United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

{{short description|United States federal district court in Florida}}

{{Infobox U.S. federal court

| court_type = district

| court_name = United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

| abbreviation = S.D. Fla.

| seal = 100px

| seal_size = 150

| map_image_name =

| map_image_width = 150

| map_image_caption =

| courthouse = Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. U.S. Courthouse

| location = Miami

| courthouse1 = C. Clyde Atkins U.S. Courthouse

| location1 = Miami

| courthouse2 = James L. King Federal Justice Building

| location2 = Miami

| courthouse3 =

| location3 = Fort Lauderdale

| courthouse4 =

| location4 = West Palm Beach

| courthouse5 =

| location5 = Fort Pierce

| courthouse6 = Sidney M. Aronovitz United States Courthouse

| location6 = Key West

| appeals_to = Eleventh Circuit

| established = February 23, 1847

| judges_assigned = 18

| chief = Cecilia Altonaga

| us_attorney = Hayden P. O'Byrne (acting)

| us_marshal = Gadyaces S. Serralta

| official_site = {{URL|http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/}}

}}

File:Federal Courthouse in Miami.jpg in 2007]]

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (in case citations, S.D. Fla. or S.D. Fl.) is the federal United States district court with territorial jurisdiction over the southern part of the state of Florida.{{USCode|28|89}}.

Appeals from cases brought in the Southern District of Florida are to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

History

On the same day that Florida was admitted as a state, March 3, 1845, Congress enacted legislation creating the United States District Court for the District of Florida, {{USStat|5|788}}.Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 393.[https://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/courts_district_fl.html U.S. District Courts of Florida, Legislative history], Federal Judicial Center. On February 23, 1847, this District was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts, by {{USStat|9|131}}. The statute effecting this division set forth the boundaries of the Districts:

:[T]hat part of the State of Florida lying south of a line drawn due east and west from the northern point of Charlotte Harbor, including the islands, keys, reefs, shoals, harbors, bays and inlets, south of said line, shall be erected into a new judicial district, to be called the Southern District of Florida; a District Court shall be held in said Southern District, to consist of one judge, who shall reside at Key West, in said district...

On July 30, 1962, the Middle District was created from portions of these districts by {{USStat|76|247}}.

This federal district has the dubious distinction of having had more judges removed through impeachment than any other district, with a total of two, one fourth of all federal judges so removed.

Famous cases heard in the district include the prosecution of former Panamanian military leader Manuel Noriega,{{cite court|litigants=United States v. Noriega|pinpoint=no. 88-cr-00079|court=S.D. Fla.|year=1988}} the Elián González case,{{cite court|litigants=Gonzalez ex rel. Gonzalez v. Reno|vol=86|reporter=F. Supp. 2d|opinion=1167|court=S.D. Fla.|year=2000}} notorious Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein,{{cite court

|litigants=United States v. Rothstein

|pinpoint=no. 09-cr-60331

|court=S.D. Fla.

|year=2009}} a 2000 United States presidential election recount in Florida case,{{cite court

|litigants=Siegel v. LaPore

|vol=120

|reporter=F. Supp. 2d

|opinion=1041

|court=S.D. Fla.

|year=2000}} the prosecution of José Padilla,{{cite court

|litigants=United States v. Padilla

|pinpoint=no. 04-cr-60001

|court=S.D. Fla.

|year=2007}} and one of{{cite court|litigants=United States v. Trump|pinpoint=no. 9:23-cr-80101|court=S.D. Fla.|year=2023}} the federal prosecutions of Donald Trump.

Jurisdiction

The court's jurisdiction comprises the nine counties of Broward, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie. The district includes the South Florida metropolitan area of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. It comprises {{convert|15197|sqmi|km2}} and approximately 6.3 million people. Courthouses, corresponding to the five divisions of the district, are located in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, Key West, Miami, and West Palm Beach. The court's offices are located in Miami.

