United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (in case citations, 10th Cir.) is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:

District of Colorado District of Kansas District of New Mexico Eastern District of Oklahoma Northern District of Oklahoma Western District of Oklahoma District of Utah District of Wyoming Although the 37th United States Congress passed the Tenth Circuit Act of 1863, the circuit ceased to exist after six years due to the Judiciary Act of 1869. These districts were part of the Eighth Circuit until 1929. The court is composed of nineteen active judges and is based at the Byron White U . Courthouse in Denver, Colorado. It is one of thirteen United States courts of appeals and has jurisdiction over 560,625 square miles, or roughly one seventh of the country's land mass.

Infobox

Location

Byron White U . Courthouse(Denver, Colorado)

Appeals from

District of Colorado District of Kansas District of New Mexico Eastern District of Oklahoma Northern District of Oklahoma Western District of Oklahoma District of Utah District of Wyoming

Established

March 28, 1929

Judges

Circuit Justice

Neil Gorsuch

Chief Judge

Jerome Holmes

Tables

· Current composition of the court

Active

Title

Chief

Judge

Senior

Title

Chief Judge

Judge

Jerome Holmes

Duty station

Oklahoma City, OK

Born

1961

Term of service

2006–present

Term of service

2022–present

Term of service

—

Appointed by

G . Bush

Title

Circuit Judge

Judge

Harris Hartz

Duty station

Albuquerque, NM

Born

1947

Term of service

2001–present

Term of service

—

Term of service

—

Appointed by

G . Bush

Title

Circuit Judge

Judge

Timothy Tymkovich

Duty station

Denver, CO

Born

1956

Term of service

2003–present

Term of service

2015–2022

Term of service

—

Appointed by

G . Bush

Title

Circuit Judge

Judge

Scott Matheson Jr.

