught MA 1921–1994 1979–1991 — {{{age at appointment}}} — Carter, Carter retirement
29 Nelson, David SutherlandDavid Sutherland Nelson MA 1933–1998 1979–1991 — {{{age at appointment}}} 1991–1998 Carter, Carter death
36 Lindsay, Reginald C.Reginald C. Lindsay MA 1945–2009 1993–2009 — {{{age at appointment}}} — Clinton, Clinton death
39 Gertner, NancyNancy Gertner MA 1946–present 1994–2011 — {{{age at appointment}}} 2011 Clinton retirement

Succession of seats

Seat 1
Seat established on September 24, 1789 by 1 Stat. 73
John A. Lowell 1789–1801
Davis 1801–1841
Sprague 1841–1865
John Lowell 1865–1879
T. Nelson 1879–1897
F. Lowell 1898–1905
Dodge 1905–1912
Morton, Jr. 1912–1932
McLellan 1932–1941
Wyzanski, Jr. 1941–1971
Campbell 1971–1972
Freedman 1972–1992
Ponsor 1994–2011
Mastroianni 2014–present
Seat 2
Seat established on September 14, 1922 by 42 Stat. 837 (temporary)
Seat made permanent on August 19, 1935 by 49 Stat. 659
Brewster 1922–1941
Healey 1941–1948
McCarthy 1949–1960
Caffrey 1961–1986
Harrington 1988–2001
Seat abolished on March 1, 2001 (temporary judgeship expired)
Seat 3
Seat established on September 14, 1922 by 42 Stat. 837 (temporary)
Seat made permanent on August 19, 1935 by 49 Stat. 659
James A. Lowell 1922–1933
Sweeney 1935–1966
Murray 1967–1977
Mazzone 1978–1993
Gertner 1994–2011
Hillman 2012–present
Seat 4
Seat established on May 31, 1938 by 52 Stat. 584 (temporary)
Seat made permanent on November 21, 1941 by 55 Stat. 773
Ford 1938–1972
Tauro 1972–2013
Sorokin 2014–present

Seat 5
Seat established on February 10, 1954 by 68 Stat. 68
Aldrich 1954–1959
Julian 1959–1972
Skinner 1973–1992
Saris 1993–present
Seat 6
Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
Garrity, Jr. 1966–1985
Woodlock 1986–2015
vacant 2015–present
Seat 7
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Keeton 1979–2003
Saylor, IV 2004–present
Seat 8
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
McNaught 1979–1991
Stearns 1993–present

Seat 9
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
D. Nelson 1979–1991
Lindsay 1993–2009
Casper 2010–present
Seat 10
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Zobel 1979–2014
Burroughs 2014–present
Seat 11
Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
Wolf 1985–2013
Talwani 2014–present
Seat 12
Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333 (temporary)
Seat made permanent on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Young 1985–present

Seat 13
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Gorton 1992–present
Seat 14
Seat established on May 26, 1995 pursuant to 104 Stat. 5089 (temporary)
Seat became permanent upon the abolishment of Seat 2 on March 1, 2001.
O'Toole, Jr. 1995–present

U.S. Attorneys

Notable cases

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 28 U.S.C. § 101.
  2. ↑ "About us". bostondefender.org. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 10, 1961, confirmed by the United States Senate on August 9, 1961, and received commission on August 16, 1961.

External links

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