Courts & Judges

Judges Appointed by Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren (Democratic) made 12 Article III appointments between 1837 and 1841, by commission date. 0 of those judges are still serving, in active or senior status.

Supreme Court2
Courts of appeals0
District courts10
Other courts0
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 (2)

Judge Court Commissioned Senate vote ABA rating Status
John McKinley Associate Justice Supreme Court of the United States Death 1852
Peter Vivian Daniel Associate Justice Supreme Court of the United States 22-5 Death 1860

District courts (10)

Judge Court Commissioned Senate vote ABA rating Status
John Cochran Nicoll District Court for the District of Georgia Reassignment 1848
Mahlon Dickerson District Court for the District of New Jersey Resignation 1841
Philemon Dickerson District Court for the District of New Jersey Death 1862
Robert Budd Gilchrist District Court for the District of South Carolina Death 1856
Philip Kissick Lawrence District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Death 1841
John Young Mason District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Resignation 1844
Samuel Jameson Gholson District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi Resignation 1861
Samuel Jameson Gholson District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi Resignation 1861
Philip Kissick Lawrence District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Death 1841
Isaac Samuels Pennybacker District Court for the Western District of Virginia Resignation 1845

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