United States attorney and marshal

{{See also|List of United States attorneys for the Southern District of Florida}}

The United States attorney for the Southern District of Florida represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. {{As of|2025|01|17|df=US}}, the acting United States attorney is Hayden P. O'Byrne.

The United States Attorney's office has a staff of approximately 233 assistant United States attorneys and 227 support personnel. The main office is located in Miami, Florida, with three staffed branch offices located in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce and one unstaffed branch office located in Key West. There is also a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) office in West Miami-Dade and a Health Care Fraud Facility in Miramar.

On August 28, 2018, Gadyaces S. Serralta was confirmed by the United States Senate to be the United States marshal.

Organization of the court

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is one of three federal judicial districts in Florida.{{USCode|28|89}} The District has five divisions:

Fort Pierce Division comprises the following counties: Highlands, Okeechobee, Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin.{{Cite web |title=Southern District Map |url=https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/sites/flsd/files/Southern%20District%20Map.pdf |website=www.flsd.uscourts.gov}}

West Palm Beach Division comprises Palm Beach County.

Fort Lauderdale Division comprises Broward County.

Miami Division comprises Miami-Dade County.

Key West Division comprises Monroe County.

Current judges

{{As of|2024|07|20|df=US}}:

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 58

| title = Chief Judge

| name = Cecilia Altonaga

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1962

| term = 2003–present

| chief term = 2021–present

| senior term = —

| appointer = G.W. Bush

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 45

| title = District Judge

| name = K. Michael Moore

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1951

| term = 1992–present

| chief term = 2014–2021

| senior term = —

| appointer = G.H.W. Bush

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 50

| title = District Judge

| name = Donald M. Middlebrooks

| duty station = West Palm Beach

| born = 1946

| term = 1997–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Clinton

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 52

| title = District Judge

| name = William Dimitrouleas

| duty station = Ft. Lauderdale

| born = 1951

| term = 1998–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Clinton

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 57

| title = District Judge

| name = Jose E. Martinez

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1941

| term = 2002–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = G.W. Bush

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 61

| title = District Judge

| name = Kathleen M. Williams

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1956

| term = 2011–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Obama

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 64

| title = District Judge

| name = Darrin P. Gayles

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1966

| term = 2014–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Obama

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 65

| title = District Judge

| name = Beth Bloom

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1962

| term = 2014–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Obama

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 66

| title = District Judge

| name = Robin L. Rosenberg

| duty station = West Palm Beach

| born = 1962

| term = 2014–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Obama

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 67

| title = District Judge

| name = Roy Altman

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1982

| term = 2019–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Trump

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 68

| title = District Judge

| name = Rodolfo Ruiz

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1979

| term = 2019–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Trump

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 69

| title = District Judge

| name = Rodney Smith

| duty station = Ft. Lauderdale

| born = 1974

| term = 2019–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Trump

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 70

| title = District Judge

| name = Raag Singhal

| duty station = Ft. Lauderdale

| born = 1963

| term = 2019–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Trump

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 71

| title = District Judge

| name = Aileen Cannon

| duty station = Ft. Pierce

| born = 1981

| term = 2020–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Trump

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 72

| title = District Judge

| name = Jacqueline Becerra

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1970

| term = 2024–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Biden

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 73

| title = District Judge

| name = David S. Leibowitz

| duty station = Ft. Lauderdale

| born = 1971

| term = 2024–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Biden

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 74

| title = District Judge

| name = Melissa Damian

| duty station = Ft. Lauderdale

| born = 1968

| term = 2024–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Biden

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 75

| title = District Judge

| name = vacant

| duty station = —

| born = —

| term = —

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = —

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 27

| title = Senior Judge

| name = James Lawrence King

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1927

| term = 1970–1992

| chief term = 1984–1991

| senior term = 1992–present

| appointer = Nixon

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 31

| title = Senior Judge

| name = Jose Alejandro Gonzalez Jr.