Duty station

Salt Lake City, UT

Born

1953

Term of service

2010–present

Term of service

—

Term of service

—

Appointed by

Obama

Title

Circuit Judge

Judge

Robert E. Bacharach

Duty station

Oklahoma City, OK

Born

1959

Term of service

2013–present

Term of service

—

Term of service

—

Appointed by

Obama

Title

Circuit Judge

Judge

Gregory A. Phillips

Duty station

Cheyenne, WY

Born

1960

Term of service

2013–present

Term of service

—

Term of service

—

Appointed by

Obama

Title

Circuit Judge

Judge

Carolyn B. McHugh

Duty station

Salt Lake City, UT

Born

1957

Term of service

2014–present

Term of service

—

Term of service

—

Appointed by

Obama

Title

Circuit Judge

Judge

Nancy Moritz

Duty station

Topeka, KS

Born

1960

Term of service

2014–present

Term of service

—

Term of service

—

Appointed by

Obama

Title

Circuit Judge

Judge

Allison H. Eid

Duty station

Denver, CO

Born

1965

Term of service

2017–present

Term of service

—

Term of service

—

Appointed by

Trump

Title

Circuit Judge

Judge

Joel M. Carson III

Duty station

Roswell, NM

Born

1971

Term of service

2018–present

Term of service

—

Term of service

—

Appointed by

Trump

Title

Circuit Judge

Judge

Veronica S. Rossman

Duty station

Denver, CO

Born

1972

Term of service

2021–present

Term of service

—

Term of service

—

Appointed by

Biden

Title

Circuit Judge

Judge

Richard Federico

Duty station

Topeka, KS

Born

1977

Term of service

2023–present

Term of service

—

Term of service

—

Appointed by

Biden

1979

1979–2005

Title

Senior Judge

Judge

Stephanie Kulp Seymour

Duty station

inactive

Born

1940

Term of service

1979–2005

Term of service

1994–2000

Term of service

2005–present

Appointed by

Carter

1985

1985–1999

Title

Senior Judge

Judge

John Carbone Porfilio

Duty station

inactive

Born

1934

Term of service

1985–1999

Term of service

—

Term of service

1999–present

Appointed by

Reagan

1985

1985–2000

Title

Senior Judge

Judge

Stephen H. Anderson

Duty station

inactive

Born

1932

Term of service

1985–2000

Term of service

—

Term of service

2000–present

Appointed by

Reagan

1985

1985–2001

Title

Senior Judge

Judge

Bobby Baldock

Duty station

Roswell, NM

Born

1936

Term of service

1985–2001

Term of service

—

Term of service

2001–present

Appointed by

Reagan

1988

1988–2001

Title

Senior Judge

Judge

Wade Brorby

Duty station

inactive

Born

1934

Term of service

1988–2001

Term of service

—

Term of service

2001–present

Appointed by

Reagan

1988

1988–2006

Title

Senior Judge

Judge

David M. Ebel

Duty station

Denver, CO

Born

1940

Term of service

1988–2006

Term of service

—

Term of service

2006–present

Appointed by

Reagan

1992

1992–2017

Title

Senior Judge

Judge

Paul Joseph Kelly Jr.

Duty station

Santa Fe, NM

Born

1940

Term of service

1992–2017

Term of service

—

Term of service

2017–present

Appointed by

G . Bush

1995

1995–2021

Title

Senior Judge

Judge

Mary Beck Briscoe

Duty station

inactive

Born

1947

Term of service

1995–2021

Term of service

2010–2015

Term of service

2021–present

Appointed by

Clinton

1995

1995–2021

Title

Senior Judge

Judge

Carlos F. Lucero

Duty station

Denver, CO

Born

1940

Term of service

1995–2021

Term of service

—

Term of service

2021–present

Appointed by

Clinton

1995

1995–2012

Title

Senior Judge

Judge

Michael R. Murphy

Duty station

Salt Lake City, UT

Born

1947

Term of service

1995–2012

Term of service

—

Term of service

2012–present

Appointed by

Clinton

2002

2002–2013

Title

Senior Judge

Judge

Terrence L. O'Brien

Duty station

Cheyenne, WY

Born

1943

Term of service

2002–2013

Term of service

—

Term of service

2013–present

Appointed by

G . Bush

#	Title	Judge	Duty station	Born	Term of service			Appointed by
#	Title	Judge	Duty station	Born	Active	Chief	Senior	Appointed by
38	Chief Judge	Jerome Holmes	Oklahoma City, OK	1961	2006–present	2022–present	—	G . Bush
33	Circuit Judge	Harris Hartz	Albuquerque, NM	1947	2001–present	—	—	G . Bush
36	Circuit Judge	Timothy Tymkovich	Denver, CO	1956	2003–present	2015–2022	—	G . Bush
39	Circuit Judge	Scott Matheson Jr.	Salt Lake City, UT	1953	2010–present	—	—	Obama
40	Circuit Judge	Robert E. Bacharach	Oklahoma City, OK	1959	2013–present	—	—	Obama
41	Circuit Judge	Gregory A. Phillips	Cheyenne, WY	1960	2013–present	—	—	Obama
42	Circuit Judge	Carolyn B. McHugh	Salt Lake City, UT	1957	2014–present	—	—	Obama
43	Circuit Judge	Nancy Moritz	Topeka, KS	1960	2014–present	—	—	Obama
44	Circuit Judge	Allison H. Eid	Denver, CO	1965	2017–present	—	—	Trump
45	Circuit Judge	Joel M. Carson III	Roswell, NM	1971	2018–present	—	—	Trump
46	Circuit Judge	Veronica S. Rossman	Denver, CO	1972	2021–present	—	—	Biden
47	Circuit Judge	Richard Federico	Topeka, KS	1977	2023–present	—	—	Biden
21	Senior Judge	Stephanie Kulp Seymour	inactive	1940	1979–2005	1994–2000	2005–present	Carter
22	Senior Judge	John Carbone Porfilio	inactive	1934	1985–1999	—	1999–present	Reagan
23	Senior Judge	Stephen H. Anderson	inactive	1932	1985–2000	—	2000–present	Reagan
25	Senior Judge	Bobby Baldock	Roswell, NM	1936	1985–2001	—	2001–present	Reagan
26	Senior Judge	Wade Brorby	inactive	1934	1988–2001	—	2001–present	Reagan
27	Senior Judge	David M. Ebel	Denver, CO	1940	1988–2006	—	2006–present	Reagan
28	Senior Judge	Paul Joseph Kelly Jr.	Santa Fe, NM	1940	1992–2017	—	2017–present	G . Bush
30	Senior Judge	Mary Beck Briscoe	inactive	1947	1995–2021	2010–2015	2021–present	Clinton
31	Senior Judge	Carlos F. Lucero	Denver, CO	1940	1995–2021	—	2021–present	Clinton
32	Senior Judge	Michael R. Murphy	Salt Lake City, UT	1947	1995–2012	—	2012–present	Clinton
34	Senior Judge	Terrence L. O'Brien	Cheyenne, WY	1943	2002–2013	—	2013–present	G . Bush

