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U.S. District Courts for the Districts of Kentucky: Authorized Judgeships

Below are tables showing authorized positions for U.S. district judges, U.S. bankruptcy judges, and U.S. magistrate judges. While district and bankruptcy judgeships are authorized by congressional statute, magistrate judgeships are authorized by the Judicial Conference of the United States. For more detail regarding the authorization of these judgeships, see the Legislative History and Succession Chart(s) pages for each district court (see menu at right), Authorized Bankruptcy Judgeships, Authorized Magistrate Judgeships (by location), and Authorized Magistrate Judgeships (by fiscal year).

Authorized District Judgeships

  Kentucky
District
Eastern
District
Western
District
Total
Judgeships
September 24, 1789
1 Stat. 73

1

 

 

1

February 13, 1801
2 Stat. 89

 

 

 

0

March 8, 1802 (effective July 1, 1802)
2 Stat. 132

1

 

 

1

February 12, 1901
31 Stat. 781

 

1

1

2

June 22, 1936
49 Stat. 1806

 

2

2

3

February 10, 1954
68 Stat. 8

 

2

3

4

June 2, 1970
84 Stat. 294

 

3

4

6

October 20, 1978
92 Stat. 1629

 

6

4

9

July 10, 1984
98 Stat. 333

 

6

5

10

September 30, 1984
Temporary judgeship expired
  5 5 9
September 2, 1957 (effective November 30, 1987)
71 Stat. 586
 

6

5

10

June 14, 1988
Temporary judgeship expired
  5 5 9
December 21, 2000
114 Stat. 2762
  6 5 10

 

Authorized Bankruptcy Judgeships

  Eastern
District
Western 
District
Total
Judgeships
July 10, 1984
98 Stat. 336
1 2 3
October 27, 1986
100 Stat. 3088
1 3 4
November 3, 1988
102 Stat. 2982
2 3 5

 

Authorized Magistrate Judgeships (by location)

Eastern District
Location Full-Time Part-Time
Ashland 1 (1996–2009) 1 (1971–1976)
Ashland or Catlettsburg 1 (1977–1995)  
Ashland or Frankfort or Pikeville 1 (2022–present)  
Ashland or Pikeville 1 (2010–2021)  
Covington 1 (1992–present) 1 (1971–1991)
Lexington 1 (1972–present) 1 (1971)
London 1 (1996–present) 1 (1971–1995)
Pikeville   1 (1971–1976)
Pineville   1 (1971–1978)
Richmond   1 (1971–1976)
Total 0 (1971)
1 (1972–1976)
2 (1977–1991)
3 (1992–1995)
4 (1996–present)
7 (1971)
6 (1972–1976)
3 (1977–1978)
2 (1979–1991)
1 (1992–1995)
0 (1996–present)
Western District
Location Full-Time Part-Time Combination
Bowling Green   1 (1971–1991)  
Bowling Green or Hopkinsville 1 (1992–2000)    
Bowling Green or Owensboro 1 (2001–present)    
Hopkinsville   1 (1972–1991)  
Louisville 1 (1971–2000)
2 (2001–present)
  deputy clerk-magistrate
1 (1980–1995)
Louisville or Owensboro 1 (1996–2000)    
Mammoth Cave National Park   1 (1971–1979)  
Owensboro   1 (1971–1995)  
Paducah 1 (1980–present) 1 (1971–1979)  
Total 1 (1971–1979)
2 (1980–1991)
3 (1992–1995)
4 (1996–present)
4 (1971)
5 (1972–1979)
3 (1980–1991)
1 (1992–1995)
0 (1996–present)
0 (1971–1979)
1 (1980–1985)
0 (1986–present)

 

Authorized Magistrate Judgeships (by fiscal year)

Eastern District
Fiscal Year(s) Full-Time Total Part-Time Total
1971   0 Ashland, Covington, Lexington, London, Pikeville, Pineville, Richmond 7
1972–1976 Lexington 1 Ashland, Covington, London, Pikeville, Pineville, Richmond 6
1977–1978 Ashland or Catlettsburg, Lexington 2 Covington, London, Pineville 3
1979–1991 Ashland or Catlettsburg, Lexington 2 Covington, London 2
1992–1995 Ashland or Catlettsburg, Covington, Lexington 3 London 1
1996–2009 Ashland, Covington, Lexington, London 4   0
2010–2021 Ashland or Pikeville, Covington, Lexington, London 4   0
2022–present Ashland or Frankfort or Pikeville, Covington, Lexington, London 4   0
Western District
Fiscal Year(s) Full-Time Total Part-Time Total Combination Total
1971 Louisville 1 Bowling Green, Mammoth Cave National Park, Owensboro, Paducah 4   0
1972–1979 Louisville 1 Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, Mammoth Cave National Park, Owensboro, Paducah 5   0
1980–1991 Louisville, Paducah 2 Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, Owensboro 3 Louisville (deputy clerk-magistrate) 1
1992–1995 Bowling Green or Hopkinsville, Louisville, Paducah 3 Owensboro 1 Louisville (deputy clerk-magistrate) 1
1996–2000 Bowling Green or Hopkinsville, Louisville, Louisville or Owensboro, Paducah 4   0   0
2001–present Bowling Green or Owensboro, Louisville (2), Paducah 4   0   0

 

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