Brady-Handy photograph of Garfield, taken between 1870 and 1880.

Despite his short tenure in office, James A. Garfield appointed 5 Article III United States federal judges including 1 Justice to the Supreme Court of the United States and 1 judge to the United States circuit courts and 3 judges to the United States district courts. Garfield shared the appointment of Addison Brown with his successor, Chester A. Arthur, with Garfield placing him on the bench via a recess appointment and Arthur later nominating him to the same seat and issuing his commission.

Garfield appointed 1 judge to the United States Court of Claims, an Article I tribunal.

Supreme Court

# Justice Seat State Former justice Nomination
date 		Confirmation
date 		Began
active service 		Ended
active service
1 Stanley Matthews 6 Ohio Noah Haynes Swayne March 14, 1881[Rn 1] May 12, 1881 May 12, 1881 March 22, 1889

Circuit courts

# Judge Circuit Nomination
date 		Confirmation
date 		Began active
service 		Ended active
service
1 Don Albert Pardee Fifth March 14, 1881 May 13, 1881 May 13, 1881[1] September 26, 1919[2]

District courts

# Judge Court
[Note 1] 		Nomination
date 		Confirmation
date 		Began active
service 		Ended active
service
1 LeBaron Bradford Colt D.R.I. March 9, 1881 March 21, 1881 March 21, 1881 July 23, 1884[3]
2 Alexander Boarman W.D. La. May 18, 1881 May 18, 1881 May 18, 1881 August 30, 1916
3 Addison Brown S.D.N.Y. – – June 2, 1881[4] August 30, 1901

Specialty courts (Article I)

United States Court of Claims

# Judge Nomination
date 		Confirmation
date 		Began active
service 		Ended active
service
1 Glenni William Scofield May 19, 1881 May 20, 1881 May 20, 1881 July 29, 1891

Notes

  1. ^ See List of United States district and territorial courts
Renominations
  1. ^ Was previously nominated by President Hayes on January 26, 1881. That nomination expired at the end of the term. Renominated on March 14, 1881 by President Garfield.

References

  1. ^ Reassigned by operation of law to serve on both the United States circuit court and the corresponding United States Court of Appeals on June 16, 1891.
  2. ^ The United States circuit courts were abolished effective December 31, 1911. Served solely upon the United States Court of Appeals effective January 1, 1912.
  3. ^ Elevated
  4. ^ Recess appointment by James A. Garfield; formally nominated by Chester A. Arthur on October 12, 1881, confirmed by the United States Senate on October 14, 1881, and received commission from Arthur on October 14, 1881.
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