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 |
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| September 24, 1789 1 Stat. 73 |
1
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| September 14, 1922 42 Stat. 837 |
3
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| May 31, 1938 52 Stat. 584 |
4
|
| February 10, 1954 68 Stat. 8 |
5
|
| May 19, 1961 75 Stat. 80 |
6
|
| October 20, 1978 92 Stat. 1629 |
10
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| July 10, 1984 98 Stat. 333 |
12
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| December 1, 1990 104 Stat. 5089 |
13
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| December 1, 1990 (effective April 1995) 104 Stat. 5089 |
14
|
|
March 1, 2001
Temporary judgeship expired |
13
|
Authorized Bankruptcy Judgeships |
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| July 10, 1984 98 Stat. 336 |
4 |
| August 26, 1992 106 Stat. 965 |
5 |
Authorized Magistrate Judgeships (by location) |
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| Location | Full-Time | Part-Time |
| Ayer | 1 (1971–1979) | |
| Ayer or Worcester | 1 (1980–1993) | |
| Boston | 1 (1971) 2 (1972–1976) 3 (1977–1979) 4 (1980–1992) 5 (1993–present) |
|
| Boston or Worcester | 1 (1994–present) | |
| Cape Cod Seashore | 1 (1971–1991) | |
| New Bedford | 1 (1971–1982) | |
| Pittsfield | 1 (1971–1982) | |
| Springfield | 1 (1984–present) | 1 (1971–1983) |
| Worcester | 1 (1972–1979) | |
| Total | 1 (1971) 2 (1972–1976) 3 (1977–1979) 4 (1980–1983) 5 (1984–1992) 6 (1993) 7 (1994–present) |
5 (1971) 6 (1972–1979) 5 (1980–1982) 3 (1983) 2 (1984–1991) 1 (1992–1993) 0 (1994–present) |
Authorized Magistrate Judgeships (by fiscal year) |
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| Fiscal Year(s) | Full-Time | Total | Part-Time | Total |
| 1971 | Boston | 1 | Ayer, Cape Cod Seashore, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Springfield | 5 |
| 1972–1976 | Boston (2) | 2 | Ayer, Cape Cod Seashore, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester | 6 |
| 1977–1979 | Boston (3) | 3 | Ayer, Cape Cod Seashore, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester | 6 |
| 1980–1982 | Boston (4) | 4 | Ayer or Worcester, Cape Cod Seashore, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Springfield | 5 |
| 1983 | Boston (4) | 4 | Ayer or Worcester, Cape Cod Seashore, Springfield | 3 |
| 1984–1991 | Boston (4), Springfield | 5 | Ayer or Worcester, Cape Cod Seashore | 2 |
| 1992 | Boston (4), Springfield | 5 | Ayer or Worcester | 1 |
| 1993 | Boston (5), Springfield | 6 | Ayer or Worcester | 1 |
| 1994–present | Boston (5), Boston or Worcester, Springfield | 7 | 0 | |