Courts & Judges

Judges Appointed by James Buchanan

James Buchanan (Democratic) made 12 Article III appointments between 1858 and 1860, by commission date. 0 of those judges are still serving, in active or senior status.

Supreme Court1
Courts of appeals0
District courts9
Other courts2
Total appointments12

The appointees

GenderMale 12
Race or ethnicityWhite 12

Counts per appointment as recorded in the Federal Judicial Center's directory. The American Bar Association has rated nominees since the 1950s; older appointments carry no rating, and some recent nominees were not rated.

Supreme Court (1)

Judge Court Commissioned Senate vote ABA rating Status
Nathan Clifford Associate Justice Supreme Court of the United States 26-23 Death 1881

District courts (9)

Judge Court Commissioned Senate vote ABA rating Status
Asa Biggs District Court for the Albemarle, Cape Fear & Pamptico Districts of North Carolina Resignation 1861
William Davis Shipman District Court for the District of Connecticut Resignation 1873
Rensselaer Russell Nelson District Court for the District of Minnesota Retirement 1896
Matthew Paul Deady District Court for the District of Oregon Death 1893
John Cadwalader District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania 30-8 Death 1879
William Giles Jones District Court for the Middle District of Alabama Resignation 1861
William Giles Jones District Court for the Northern District of Alabama Resignation 1861
William Giles Jones District Court for the Southern District of Alabama Resignation 1861
Wilson McCandless District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania Retirement 1876

Other courts (2)

Judge Court Commissioned Senate vote ABA rating Status
Edward Greely Loring Court of Claims 27-13 Resignation 1877
James Hughes Court of Claims Resignation 1864

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Source: Federal Judicial Center. Updated November 9, 2026.