United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (in case citations, S.D.N.Y.) is a federal trial court whose geographic jurisdiction encompasses eight counties of the State of New York. Two of these are in New York City: New York (Manhattan) and Bronx; six are in the Hudson Valley: Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, and Sullivan. Appeals from the Southern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
(S.D.N.Y.)
LocationDaniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse
More locations
Appeals toSecond Circuit
EstablishedApril 9, 1814
Judges28
Chief JudgeLaura Taylor Swain
Officers of the court
U.S. AttorneyDamian Williams
U.S. MarshalRalph Sozio
www.nysd.uscourts.gov

Because it covers Manhattan, the Southern District of New York has long been one of the most active and influential federal trial courts in the United States. It often has jurisdiction over America's largest financial institutions and prosecution of white-collar crime and other federal crimes.[1] Because of its age and influence, it is sometimes colloquially called the "Mother Court" or the "Sovereign District of New York."[2][3] The district has had several prominent judges on its bench, including Learned Hand, Michael Mukasey, and Sonia Sotomayor, and many of the U.S. attorneys for the district have been prominent American legal and political figures, such as Elihu Root, Henry L. Stimson, Robert Morgenthau, Rudy Giuliani, James Comey, Michael J. Garcia, and Preet Bharara.[4]

Jurisdiction

The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York encompasses the counties of New York, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Sullivan and draws jurors from those counties. The Court also shares jurisdiction over the waters of the counties of Kings, Nassau, Queens, Richmond, and Suffolk with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.[5] The Court hears cases in Manhattan, White Plains, and Poughkeepsie, New York.[6]

The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the Court. As of October 10, 2021 the United States Attorney is Damian Williams.[7]

The court sits in the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse and Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, both in Manhattan, and in the Charles L. Brieant Jr. Federal Building and Courthouse in White Plains.

History

The United States District Court for the District of New York was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, 1 Stat. 73, on September 24, 1789. It first sat at the old Merchants Exchange on Broad Street in November 1789, the first federal court to do so.[8][9][10] The Act of April 9, 1814, 3 Stat. 120, divided the District of New York into Northern and Southern Districts.[9][10]

The subdivision of the district was reportedly instigated by Matthias B. Tallmadge, out of antipathy for fellow district judge William P. Van Ness. These Districts were later further subdivided with the creation of the Eastern District on February 25, 1865 by 13 Stat. 438,[10] and the Western District on May 12, 1900, by 31 Stat. 175.[10] Public Law 95-408 (enacted October 2, 1978) transferred Columbia, Greene, and Ulster counties from the Southern to the Northern district.[11]

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. 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.

Since its creation, the Southern District of New York has had over 150 judges, more than any other District. Twenty-one judges from the Southern District of New York have been elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second CircuitSamuel Blatchford, Charles Merrill Hough, Learned Hand, Julius Marshuetz Mayer, Augustus Noble Hand, Martin Thomas Manton, Robert P. Patterson, Harold Medina, Irving Kaufman, Wilfred Feinberg, Walter R. Mansfield, Murray Gurfein, Lawrence W. Pierce, Pierre N. Leval, John M. Walker Jr., Sonia Sotomayor, Denny Chin, Barrington Daniels Parker Jr., Gerard E. Lynch, Richard J. Sullivan, and Alison Nathan. Blatchford and Sotomayor, after being elevated from the Southern District of New York to serve as Circuit Judges for the Second Circuit, were later elevated to the Supreme Court of the United States. The longest serving judge, David Norton Edelstein, served as an active judge for 43 years to the day, and in senior status for an additional six years.

Judges of the court have gone on to other high governmental positions. Robert P. Patterson served as Under Secretary of War under President Franklin Roosevelt and was Secretary of War under President Harry S. Truman. Louis Freeh served as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from September 1993 to June 2001. Michael Mukasey served as the 81st United States Attorney General under President George W. Bush.