· Vacancies and pending nominations

Seat

Prior Judge's Duty Station

Denver, CO

Seat last held by

Timothy Tymkovich

Vacancy reason

Senior status

Date of vacancy

TBD

Nominee

Daniel D. Domenico

Date of nomination

May 12, 2026

Seat	Prior Judge's Duty Station	Seat last held by	Vacancy reason	Date of vacancy	Nominee	Date of nomination
4	Denver, CO	Timothy Tymkovich	Senior status	TBD	Daniel D. Domenico	May 12, 2026

· List of former judges

—

Judge

Robert E. Lewis

State

Born–died

1857–1941

Active service

1929–1940

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

1940–1941

Appointed by

Harding / Operation of law

Reason for termination

death

—

Judge

John Hazelton Cotteral

State

Born–died

1864–1933

Active service

1929–1933

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

—

Appointed by

Coolidge / Operation of law

Reason for termination

death

1948–1956

Judge

Orie Leon Phillips

State

Born–died

1885–1974

Active service

1929–1956

Chief Judge

1948–1956

Senior status

1956–1974

Appointed by

Hoover

Reason for termination

death

—

Judge

George McDermott

State

Born–died

1886–1937

Active service

1929–1937

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

—

Appointed by

Hoover

Reason for termination

death

1956–1959

Judge

Sam G. Bratton

State

Born–died

1888–1963

Active service

1933–1961

Chief Judge

1956–1959

Senior status

1961–1963

Appointed by

F. Roosevelt

Reason for termination

death

—

Judge

Robert L. Williams

State

Born–died

1868–1948

Active service

1937–1939

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

1939–1948

Appointed by

F. Roosevelt

Reason for termination

death

—

Judge

Walter A. Huxman

State

Born–died

1887–1972

Active service

1939–1957

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

1957–1972

Appointed by

F. Roosevelt

Reason for termination

death

1959–1970

Judge

Alfred P. Murrah

State

Born–died

1904–1975

Active service

1940–1970

Chief Judge

1959–1970

Senior status

1970–1975

Appointed by

F. Roosevelt

Reason for termination

death

—

Judge

John Coleman Pickett

State

Born–died

1896–1983

Active service

1949–1966

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

1966–1983

Appointed by

Truman

Reason for termination

death

1970–1977

Judge

David Thomas Lewis

State

Born–died

1912–1983

Active service

1956–1977

Chief Judge

1970–1977

Senior status

1977–1983

Appointed by

Eisenhower

Reason for termination

death

—

Judge

Jean Sala Breitenstein

State

Born–died

1900–1986

Active service

1957–1970

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

1970–1986

Appointed by

Eisenhower

Reason for termination

death

—

Judge

Delmas Carl Hill

State

Born–died

1906–1989

Active service

1961–1977

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

1977–1989

Appointed by

Kennedy

Reason for termination

death

1977–1984

Judge

Oliver Seth

State

Born–died

1915–1996

Active service

1962–1984

Chief Judge

1977–1984

Senior status

1984–1996

Appointed by

Kennedy

Reason for termination

death

—

Judge

Joe Hickey

State

Born–died

1911–1970

Active service

1966–1970

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

—

Appointed by

L. Johnson

Reason for termination

death

1984–1991

Judge

William Holloway Jr.

State

Born–died

1923–2014

Active service

1968–1992

Chief Judge

1984–1991

Senior status

1992–2014

Appointed by

L. Johnson

Reason for termination

death

—

Judge

Robert McWilliams Jr.