| duty station = Ft. Lauderdale

| born = 1931

| term = 1978–1996

| chief term = —

| senior term = 1996–present

| appointer = Carter

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 40

| title = Senior Judge

| name = William J. Zloch

| duty station = Ft. Lauderdale

| born = 1944

| term = 1985–2017

| chief term = 2000–2007

| senior term = 2017–present

| appointer = Reagan

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 42

| title = Senior Judge

| name = Federico A. Moreno

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1952

| term = 1990–2020

| chief term = 2007–2014

| senior term = 2020–present

| appointer = G.H.W. Bush

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 43

| title = Senior Judge

| name = Donald L. Graham

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1948

| term = 1991–2013

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2013–present

| appointer = G.H.W. Bush

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 48

| title = Senior Judge

| name = Daniel T. K. Hurley

| duty station = West Palm Beach

| born = 1943

| term = 1994–2009

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2009–present

| appointer = Clinton

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 49

| title = Senior Judge

| name = Joan A. Lenard

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1952

| term = 1995–2017

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2017–present

| appointer = Clinton

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 51

| title = Senior Judge

| name = Alan Stephen Gold

| duty station = inactive

| born = 1944

| term = 1997–2010

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2010–present

| appointer = Clinton

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 53

| title = Senior Judge

| name = Patricia A. Seitz

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1946

| term = 1998–2012

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2012–present

| appointer = Clinton

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 55

| title = Senior Judge

| name = Paul Huck

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1940

| term = 2000–2010

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2010–present

| appointer = Clinton

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 56

| title = Senior Judge

| name = Kenneth Marra

| duty station = West Palm Beach

| born = 1951

| term = 2002–2017

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2017–present

| appointer = G.W. Bush

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 59

| title = Senior Judge

| name = James I. Cohn

| duty station = Ft. Lauderdale

| born = 1948

| term = 2003–2016

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2016–present

| appointer = G.W. Bush

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 62

| title = Senior Judge

| name = Robert N. Scola Jr.

| duty station = Miami

| born = 1955

| term = 2011–2023

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2023–present

| appointer = Obama

}}

Vacancies and pending nominations

{| class=wikitable

! Seat

! Prior judge's duty station

! Seat last held by

! Vacancy reason

! Date of vacancy

! Nominee

! Date of nomination

|-

| 8

| Miami

| Robert N. Scola Jr.

| Senior status

| October 31, 2023

| align=center | —

|}

Former judges

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 1

| name = {{sortname|William|Marvin}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1808–1902

| term = 1847–1863

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Polk|List of federal judges appointed by James K. Polk}}

| termination = resignation

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 2

| name = {{sortname|Thomas Jefferson|Boynton}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1838–1871

| term = 1863–1870Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1864, confirmed by the United States Senate on January 20, 1864, and received commission the same day.

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Lincoln|List of federal judges appointed by Abraham Lincoln}}

| termination = resignation

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 3

| name = {{sortname|John|McKinney|dab=Florida judge}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1829–1871

| term = 1870–1871Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 7, 1870, confirmed by the Senate on February 18, 1871, and received commission the same day.

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Grant|List of federal judges appointed by Ulysses S. Grant}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 4

| name = {{sortname|James William|Locke}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1837–1922

| term = 1872–1912

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Grant|List of federal judges appointed by Ulysses S. Grant}}

| termination = retirement

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 5

| name = {{sortname|John Moses|Cheney}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1859–1922

| term = 1912–1913Recess appointment; the Senate did not confirm the appointment.

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Taft|List of federal judges appointed by William Howard Taft}}

| termination = not confirmed

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 6

| name = {{sortname|Rhydon Mays|Call}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1858–1927

| term = 1913–1927Recess appointment; formally nominated on April 12, 1913, confirmed by the Senate on April 24, 1913, and received commission the same day.