Notable cases

Current judges

As of January 9, 2024:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
ActiveChiefSenior
125Chief JudgeLaura Taylor SwainManhattan19582000–present2021–presentClinton
110District JudgeJohn G. KoeltlManhattan19451994–presentClinton
129District JudgeKenneth M. KarasWhite Plains19642004–presentG.W. Bush
132District JudgeCathy SeibelWhite Plains19602008–presentG.W. Bush
135District JudgeJ. Paul OetkenManhattan19652011–presentObama
136District JudgePaul A. EngelmayerManhattan19612011–presentObama
139District JudgeEdgardo RamosManhattan19602011–presentObama
140District JudgeAndrew L. Carter Jr.Manhattan19692011–presentObama
141District JudgeJesse M. FurmanManhattan19722012–presentObama
142District JudgeRonnie AbramsManhattan19682012–presentObama
143District JudgeLorna G. SchofieldManhattan19562012–presentObama
144District JudgeKatherine Polk FaillaManhattan19692013–presentObama
145District JudgeAnalisa TorresManhattan19592013–presentObama
146District JudgeNelson S. RománWhite Plains19602013–presentObama
147District JudgeVernon S. BroderickManhattan19632013–presentObama
148District JudgeGregory H. WoodsManhattan19692013–presentObama
149District JudgeValerie E. CaproniManhattan19552013–presentObama
150District JudgeMary Kay VyskocilManhattan19582019–presentTrump
151District JudgeLewis J. LimanManhattan19602019–presentTrump
152District JudgePhilip M. HalpernWhite Plains19562020–presentTrump
153District JudgeJohn P. CronanManhattan19762020–presentTrump
154District JudgeJennifer L. RochonManhattan19702022–presentBiden
155District JudgeJennifer H. ReardenManhattan19702022–presentBiden
156District JudgeArun SubramanianManhattan19792023–presentBiden
157District JudgeJessica G. L. ClarkeManhattan19832023–presentBiden
158District JudgeDale HoManhattan19772023–presentBiden
159District JudgeMargaret GarnettManhattan19712024–presentBiden
160District Judgevacant
79Senior JudgeCharles S. Haight Jr.New Haven, CT[Note 1]19301976–19951995–presentFord
89Senior JudgeJohn F. Keenaninactive19291983–19961996–presentReagan
91Senior JudgeLouis L. StantonManhattan19271985–19961996–presentReagan
97Senior JudgeKimba WoodManhattan19441988–20092006–20092009–presentReagan
102Senior JudgeLoretta PreskaManhattan19491992–20172009–20162017–presentG.H.W. Bush
108Senior JudgeDenise CoteManhattan19461994–20112011–presentClinton
109Senior JudgeLewis A. KaplanManhattan19441994–20112011–presentClinton
113Senior JudgeSidney H. SteinManhattan19451995–20102010–presentClinton
115Senior JudgeJed S. RakoffManhattan19431996–20102010–presentClinton
117Senior JudgeRichard M. BermanManhattan19431998–20112011–presentClinton
118Senior JudgeAlvin HellersteinManhattan19331998–20112011–presentClinton
119Senior JudgeColleen McMahonManhattan19511998–20212016–20212021–presentClinton
121Senior JudgeNaomi Reice BuchwaldManhattan19441999–20122012–presentClinton
122Senior JudgeVictor MarreroManhattan19411999–20102010–presentClinton
123Senior JudgeGeorge B. DanielsManhattan19532000–20212021–presentClinton
126Senior JudgeP. Kevin CastelManhattan19502003–20172017–presentG.W. Bush
130Senior JudgePaul A. CrottyManhattan19412005–20152015–presentG.W. Bush
133Senior JudgePaul G. GardepheManhattan19572008–20232023–presentG.W. Bush
134Senior JudgeVincent L. BriccettiWhite Plains19542011–20232023–presentObama

Vacancies and pending nominations

SeatPrior judge's duty stationSeat last held byVacancy reasonDate of vacancyNomineeDate of nomination
15ManhattanPaul G. GardepheSenior statusAugust 9, 2023Jeannette VargasMarch 21, 2024
27Lorna G. SchofieldDecember 31, 2024[25]Sarah Netburnpending