State

Born–died

1916–2013

Active service

1970–1984

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

1984–2013

Appointed by

Nixon

Reason for termination

death

—

Judge

James Emmett Barrett

State

Born–died

1922–2011

Active service

1971–1987

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

1987–2011

Appointed by

Nixon

Reason for termination

death

—

Judge

William Edward Doyle

State

Born–died

1911–1986

Active service

1971–1984

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

1984–1986

Appointed by

Nixon

Reason for termination

death

1991–1993

Judge

Monroe G. McKay

State

Born–died

1928–2020

Active service

1977–1993

Chief Judge

1991–1993

Senior status

1993–2020

Appointed by

Carter

Reason for termination

death

—

Judge

James Kenneth Logan

State

Born–died

1929–2018

Active service

1977–1994

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

1994–1998

Appointed by

Carter

Reason for termination

retirement

2001–2008

Judge

Deanell Reece Tacha

State

Born–died

1946–present

Active service

1985–2011

Chief Judge

2001–2008

Senior status

2011

Appointed by

Reagan

Reason for termination

retirement

2008–2010

Judge

Robert Harlan Henry

State

Born–died

1953–present

Active service

1994–2010

Chief Judge

2008–2010

Senior status

—

Appointed by

Clinton

Reason for termination

resignation

—

Judge

Michael W. McConnell

State

Born–died

1955–present

Active service

2002–2009

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

—

Appointed by

G . Bush

Reason for termination

resignation

—

Judge

Neil Gorsuch

State

Born–died

1967–present

Active service

2006–2017

Chief Judge

—

Senior status

—

Appointed by

G . Bush

Reason for termination

elevation

#	Judge	State	Born–died	Active service	Chief Judge	Senior status	Appointed by	Reason for termination
1	Robert E. Lewis	CO	1857–1941	1929–1940	—	1940–1941	Harding / Operation of law	death
2	John Hazelton Cotteral	OK	1864–1933	1929–1933	—	—	Coolidge / Operation of law	death
3	Orie Leon Phillips	NM	1885–1974	1929–1956	1948–1956	1956–1974	Hoover	death
4	George McDermott	KS	1886–1937	1929–1937	—	—	Hoover	death
5	Sam G. Bratton	NM	1888–1963	1933–1961	1956–1959	1961–1963	F. Roosevelt	death
6	Robert L. Williams	OK	1868–1948	1937–1939	—	1939–1948	F. Roosevelt	death
7	Walter A. Huxman	KS	1887–1972	1939–1957	—	1957–1972	F. Roosevelt	death
8	Alfred P. Murrah	OK	1904–1975	1940–1970	1959–1970	1970–1975	F. Roosevelt	death
9	John Coleman Pickett	WY	1896–1983	1949–1966	—	1966–1983	Truman	death
10	David Thomas Lewis	UT	1912–1983	1956–1977	1970–1977	1977–1983	Eisenhower	death
11	Jean Sala Breitenstein	CO	1900–1986	1957–1970	—	1970–1986	Eisenhower	death
12	Delmas Carl Hill	KS	1906–1989	1961–1977	—	1977–1989	Kennedy	death
13	Oliver Seth	NM	1915–1996	1962–1984	1977–1984	1984–1996	Kennedy	death
14	Joe Hickey	WY	1911–1970	1966–1970	—	—	L. Johnson	death
15	William Holloway Jr.	OK	1923–2014	1968–1992	1984–1991	1992–2014	L. Johnson	death
16	Robert McWilliams Jr.	CO	1916–2013	1970–1984	—	1984–2013	Nixon	death
17	James Emmett Barrett	WY	1922–2011	1971–1987	—	1987–2011	Nixon	death
18	William Edward Doyle	CO	1911–1986	1971–1984	—	1984–1986	Nixon	death
19	Monroe G. McKay	UT	1928–2020	1977–1993	1991–1993	1993–2020	Carter	death
20	James Kenneth Logan	KS	1929–2018	1977–1994	—	1994–1998	Carter	retirement
24	Deanell Reece Tacha	KS	1946–present	1985–2011	2001–2008	2011	Reagan	retirement
29	Robert Harlan Henry	OK	1953–present	1994–2010	2008–2010	—	Clinton	resignation
35	Michael W. McConnell	UT	1955–present	2002–2009	—	—	G . Bush	resignation
37	Neil Gorsuch	CO	1967–present	2006–2017	—	—	G . Bush	elevation

