The Southern District is one of the most influential and active federal district courts in the United States, largely because of its jurisdiction over New York's major financial centers. The current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York is Preet Bharara.
For the first hundred years of its existence, the case load of the District was dominated first by admiralty cases, and then by a mix of admiralty and bankruptcy cases.[3] The primary responsibility for hearing bankruptcy cases has since been transferred to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, with the District Court only reviewing cases already decided by a bankruptcy judge.
As a formal matter, the pending nominations from 2012 lapsed at the end of the 112th Congress on January 3, 2013. President Obama resubmitted the nominees' names at the beginning of the 113th Congress the same day.
| # |
Judge |
State |
Born/Died |
Active service |
Term as Chief Judge |
Senior status |
Appointed by |
Reason for
termination |
| 1 |
Van Ness, William PeterWilliam Peter Van Ness |
NY |
1778–1826 |
1812–1826[4] |
— |
— |
Madison, Madison |
death |
| 2 |
Betts, Samuel RossiterSamuel Rossiter Betts |
NY |
1786–1868 |
1826–1867 |
— |
— |
Adams, J.Q.J.Q. Adams |
resignation |
| 3 |
Blatchford, SamuelSamuel Blatchford |
NY |
1820–1893 |
1867–1878[5] |
— |
— |
Johnson, A.A. Johnson |
reappointment |
| 4 |
Choate, William GardnerWilliam Gardner Choate |
NY |
1830–1920 |
1878–1881 |
— |
— |
Hayes, Hayes |
resignation |
| 5 |
Brown, AddisonAddison Brown |
NY |
1830–1913 |
1881–1901[6] |
— |
— |
Garfield, Garfield |
retirement |
| 6 |
Adams, George BethuneGeorge Bethune Adams |
NY |
1845–1911 |
1901–1911[7] |
— |
— |
McKinley, McKinley |
death |
| 7 |
Holt, George ChandlerGeorge Chandler Holt |
NY |
1843–1931 |
1903–1914 |
— |
— |
Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt |
retirement |
| 8 |
Hough, Charles MerrillCharles Merrill Hough |
NY |
1858–1927 |
1906–1916 |
— |
— |
Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt |
reappointment |
| 9 |
Hand, LearnedLearned Hand |
NY |
1872–1961 |
1909–1924 |
— |
— |
Taft, Taft |
reappointment |
| 10 |
Mayer, Julius MarshuetzJulius Marshuetz Mayer |
NY |
1865–1925 |
1912–1921 |
— |
— |
Taft, Taft |
reappointment |
| 11 |
Hand, Augustus NobleAugustus Noble Hand |
NY |
1869–1954 |
1914–1927 |
— |
— |
Wilson, Wilson |
reappointment |
| 12 |
Manton, MartinMartin Manton |
NY |
1880–1946 |
1916–1918 |
— |
— |
Wilson, Wilson |
reappointment |
| 13 |
Knox, John C.John C. Knox |
NY |
1881–1966 |
1918–1955 |
1948–1955 |
1955–1966 |
Wilson, Wilson |
death |
| 14 |
Goddard, Henry W.Henry W. Goddard |
NY |
1876–1955 |
1923–1954 |
— |
1954–1955 |
Harding, Harding |
death |
| 15 |
Winslow, Francis A.Francis A. Winslow |
NY |
1866–1932 |
1923–1929 |
— |
— |
Harding, Harding |
resignation |
| 16 |
Bondy, WilliamWilliam Bondy |
NY |
1870–1964 |
1923–1956 |
1955–1956 |
1956–1964 |
Harding, Harding |
death |
| 17 |
Thacher, Thomas D.Thomas D. Thacher |
NY |
1881–1950 |
1925–1930 |
— |
— |
Coolidge, Coolidge |
resignation |
| 18 |
Coleman, Frank JosephFrank Joseph Coleman |
NY |
1886–1934 |
1927–1934[8] |
— |
— |
Coolidge, Coolidge |
death |
| 19 |
Woolsey, John M.John M. Woolsey |
NY |
1877–1945 |
1929–1943 |
— |
1943–1945 |
Hoover, Hoover |
death |
| 20 |
Caffey, Francis GordonFrancis Gordon Caffey |
NY |
1868–1951 |