Former judges

#JudgeStateBorn–diedActive serviceChief JudgeSenior statusAppointed byReason for
termination
1William P. Van NessNY1778–18261814–1826 Madison/Operation of law[Note 1]death
2Samuel Rossiter BettsNY1786–18681826–1867J.Q. Adamsresignation
3Samuel BlatchfordNY1820–18931867–1878[Note 2]A. Johnsonelevation to 2d Cir.
4William Gardner ChoateNY1830–19201878–1881 Hayesresignation
5Addison BrownNY1830–19131881–1901[Note 3] Garfieldretirement
6George Bethune AdamsNY1845–19111901–1911[Note 4] McKinleydeath
7George Chandler HoltNY1843–19311903–1914T. Rooseveltretirement
8Charles Merrill HoughNY1858–19271906–1916T. Rooseveltelevation to 2d Cir.
9Learned HandNY1872–19611909–1924 Taftelevation to 2d Cir.
10Julius Marshuetz MayerNY1865–19251912–1921 Taftelevation to 2d Cir.
11Augustus Noble HandNY1869–19541914–1927 Wilsonelevation to 2d Cir.
12Martin Thomas MantonNY1880–19461916–1918 Wilsonelevation to 2d Cir.
13John C. KnoxNY1881–19661918–19551948–19551955–1966 Wilsondeath
14Henry W. GoddardNY1876–19551923–19541954–1955 Hardingdeath
15Francis A. WinslowNY1866–19321923–1929 Hardingresignation
16William BondyNY1870–19641923–19561955–19561956–1964 Hardingdeath
17Thomas D. ThacherNY1881–19501925–1930 Coolidgeresignation
18Frank Joseph ColemanNY1886–19341927–1934[Note 5] Coolidgedeath
19John M. WoolseyNY1877–19451929–19431943–1945 Hooverdeath
20Francis Gordon CaffeyNY1868–19511929–19471947–1951 Hooverdeath
21Alfred Conkling Coxe Jr.NY1880–19571929–19511951–1957 Hooverdeath
22Robert P. PattersonNY1891–19521930–1939 Hooverelevation to 2d Cir.
23George Murray HulbertNY1881–19501934–1950F. Rooseveltdeath
24Vincent L. LeibellNY1883–19681936–19541954–1968F. Rooseveltdeath
25John William ClancyNY1888–19691936–19591956–19591959–1969F. Rooseveltdeath
26Samuel MandelbaumNY1884–19461936–1946F. Rooseveltdeath
27Edward Augustus CongerNY1882–19631938–19541954–1963F. Rooseveltdeath
28John BrightNY1884–19481941–1948F. Rooseveltdeath
29Simon H. RifkindNY1901–19951941–1950F. Rooseveltresignation
30Harold MedinaNY1888–19901947–1951 Trumanelevation to 2d Cir.
31Sylvester J. RyanNY1896–19811947–1973[Note 6]1959–19661973–1981 Trumandeath
32Samuel H. KaufmanNY1893–19601948–1955[Note 7]1955–1960 Trumandeath
33Irving KaufmanNY1910–19921949–1961[Note 8] Trumanelevation to 2d Cir.
34John F. X. McGoheyNY1894–19721949–1970[Note 9]1970–1972 Trumandeath
35Gregory Francis NoonanNY1906–19641949–1964[Note 10] Trumandeath
36Sidney SugarmanNY1904–19741949–1971[Note 11]1966–19711971–1974 Trumandeath
37Edward WeinfeldNY1901–19881950–1988 Trumandeath
38Thomas Francis MurphyNY1905–19951951–19701970–1995 Trumandeath
39Edward Jordan DimockNY1890–19861951–19611961–1986 Trumandeath
40David Norton EdelsteinNY1910–20001951–1994[Note 12]1971–19801994–2000 Trumandeath
41Archie Owen DawsonNY1898–19641954–1964 Eisenhowerdeath
42Lawrence WalshNY1912–20141954–1957 Eisenhowerresignation
43Alexander BicksNY1901–19631954–1963 Eisenhowerdeath
44Edmund Louis PalmieriNY1907–19891954–19721972–1989 Eisenhowerdeath
45William Bernard HerlandsNY1905–19691955–1969[Note 13] Eisenhowerdeath
46John M. CashinNY1892–19701955–1965[Note 14]1965–1970 Eisenhowerdeath
47Richard Harrington LevetNY1894–19801956–19661966–1976 Eisenhowerretirement
48Frederick van Pelt BryanNY1904–19781956–19721972–1978 Eisenhowerdeath
49Lloyd Francis MacMahonNY1912–19891959–19821980–19821982–1989 Eisenhowerdeath
50Charles Miller MetznerNY1912–20091959–19771977–2009 Eisenhowerdeath
51Thomas Francis CroakeNY1902–19781961–19721972–1978 Kennedydeath
52Dudley Baldwin BonsalNY1906–19951961–1976[Note 15]1976–1995 Kennedydeath
53Irving Ben CooperNY1902–19961961–1972[Note 16]1972–1996 Kennedydeath
54Wilfred FeinbergNY1920–20141961–1966[Note 15] Kennedyelevation to 2d Cir.