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Wilson|List of federal judges appointed by Woodrow Wilson}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 7

| name = {{sortname|Lake|Jones}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1867–1930

| term = 1924–1930

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Coolidge|List of federal judges appointed by Calvin Coolidge}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 8

| name = {{sortname|Alexander|Akerman}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1869–1948

| term = 1929–1939

| chief term = —

| senior term = 1939–1948

| appointer = {{sortname||Coolidge|List of federal judges appointed by Calvin Coolidge}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 9

| name = {{sortname|Halsted L.|Ritter}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1868–1951

| term = 1929–1936

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Coolidge|List of federal judges appointed by Calvin Coolidge}}

| termination = impeachment and conviction

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 10

| name = {{sortname|Louie Willard|Strum}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1890–1954

| term = 1931–1950

| chief term = 1948–1950

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Hoover|List of federal judges appointed by Herbert Hoover}}

| termination = elevation to 5th Cir.

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 11

| name = {{sortname|John W.|Holland}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1883–1969

| term = 1936–1955

| chief term = 1950–1955

| senior term = 1955–1969

| appointer = {{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 12

| name = {{sortname|William J.|Barker}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1886–1968

| term = 1940–1959

| chief term = 1955–1959

| senior term = 1959–1968

| appointer = {{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 13

| name = {{sortname|Curtis L.|Waller}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1887–1950

| term = 1940–1943Jointly appointed to the Northern and Southern Districts of Florida.

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}}

| termination = elevation to 5th Cir.

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 14

| name = {{sortname|Dozier A.|DeVane}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1883–1963

| term = 1943–1958From 1943-1947, Judge DeVane was jointly appointed to the Northern and Southern Districts of Florida.

| chief term = —

| senior term = 1958–1963

| appointer = {{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 15

| name = {{sortname|George William|Whitehurst}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1891–1974

| term = 1950–1961

| chief term = 1959–1961

| senior term = 1961–1974

| appointer = {{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 16

| name = {{sortname|John Milton Bryan|Simpson}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1903–1987

| term = 1950–1962

| chief term = 1961–1962

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}}

| termination = reassignment to M.D. Fla

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 17

| name = {{sortname|Emett Clay|Choate}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1891–1974

| term = 1954–1965

| chief term = —

| senior term = 1965–1974

| appointer = {{sortname||Eisenhower|List of federal judges appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 18

| name = {{sortname|Joseph Patrick|Lieb}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1901–1971

| term = 1955–1962Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 12, 1956, confirmed by the Senate on March 1, 1956, and received commission the same day.

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Eisenhower|List of federal judges appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower}}

| termination = reassignment to M.D. Fla

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 18

| name = {{sortname|William|McRae}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1909–1973

| term = 1961–1962

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Kennedy|List of federal judges appointed by John F. Kennedy}}

| termination = reassignment to M.D. Fla

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 19

| name = {{sortname|David W.|Dyer}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1910–1998

| term = 1961–1966

| chief term = 1962–1966

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Kennedy|List of federal judges appointed by John F. Kennedy}}

| termination = elevation to 5th Cir.

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 20

| name = {{sortname|George C.|Young}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1916–2015

| term = 1961–1966From 1961-1962, Judge Young was jointly appointed to the Northern and Southern Districts of Florida. From 1962-1966, Judge Young was jointly appointed to the Middle, Northern, and Southern Districts of Florida.

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Kennedy|List of federal judges appointed by John F. Kennedy}}

| termination = reassignment to M.D. Fla

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 21

| name = {{sortname|Charles B.|Fulton}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1910–1996

| term = 1963–1978

| chief term = 1966–1977

| senior term = 1978–1996

| appointer = {{sortname||Kennedy|List of federal judges appointed by John F. Kennedy}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 22

| name = {{sortname|William O.|Mehrtens}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1905–1980

| term = 1965–1975

| chief term = —

| senior term = 1975–1980

| appointer = {{sortname|L.|Johnson|List of federal judges appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 23

| name = {{sortname|C. Clyde|Atkins}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1914–1999

| term = 1966–1982

| chief term = 1977–1982

| senior term = 1982–1999

| appointer = {{sortname|L.|Johnson|List of federal judges appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 24

| name = {{sortname|Ted|Cabot}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1917–1971

| term = 1966–1971

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname|L.|Johnson|List of federal judges appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 25

| name = {{sortname|Joe Oscar|Eaton}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1920–2008

| term = 1967–1985

| chief term = 1982–1984

| senior term = 1985–2008

| appointer = {{sortname|L.|Johnson|List of federal judges appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 26

| name = {{sortname|Peter T.|Fay}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1929–2021

| term = 1970–1976

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Nixon|List of federal judges appointed by Richard Nixon}}

| termination = elevation to 5th Cir.