1929–1947 |
— |
1947–1951 |
Hoover, Hoover |
death |
| 21 |
Coxe Jr., Alfred ConklingAlfred Conkling Coxe Jr. |
NY |
1880–1957 |
1929–1951 |
— |
1951–1957 |
Hoover, Hoover |
death |
| 22 |
Patterson, Robert P.Robert P. Patterson |
NY |
1891–1952 |
1930–1939 |
— |
— |
Hoover, Hoover |
reappointment |
| 23 |
Hulbert, G. MurrayG. Murray Hulbert |
NY |
1881–1950 |
1934–1950 |
— |
— |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
death |
| 24 |
Leibell, Vincent L.Vincent L. Leibell |
NY |
1883–1968 |
1936–1954 |
— |
1954–1968 |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
death |
| 25 |
Clancy, John WilliamJohn William Clancy |
NY |
1899–1969 |
1936–1959 |
1956–1959 |
1959–1969 |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
death |
| 26 |
Mandelbaum, SamuelSamuel Mandelbaum |
NY |
1884–1946 |
1936–1946 |
— |
— |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
death |
| 27 |
Conger, EdwardEdward Conger |
NY |
1882–1963 |
1938–1954 |
— |
1954–1963 |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
death |
| 28 |
Bright, JohnJohn Bright |
NY |
1884–1948 |
1941–1948 |
— |
— |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
death |
| 29 |
Rifkind, Simon HirschSimon Hirsch Rifkind |
NY |
1901–1995 |
1941–1950 |
— |
— |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
resignation |
| 30 |
Medina, HaroldHarold Medina |
NY |
1888–1990 |
1947–1951 |
— |
— |
Truman, Truman |
reappointment |
| 31 |
Ryan, Sylvester J.Sylvester J. Ryan |
NY |
1896–1981 |
1947–1973[9] |
1959–1966 |
1973–1981 |
Truman, Truman |
death |
| 32 |
Kaufman, Samuel H.Samuel H. Kaufman |
NY |
1893–1960 |
1948–1955[10] |
— |
1955–1960 |
Truman, Truman |
death |
| 33 |
Kaufman, IrvingIrving Kaufman |
NY |
1910–1992 |
1949–1961[11] |
— |
— |
Truman, Truman |
reappointment |
| 34 |
McGohey, John F. X.John F. X. McGohey |
NY |
1894–1972 |
1949–1970[12] |
— |
1970–1972 |
Truman, Truman |
death |
| 35 |
Noonan, Gregory FrancisGregory Francis Noonan |
NY |
1906–1964 |
1949–1964[13] |
— |
— |
Truman, Truman |
death |
| 36 |
Sugarman, SidneySidney Sugarman |
NY |
1904–1974 |
1949–1971[14] |
1966–1971 |
1971–1974 |
Truman, Truman |
death |
| 37 |
Weinfeld, EdwardEdward Weinfeld |
NY |
1901–1988 |
1950–1988 |
— |
— |
Truman, Truman |
death |
| 38 |
Murphy, Thomas FrancisThomas Francis Murphy |
NY |
1905–1995 |
1951–1970 |
— |
1970–1995 |
Truman, Truman |
death |
| 39 |
Dimock, Edward JordanEdward Jordan Dimock |
NY |
1890–1986 |
1951–1961 |
— |
1961–1986 |
Truman, Truman |
death |
| 40 |
Edelstein, David NortonDavid Norton Edelstein |
NY |
1910–2000 |
1951–1994[15] |
1971–1980 |
1994–2000 |
Truman, Truman |
death |
| 41 |
Dawson, Archie OwenArchie Owen Dawson |
NY |
1898–1964 |
1954–1964 |
— |
— |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
| 42 |
Walsh, Lawrence EdwardLawrence Edward Walsh |
NY |
1912–present |
1954–1957 |
— |
— |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
resignation |
| 43 |
Bicks, AlexanderAlexander Bicks |
NY |
1901–1963 |
1954–1963 |
— |
— |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
| 44 |
Palmieri, Edmund LouisEdmund Louis Palmieri |
NY |
1907–1989 |
1954–1972 |
— |
1972–1989 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
| 45 |
Herlands, William BernardWilliam Bernard Herlands |
NY |
1905–1969 |
1955–1969[16] |
— |
— |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
