Gerald Bard Tjoflat

Gerald Bard Tjoflat
Gerald Bard Tjoflat
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
	In office; October 1, 1989 – September 20, 1996
Preceded by	Paul Hitch Roney
Succeeded by	Joseph W. Hatchett
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; October 1, 1981
Appointed by	operation of law
Preceded by	Seat established by 94 Stat. 1994
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
	In office; November 21, 1975 – October 1, 1981
Appointed by	Gerald Ford
Preceded by	John Milton Bryan Simpson
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
	In office; October 16, 1970 – December 12, 1975
Appointed by	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	Seat established by 84 Stat. 294
Succeeded by	Howell W. Melton
Personal details
Born	Gerald Bard Tjoflat; December 6, 1929 (age 94); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Education	Duke University School of Law (LL.B.)

Gerald Bard Tjoflat (born December 6, 1929) is an American lawyer and United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.^[1] He is currently the longest-serving federal appeals court judge still in active service, having chosen not to assume senior status despite eligibility.

Education and career

Tjoflat was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955, attaining the rank of corporal. Tjoflat earned his Bachelor of Laws from Duke University School of Law in 1957. He was in private practice in Jacksonville, Florida from 1957 to 1968 and served as a judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida in Jacksonville from 1968 to 1970.^[2]

President Richard Nixon nominated Tjoflat to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida on October 7, 1970, to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 13, 1970, he received his commission three days later. His service terminated on December 12, 1975, due to his elevation to the Fifth Circuit.^[2]

President Gerald Ford nominated Tjoflat to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on November 3, 1975, to a seat vacated by Judge John Milton Bryan Simpson. He was confirmed by the Senate on November 20, 1975, he received his commission the next day and began serving on the court on December 12, 1975. Tjoflat was reassigned by operation of law to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on October 1, 1981, when that court was established. He served as Chief Judge from 1989 to 1996.^[2]

Tjoflat was elected to the American Law Institute in 1972 and became a life member in 1997.^{[citation needed]}

In 1995, the Duke Law Journal at the Duke University School of Law published a tribute to Tjoflat that included articles by then-Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, retired Justices Lewis F. Powell, Jr. and Byron R. White, and Judge Edward R. Becker of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, among others.^[3]

Legal offices
Preceded by Seat established by 84 Stat. 294	Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida 1970–1975	Succeeded by Howell W. Melton
Preceded by John Milton Bryan Simpson	Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 1975–1981	Succeeded by Seat abolished
Preceded by Seat established by 94 Stat. 1994	Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 1981–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Paul Hitch Roney	Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 1989–1996	Succeeded by Joseph W. Hatchett