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 28

| name = {{sortname|Norman Charles|Roettger Jr.}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1930–2003

| term = 1972–1997

| chief term = 1991–1997

| senior term = 1997–2003

| appointer = {{sortname||Nixon|List of federal judges appointed by Richard Nixon}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 29

| name = {{sortname|Sidney|Aronovitz}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1920–1997

| term = 1976–1988

| chief term = —

| senior term = 1988–1997

| appointer = {{sortname||Ford|List of federal judges appointed by Gerald Ford}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 30

| name = {{sortname|William|Hoeveler}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1922–2017

| term = 1977–1991

| chief term = —

| senior term = 1991–2017

| appointer = {{sortname||Carter|List of federal judges appointed by Jimmy Carter}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 32

| name = {{sortname|Edward B.|Davis}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1933–2010

| term = 1979–2000

| chief term = 1997–2000

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Carter|List of federal judges appointed by Jimmy Carter}}

| termination = retirement

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 33

| name = {{sortname|James W.|Kehoe}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1925–1998

| term = 1979–1992

| chief term = —

| senior term = 1992–1998

| appointer = {{sortname||Carter|List of federal judges appointed by Jimmy Carter}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 34

| name = {{sortname|James Carriger|Paine}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1924–2010

| term = 1979–1992

| chief term = —

| senior term = 1992–2010

| appointer = {{sortname||Carter|List of federal judges appointed by Jimmy Carter}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 35

| name = {{sortname|Eugene P.|Spellman}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1930–1991

| term = 1979–1991

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Carter|List of federal judges appointed by Jimmy Carter}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 36

| name = {{sortname|Alcee|Hastings}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1936–2021

| term = 1979–1989

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Carter|List of federal judges appointed by Jimmy Carter}}

| termination = impeachment and conviction

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 37

| name = {{sortname|Lenore Carrero|Nesbitt}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1932–2001

| term = 1983–1998

| chief term = —

| senior term = 1998–2001

| appointer = {{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 38

| name = {{sortname|Stanley|Marcus|dab=judge}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1946–present

| term = 1985–1997

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}}

| termination = elevation to 11th Cir.

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 39

| name = {{sortname|Thomas|Scott|dab=Florida judge}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1948–present

| term = 1985–1990

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}}

| termination = resignation

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 41

| name = {{sortname|Kenneth|Ryskamp}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1932–2017

| term = 1986–2000

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2000–2017

| appointer = {{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 44

| name = {{sortname|Shelby|Highsmith}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1929–2015

| term = 1991–2002

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2002–2015

| appointer = {{sortname|G.H.W.|Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George H. W. Bush}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 46

| name = {{sortname|Ursula Mancusi|Ungaro}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1951–present

| term = 1992–2021

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2021

| appointer = {{sortname|G.H.W.|Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George H. W. Bush}}

| termination = retirement

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 47

| name = {{sortname|Wilkie D.|Ferguson}}

| state = FL

| borndied = 1938–2003

| term = 1993–2003

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Clinton|List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 54

| name = Adalberto Jordan

| state = FL

| borndied = 1961–present

| term = 1999–2012

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Clinton|List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton}}

| termination = elevation to 11th Cir.

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 60

| name = Marcia G. Cooke

| state = FL

| borndied = 1954–2023

| term = 2004–2022

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2022–2023

| appointer = {{sortname||G.W. Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 63

| name = Robin S. Rosenbaum

| state = FL

| borndied = 1966–present

| term = 2012–2014

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Obama|List of federal judges appointed by Barack Obama}}

| termination = elevation to 11th Cir.