| 46 |
Cashin, John M.John M. Cashin |
NY |
1892–1970 |
1955–1965[17] |
— |
1965–1970 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
| 47 |
Levet, Richard HarringtonRichard Harrington Levet |
NY |
1894–1980 |
1956–1966 |
— |
1966–1976 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
retirement |
| 48 |
Bryan, Frederick van PeltFrederick van Pelt Bryan |
NY |
1904–1978 |
1956–1972 |
— |
1972–1978 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
| 49 |
MacMahon, Lloyd FrancisLloyd Francis MacMahon |
NY |
1912–1989 |
1959–1982 |
1980–1982 |
1982–1989 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
| 50 |
Metzner, Charles MillerCharles Miller Metzner |
NY |
1912–2009 |
1959–1977 |
— |
1977–2009 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
| 51 |
Croake, Thomas FrancisThomas Francis Croake |
NY |
1902–1978 |
1961–1972 |
— |
1972–1978 |
Kennedy, Kennedy |
death |
| 52 |
Bonsal, Dudley BaldwinDudley Baldwin Bonsal |
NY |
1906–1995 |
1961–1976[18] |
— |
1976–1995 |
Kennedy, Kennedy |
death |
| 53 |
Cooper, Irving BenIrving Ben Cooper |
NY |
1902–1996 |
1961–1972[19] |
— |
1972–1996 |
Kennedy, Kennedy |
death |
| 54 |
Feinberg, WilfredWilfred Feinberg |
NY |
1920–present |
1961–1966[18] |
— |
— |
Kennedy, Kennedy |
reappointment |
| 55 |
Tyler, Jr., Harold R.Harold R. Tyler, Jr. |
NY |
1922–2005 |
1962–1975 |
— |
— |
Kennedy, Kennedy |
resignation |
| 56 |
McLean, Edward CochraneEdward Cochrane McLean |
NY |
1903–1972 |
1962–1972 |
— |
— |
Kennedy, Kennedy |
death |
| 57 |
Wyatt, Inzer BassInzer Bass Wyatt |
NY |
1907–1990 |
1962–1977 |
— |
1977–1990 |
Kennedy, Kennedy |
death |
| 58 |
Cannella, John MatthewJohn Matthew Cannella |
NY |
1908–1996 |
1963–1977 |
— |
1977–1996 |
Kennedy, Kennedy |
death |
| 59 |
Tenney, Charles HenryCharles Henry Tenney |
NY |
1911–1994 |
1963–1979 |
— |
1979–1994 |
Kennedy, Kennedy |
death |
| 60 |
Frankel, Marvin E.Marvin E. Frankel |
NY |
1920–2002 |
1965–1978 |
— |
— |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
resignation |
| 61 |
Mansfield, Walter R.Walter R. Mansfield |
NY |
1911–1987 |
1966–1971 |
— |
— |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
reappointment |
| 62 |
Motley, Constance BakerConstance Baker Motley |
NY |
1921–2005 |
1966–1986 |
1982–1986 |
1986–2005 |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
death |
| 63 |
Pollack, MiltonMilton Pollack |
NY |
1906–2004 |
1967–1983 |
— |
1983–2004 |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
death |
| 64 |
Lasker, Morris E.Morris E. Lasker |
NY |
1917–2009 |
1968–1983 |
— |
1983–2009 |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
death |
| 65 |
Gurfein, MurrayMurray Gurfein |
NY |
1907–1979 |
1971–1974 |
— |
— |
Nixon, Nixon |
reappointment |
| 66 |
Pierce, Lawrence W.Lawrence W. Pierce |
NY |
1924–present |
1971–1981 |
— |
— |
Nixon, Nixon |
reappointment |
| 67 |
Brieant, Charles L.Charles L. Brieant |
NY |
1923–2008 |
1971–2007 |
1986–1993 |
2007–2008 |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
| 68 |
Bauman, ArnoldArnold Bauman |
NY |
1914–1989 |
1971–1974 |
— |
— |
Nixon, Nixon |
resignation |
| 69 |
Gagliardi, Lee ParsonsLee Parsons Gagliardi |
NY |
1918–1998 |
1971–1985 |
— |
1985–1998 |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
| 71 |
Knapp, WhitmanWhitman Knapp |
NY |
1909–2004 |
1972–1987 |
— |
1987–2004 |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