55Harold R. Tyler Jr.NY1922–20051962–1975 Kennedyresignation
56Edward Cochrane McLeanNY1903–19721962–1972 Kennedydeath
57Inzer Bass WyattNY1907–19901962–19771977–1990 Kennedydeath
58John Matthew CannellaNY1908–19961963–19771977–1996 Kennedydeath
59Charles Henry TenneyNY1911–19941963–19791979–1994L. Johnson[Note 17]death
60Marvin E. FrankelNY1920–20021965–1978L. Johnsonresignation
61Walter R. MansfieldNY1911–19871966–1971L. Johnsonelevation to 2d Cir.
62Constance Baker MotleyNY1921–20051966–19861982–19861986–2005L. Johnsondeath
63Milton PollackNY1906–20041967–19831983–2004L. Johnsondeath
64Morris E. LaskerNY1917–20091968–19831983–2009L. Johnsondeath
65Murray GurfeinNY1907–19791971–1974 Nixonelevation to 2d Cir.
66Lawrence W. PierceNY1924–20201971–1981 Nixonelevation to 2d Cir.
67Charles L. BrieantNY1923–20081971–20071986–19932007–2008 Nixondeath
68Arnold BaumanNY1914–19891971–1974 Nixonresignation
69Lee Parsons GagliardiNY1918–19981971–19851985–1998 Nixondeath
70Thomas P. GriesaNY1930–20171972–20001993–20002000–2017 Nixondeath
71Whitman KnappNY1909–20041972–19871987–2004 Nixondeath
72Charles E. Stewart Jr.NY1916–19941972–19851985–1994 Nixondeath
73Robert L. CarterNY1917–20121972–19861986–2012 Nixondeath
74Kevin DuffyNY1933–20201972–19981998–2016 Nixonretirement
75Robert Joseph WardNY1926–20031972–19911991–2003 Nixondeath
76William C. ConnerNY1920–20091973–19871987–2009 Nixondeath
77Richard OwenNY1922–20151973–19891989–2015 Nixondeath
78Henry Frederick WerkerNY1920–19841974–1984 Nixondeath
80Gerard Louis GoettelNY1928–20111976–19931993–2011 Forddeath
81Vincent Lyons BroderickNY1920–19951976–19881988–1995 Forddeath
82Pierre N. LevalNY1936–present1977–1993 Carterelevation to 2d Cir.
83Robert W. SweetNY1922–20191978–19911991–2019 Carterdeath
84Leonard B. SandNY1928–20161978–19931993–2016 Carterdeath
85Mary Johnson LoweNY1924–19991978–19911991–1999 Carterdeath
86Abraham David SofaerNY1938–present1979–1985 Carterresignation
87John E. SprizzoNY1934–20081981–20002000–2008 Reagandeath
88Shirley Wohl KramNY1922–20091983–19931993–2009 Reagandeath
90Peter K. LeisureNY1929–20131984–19971997–2013 Reagandeath
92John M. Walker Jr.NY1940–present1985–1989 Reaganelevation to 2d Cir.
93Miriam Goldman CedarbaumNY1929–20161986–19981998–2016 Reagandeath
94Richard J. DaroncoNY1931–19881987–1988 Reagandeath
95Michael MukaseyNY1941–present1987–20062000–20062006 Reaganretirement
96Kenneth ConboyNY1938–present1987–1993 Reaganresignation
98Robert P. Patterson Jr.NY1923–20151988–19981998–2015 Reagandeath
99John S. Martin Jr.NY1935–present1990–20032003G.H.W. Bushretirement
100Lawrence M. McKennaNY1933–20231990–20022002–2023G.H.W. Bushdeath
101Louis FreehNY1950–present1991–1993G.H.W. Bushresignation
103Sonia SotomayorNY1954–present1992–1998G.H.W. Bushelevation to 2d Cir.
104Allen G. SchwartzNY1934–20031993–2003 Clintondeath
105Deborah BattsNY1947–20201994–20122012–2020 Clintondeath
106Harold Baer Jr.NY1933–20141994–20042004–2014 Clintondeath
107Denny ChinNY1954–present1994–2010 Clintonelevation to 2d Cir.
111Barrington D. Parker Jr.NY1944–present1994–2001 Clintonelevation to 2d Cir.
112Shira ScheindlinNY1946–present1994–20112011–2016 Clintonretirement
114Barbara S. JonesNY1947–present1995–20122012–2013 Clintonretirement
116Richard C. CaseyNY1933–20071997–2007 Clintondeath
120William H. Pauley IIINY1952–20211998–20182018–2021Clintondeath
124Gerard E. LynchNY1951–present2000–2009 Clintonelevation to 2d Cir.
127Richard J. HolwellNY1946–present2003–2012G.W. Bushresignation
128Stephen C. RobinsonNY1957–present2003–2010G.W. Bushresignation
131Richard J. SullivanNY1964–present2007–2018G.W. Bushelevation to 2d Cir.
137Katherine B. ForrestNY1964–present2011–2018 Obamaresignation
138Alison NathanNY1972–present2011–2022 Obamaelevation to 2d Cir.