}}

Chief judges

Succession of seats

{{U.S. judge succession inactive

| seat title = Seat 1

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat established on February 23, 1847 by 9 Stat. 131

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Marvin

| term = 1847–1863

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Boynton

| term = 1864–1870

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = McKinney

| term = 1870–1871

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Locke

| term = 1872–1912

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Cheney

| term = 1912–1913

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Call

| term = 1913–1927

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Ritter

| term = 1929–1936

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Holland

| term = 1936–1955

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Lieb

| term = 1955–1962

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat reassigned to the Middle District of Florida on October 29, 1962 by 76 Stat. 247

}}

{{U.S. judge succession inactive

| seat title = Seat 2

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat established on September 14, 1922 by 42 Stat. 837 (temporary)

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Jones

| term = 1924–1930

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat abolished on June 7, 1930 (temporary judgeship expired)

}}

{{U.S. judge succession inactive

| seat title = Seat 3

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat established on January 17, 1929 by 45 Stat. 1081

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Akerman

| term = 1929–1939

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Barker

| term = 1940–1959

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = McRae, Jr.

| term = 1961–1962

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat reassigned to the Middle District of Florida on October 29, 1962 by 76 Stat. 247

}}

{{U.S. judge succession inactive

| seat title = Seat 4

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat established on June 27, 1930 by 46 Stat. 820

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Strum

| term = 1931–1950

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Simpson

| term = 1950–1962

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat reassigned to the Middle District of Florida on October 29, 1962 by 76 Stat. 247

}}

{{U.S. judge succession inactive

| seat title = Seat 5

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat established on May 24, 1940 by 54 Stat. 219 (temporary, concurrent with Northern District)

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Waller

| term = 1940–1943

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = DeVane

| term = 1943–1947

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat reassigned solely to Northern District and made permanent on October 1, 1947 pursuant to 54 Stat. 219

}}

{{U.S. judge succession inactive

| seat title = Seat 6

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493 (concurrent with Northern District)

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Whitehurst

| term = 1950–1961

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat assigned concurrently to the Middle District on July 30, 1962 pursuant to 76 Stat. 247

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Young

| term = 1961–1966

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat reassigned solely to the Middle District on September 17, 1966 pursuant to 80 Stat. 75

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 7

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on February 10, 1954 by 68 Stat. 8

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Choate

| term = 1954–1965

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Mehrtens

| term = 1965–1975

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Aronovitz

| term = 1976–1988

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Graham

| term = 1991–2013

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Bloom

| term = 2014–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 8

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Dyer

| term = 1961–1966

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Eaton

| term = 1967–1985

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Ryskamp

| term = 1986–2000

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Huck

| term = 2000–2010

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Scola Jr.

| term = 2011–2023

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = vacant

| term = 2023–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 9

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Fulton

| term = 1963–1978

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Gonzalez, Jr.

| term = 1978–1996

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Gold

| term = 1997–2011

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Rosenbaum

| term = 2012–2014

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Smith

| term = 2019–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 10

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Atkins

| term = 1966–1982

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Nesbitt

| term = 1983–1998

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Jordan

| term = 1999–2012

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Rosenberg

| term = 2014–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 11

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Cabot

| term = 1966–1971

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Roettger, Jr.

| term = 1972–1997

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Dimitrouleas

| term = 1998–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 12

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Fay

| term = 1970–1976

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Hoeveler

| term = 1977–1991

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Ferguson, Jr.

| term = 1993–2003

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Cooke

| term = 2004–2022

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Becerra

| term = 2024–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 13

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = King

| term = 1970–1992

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Lenard

| term = 1995–2017

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Altman

| term = 2019–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 14

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Paine

| term = 1979–1992

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Hurley

| term = 1994–2009

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Williams

| term = 2011–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 15

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Kehoe

| term = 1979–1992

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Middlebrooks

| term = 1997–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 16

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Spellman

| term = 1979–1991

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Moore

| term = 1992–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 17

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Davis

| term = 1979–2000

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Martinez

| term = 2002–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 18

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Hastings

| term = 1979–1989

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Moreno

| term = 1990–2020

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Leibowitz

| term = 2024–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 19

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Marcus

| term = 1985–1997

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Seitz

| term = 1998–2012

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Gayles

| term = 2014–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 20

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Scott, Jr.