| 72 |
Stewart, Jr., Charles E.Charles E. Stewart, Jr. |
NY |
1916–1994 |
1972–1985 |
— |
1985–1994 |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
| 73 |
Carter, Robert L.Robert L. Carter |
NY |
1917–2012 |
1972–1986 |
— |
1986–2012 |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
| 75 |
Ward, Robert JosephRobert Joseph Ward |
NY |
1926–2003 |
1972–1991 |
— |
1991–2003 |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
| 76 |
Conner, William C.William C. Conner |
NY |
1920–2009 |
1973–1987 |
— |
1987–2009 |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
| 78 |
Werker, Henry FrederickHenry Frederick Werker |
NY |
1920–1984 |
1974–1984 |
— |
— |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
| 80 |
Goettel, Gerard LouisGerard Louis Goettel |
NY |
1928–2011 |
1976–1993 |
— |
1993–2011 |
Ford, Ford |
death |
| 81 |
Broderick, Vincent LyonsVincent Lyons Broderick |
NY |
1920–1995 |
1976–1988 |
— |
1988–1995 |
Ford, Ford |
death |
| 82 |
Leval, Pierre N.Pierre N. Leval |
NY |
1936–present |
1977–1993 |
— |
— |
Carter, Carter |
reappointment |
| 85 |
Lowe, Mary JohnsonMary Johnson Lowe |
NY |
1924–1999 |
1978–1991 |
— |
1991–1999 |
Carter, Carter |
death |
| 86 |
Sofaer, Abraham DavidAbraham David Sofaer |
NY |
1938–present |
1979–1985 |
— |
— |
Carter, Carter |
resignation |
| 87 |
Sprizzo, John E.John E. Sprizzo |
NY |
1934–2008 |
1981–2000 |
— |
2000–2008 |
Reagan, Reagan |
death |
| 88 |
Kram, Shirley WohlShirley Wohl Kram |
NY |
1922–2009 |
1983–1993 |
— |
1993–2009 |
Reagan, Reagan |
death |
| 92 |
Walker, Jr., John M.John M. Walker, Jr. |
NY |
1940–present |
1985–1989 |
— |
— |
Reagan, Reagan |
reappointment |
| 94 |
Daronco, Richard J.Richard J. Daronco |
NY |
1931–1988 |
1987–1988 |
— |
— |
Reagan, Reagan |
death |
| 95 |
Mukasey, MichaelMichael Mukasey |
NY |
1941–present |
1987–2006 |
2000–2006 |
2006–2006 |
Reagan, Reagan |
retirement |
| 96 |
Conboy, KennethKenneth Conboy |
NY |
1938–present |
1987–1993 |
— |
— |
Reagan, Reagan |
resignation |
| 99 |
Martin Jr., John S.John S. Martin Jr. |
NY |
1935–present |
1990–2003 |
— |
2003–2003 |
Bush, G.H.W.G.H.W. Bush |
retirement |
| 101 |
Freeh, LouisLouis Freeh |
NY |
1950–present |
1991–1993 |
— |
— |
Bush, G.H.W.G.H.W. Bush |
resignation |
| 103 |
Sotomayor, SoniaSonia Sotomayor |
NY |
1954–present |
1992–1998 |
— |
— |
Bush, G.H.W.G.H.W. Bush |
reappointment |
| 104 |
Schwartz, Allen G.Allen G. Schwartz |
NY |
1934–2003 |
1993–2003 |
— |
— |
Clinton, Clinton |
death |
| 107 |
Chin, DennyDenny Chin |
NY |
1954–present |
1994–2010 |
— |
— |
Clinton, Clinton |
reappointment |
| 111 |
Parker, Jr., Barrington DanielsBarrington Daniels Parker, Jr. |
NY |
1944–present |
1994–2001 |
— |
— |
Clinton, Clinton |
reappointment |
| 114 |
Jones, Barbara S.Barbara S. Jones |
NY |
1947–present |
1995–2012 |
— |
2012–2013 |
Clinton, Clinton |
retirement |
| 116 |
Casey, Richard C.Richard C. Casey |
NY |
1933–2007 |
1997–2007 |
— |
— |
Clinton, Clinton |
death |
| 124 |
Lynch, Gerard E.Gerard E. Lynch |
NY |
1951–present |
2000–2009 |
— |
— |
Clinton, Clinton |
reappointment |
| 127 |
Holwell, Richard J.Richard J. Holwell |
NY |
1946–present |
2003–2012 |
— |
— |
Bush, G.W.G.W. Bush |
resignation |
| 128 |
Robinson, Stephen C.Stephen C. Robinson |
NY |
1957–present |
2003–2010 |
— |
— |
Bush, G.W.G.W. Bush |
resignation |