· Chief judges

Phillips

Chief Judge

Phillips

Chief Judge

1948–1956

Bratton

Chief Judge

Bratton

Chief Judge

1956–1959

Murrah

Chief Judge

Murrah

Chief Judge

1959–1970

Lewis

Chief Judge

Lewis

Chief Judge

1970–1977

Seth

Chief Judge

Seth

Chief Judge

1977–1984

Holloway, Jr.

Chief Judge

Holloway, Jr.

Chief Judge

1984–1991

McKay

Chief Judge

McKay

Chief Judge

1991–1993

Seymour

Chief Judge

Seymour

Chief Judge

1994–2000

Tacha

Chief Judge

Tacha

Chief Judge

2001–2008

Henry

Chief Judge

Henry

Chief Judge

2008–2010

Briscoe

Chief Judge

Briscoe

Chief Judge

2010–2015

Tymkovich

Chief Judge

Tymkovich

Chief Judge

2015–2022

Holmes

Chief Judge

Holmes

Chief Judge

2022–present

Chief Judge
Phillips	1948–1956
Bratton	1956–1959
Murrah	1959–1970
Lewis	1970–1977
Seth	1977–1984
Holloway, Jr.	1984–1991
McKay	1991–1993
Seymour	1994–2000
Tacha	2001–2008
Henry	2008–2010
Briscoe	2010–2015
Tymkovich	2015–2022
Holmes	2022–present

Established on December 10, 1869 by the Judiciary Act of 1869 as a circuit judgeship for the Eighth Circuit

Seat 1

Established on December 10, 1869 by the Judiciary Act of 1869 as a circuit judgeship for the Eighth Circuit

Reassigned on June 16, 1891 to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit by the Judiciary Act of 1891

Seat 1

Reassigned on June 16, 1891 to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit by the Judiciary Act of 1891

Reassigned on February 28, 1929 to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit by 45 Stat. 1346

Seat 1

Reassigned on February 28, 1929 to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit by 45 Stat. 1346

R. Lewis

Seat 1

R. Lewis

Seat 1

1929–1940

Murrah

Seat 1

Murrah

Seat 1

1940–1970

Doyle

Seat 1

Doyle

Seat 1

1971–1984

Ebel

Seat 1

Ebel

Seat 1

1988–2006

Gorsuch

Seat 1

Gorsuch

Seat 1

2006–2017

Eid

Seat 1

Eid

Seat 1

2017–present

Seat 1
Established on December 10, 1869 by the Judiciary Act of 1869 as a circuit judgeship for the Eighth Circuit
Reassigned on June 16, 1891 to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit by the Judiciary Act of 1891
Reassigned on February 28, 1929 to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit by 45 Stat. 1346
R. Lewis	CO	1929–1940
Murrah	OK	1940–1970
Doyle	CO	1971–1984
Ebel	CO	1988–2006
Gorsuch	CO	2006–2017
Eid	CO	2017–present

References

The Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/2006/11/20/10th-circuit-judges-oath-a-family-affair/
Establishment of the Tenth Judicial Circuit: "An Act To amend sections 116, 118, 126 of the Judicial Code, as amended, t
http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/16a_bdy
Official website of the Federal Judicial Center
https://web.archive.org/web/20060926090047/http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/16a_bdy
Prior to January 8, 1996, Judge Porfilio was named John Porfilio Moore.
www
https://www.uscourts.gov/judges-judgeships/judicial-vacancies/future-judicial-vacancies
Lewis was appointed to the bench of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in 1921 by Warren G. Hardi
Cotteral was appointed to the bench of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in 1928 by Calvin Cooli
28 U . § 45
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/45
62 Stat. 871, 72 Stat. 497, 96 Stat. 51
https://legislink.org/us/stat-62-871