Chief judges

Chief Judge
Knox1948–1955
Bondy1955–1956
Clancy1956–1959
Ryan1959–1966
Sugarman1966–1971
Edelstein1971–1980
MacMahon1980–1982
Motley1982–1986
Brieant1986–1993
Griesa1993–2000
Mukasey2000–2006
Wood2006–2009
Preska2009–2016
McMahon2016–2021
Swain2021–present

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.

A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

Seat 2
Seat established on February 9, 1903 by 32 Stat. 805
Holt1903–1914
A. Hand1914–1927
Coleman1927–1934
Hulbert1934–1950
Dimock1951–1961
McLean1962–1972
Owen1973–1989
Batts1994–2012
Broderick2013–present
Seat 3
Seat established on May 26, 1906 by 34 Stat. 202
Hough1906–1916
Manton1916–1918
Knox1918–1955
Levet1956–1966
Lasker1968–1983
Walker, Jr.1985–1989
Sotomayor1992–1998
Marrero1999–2010
A. Carter, Jr.2011–present
Seat 4
Seat established on March 2, 1909 by 35 Stat. 685
L. Hand1909–1924
Thacher1925–1930
R. Patterson, Sr.1930–1939
Rifkind1941–1950
Weinfeld1950–1988
Martin, Jr.1990–2003
Robinson2003–2010
Ramos2011–present

Seat 6
Seat established on September 14, 1922 by 42 Stat. 837 (temporary)
Winslow1923–1929
Seat made permanent on August 19, 1935 by 49 Stat. 659
Leibell1936–1954
Bicks1954–1963
Tenney1963–1979
Sprizzo1981–2000
Lynch2000–2009
Engelmayer2011–present
Seat 7
Seat established on February 26, 1929 by 45 Stat. 1317
Woolsey1929–1943
Seat abolished on December 31, 1943 (Temporary judgeship expired)
Seat 8
Seat established on February 26, 1929 by 45 Stat. 1317
Caffey1929–1947
Ryan1947–1973
Werker1974–1984
Stanton1985–1996
Hellerstein1998–2011
Furman2012–present

Seat 10
Seat established on June 15, 1936 by 49 Stat. 1491
Clancy1936–1959
Metzner1959–1977
Sand1978–1993
Parker Jr.1994–2001
Holwell2003–2012
Caproni2013–present
Seat 11
Seat established on June 15, 1936 by 49 Stat. 1491
Mandelbaum1936–1946
Medina1947–1951
Murphy1951–1970
Gurfein1971–1974
Haight, Jr.1976–1995
Casey1997–2007
Seibel2008–present
Seat 12
Seat established on May 31, 1938 by 52 Stat. 585 (temporary)
Seat made permanent on June 8, 1940 by 54 Stat. 253
Conger1938–1954
Herlands1955–1969
Pierce1971–1981
Kram1983–1993
Koeltl1994–present

Seat 14
Seat established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493
I. Kaufman1949–1961
Cannella1963–1977
Lowe1978–1991
Cote1994–2011
Failla2013–present
Seat 15
Seat established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493
McGohey1950–1970
Brieant, Jr.1971–2007
Gardephe2008–2023
vacant2023–present
Seat 16
Seat established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493
Noonan1950–1964
Frankel1965–1978
Sofaer1979–1985
Mukasey1987–2006
Sullivan2007–2018
Rearden2022–present

Seat 18
Seat established on February 10, 1954 by 68 Stat. 8
Walsh1954–1957
MacMahon1959–1982
Keenan1983–1996
McMahon1998–2021
Clarke2023–present
Seat 19
Seat established on February 10, 1954 by 68 Stat. 8
Palmieri1954–1972
Conner1973–1987
McKenna1990–2002
Castel2003–2017
Halpern2020–present
Seat 20
Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
Croake1961–1972
R. Carter1972–1986
Conboy1987–1993
Jones1995–2013
Woods III2013–present

Seat 22
Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
Cooper1962–1972
Duffy1972–1998
Berman1998–2011
Román2013–present
Seat 23
Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
Feinberg1961–1966
Pollack1967–1983
Leisure1984–1997
Pauley III1998–2018
Cronan2020–present
Seat 24
Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
Tyler, Jr.1962–1975
Broderick1976–1988
Schwartz1993–2003
Karas2004–present

Seat 26
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294
Bauman1971–1974
Goettel1976–1993
Kaplan1994–2011
Abrams2012–present
Seat 27
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294
Gagliardi1971–1985
Daronco1987–1988
Freeh1991–1993
Scheindlin1994–2011
Schofield2012–present
Seat 28
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294
Griesa1972–2000
Swain2000–present

See also

References

External links