| term = 1985–1990

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Highsmith

| term = 1991–2002

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Altonaga

| term = 2003–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 21

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Zloch

| term = 1985–2017

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Ruiz

| term = 2019–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 22

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Ungaro

| term = 1992–2021

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Damian

| term = 2024–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 23

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on December 21, 2000 by 114 Stat. 2762

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Marra

| term = 2002–2017

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Cannon

| term = 2020–present

}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 24

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on November 2, 2002 by 116 Stat. 1758 (temporary)

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Cohn

| term = 2003–2016

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat made permanent on December 23, 2024 by 138 Stat. 2693

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Singhal

| term = 2019–present

}}

United States attorneys

List of U.S. attorneys since 1828{{Cite web |title=Bicn Celebration |url=https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/usao/legacy/2011/11/23/bicn_celebration.pdf |access-date=February 19, 2024 |website=www.justice.gov}}{{cite web | url=https://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/FL/ofc/usatty.html | title=The Political Graveyard: U.S. District Attorneys in Florida }}

William Allison McRea (1828–1829)
John G. Stower (1829–1830)
John K. Campbell (1830–1831)
Edward Chandler (1831–1834)
Adam Gordon (1834)
Wylie P. Clark (1834–1839)
Charles Walker (1839–1840)
L. Windsor Smith (1840–1842)
George W. McRae (1842–1847)
L. Windsor Smith (1847–1850)
William R. Hackley (1850–1858)
John L. Tatum (1858–1861)
Thomas J. Boynton (1861–1863)
Homer G. Plantz (1863–1869)
Claiborn R. Mobley (1869–1876)
John Tyler Jr. (1876–1877)
George B. Patterson (1877–1886)
Livingstone W. Bethel (1886–1890)
George B. Patterson (1890–1894)
Owen J. H. Summers (1894)
Frank Clark (1894–1897)
Joseph N. Stripling (1897–1902)
John Moses Cheney (1902–1912)
Richard P. Marks (1912–1913)
Herbert S. Phillips (1913–1921)
William M. Gober (1921–1929)
Wilburn P. Hughes (1929–1933)
John W. Holland (1933–1936)
Herbert S. Phillips (1936–1953)
James L. Guilmartin (1953–1959)
E. Coleman Madsen (1959–1961)
Edward G. Boardman (1961–1963)
William A. Meadows Jr. (1963–1969)
Robert W. Rust (1969–1977)
Vincent K. Antle (1977)
Jacob V. Eskenazi (1977–1980)
Atlee W. Wampler III (1980–1982)
Stanley Marcus (1982–1985)
Leon B. Kellner (1985–1988)
Dexter Lehtinen (1988–1992)
James McAdams (1992)
Roberto Martinez (1992–1993)
Kendall B. Coffey (1993–1996)
William Keefer (1996–1997)
Thomas Scott (1997–2000)
Guy A. Lewis (2000–2002)
Marcos Jiménez (2002–2005)
Alexander Acosta (2005–2009)
Jeffrey H. Sloman (2009–2010)
Wifredo A. Ferrer (2010–2017)
Benjamin G. Greenberg (2017–2018)
Ariana Fajardo Orshan (2018–2021)
Juan Antonio Gonzalez (2021–2023)
Markenzy Lapointe (2023–2025)

References

External links

[http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida official website]
[http://sdfla.blogspot.com/ Southern District of Florida Blog] – By attorney David Markus

{{DEFAULTSORT:United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida}}

Florida, Southern District

Category:Florida law

Category:Miami

Category:1847 establishments in Florida

Category:Courthouses in Florida

Category:Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Category:West Palm Beach, Florida

Category:Courts and tribunals established in 1847

Category:United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida