| September 24, 1789 1 Stat. 73 |
The Judiciary Act of 1789 organized Kentucky, then a part of Virginia, as a judicial district and authorized one judgeship for the U.S. district court. The district court in Kentucky, not being assigned to a judicial circuit, was granted the same jurisdiction as U.S. circuit courts, except in appeals and writs of error, which were the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. |
| February 13, 1801 2 Stat. 89 |
The Judiciary Act of 1801 abolished the U.S. district court in Kentucky and authorized the U.S. Circuit Court for the Sixth Circuit to hold court in Kentucky, exercising the full jurisdiction of circuit and district courts. |
| March 8, 1802 2 Stat. 132 |
The repeal of the Judiciary Act of 1801 restored the judicial organization in effect before 1801, thereby reestablishing the U.S. District Court for the District of Kentucky, with the trial jurisdiction of a circuit court, effective July 1, 1802. |
| February 24, 1807 2 Stat. 420 |
This statute repealed the circuit court jurisdiction of the Kentucky district court, established a U.S. circuit court for the district, and assigned the district of Kentucky to the newly organized Seventh Circuit. |
| March 3, 1837 5 Stat. 170 |
Congress assigned the district of Kentucky to the Eighth Circuit. |
| July 15, 1862 12 Stat. 576 |
Congress assigned the district of Kentucky to the Sixth Circuit. |
| February 12, 1901 31 Stat. 781 |
Kentucky divided into two judicial districts with one judgeship for each. The sitting judge was assigned to the Western District and a new judge was authorized for the Eastern District. |
| June 22, 1936 49 Stat. 1806 |
One additional judgeship authorized to serve both districts. |
| February 10, 1954 68 Stat. 8 |
One additional judgeship authorized for the Western District. |
| June 2, 1970 84 Stat. 294 |
One additional judgeship authorized for each district. |
| October 20, 1978 92 Stat. 1629 |
Two additional permanent judgeships and one temporary judgeship authorized for the Eastern District. The temporary judgeship was never made permanent. |
| July 10, 1984 98 Stat. 333 |
One additional judgeship authorized for the Western District. |
| December 21, 2000 114 Stat. 2762 |
One additional judgeship authorized for the Eastern District. |