History / Courts

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

21 judges have served since Dec 17, 1901. Now: Stephen Chad Meredith RRobert Earl Wier RClaria Horn Boom RDavid L. Bunning RKaren K. Caldwell R.

Judges
21
14 R · 7 D
Longest tenure
37 years
Mac Swinford
Current
11 months
Stephen Chad Meredith, since Nov 3, 2025
history/court/district-court-for-the-eastern-district-of-kentuckyEvery holder, newest first
+21
192019401960198020002020Andrew McConnell January Cochran · 1901-12-17 – 1934-06-12 · RepublicanHiram Church Ford · 1935-03-28 – 1963-01-01 · DemocratBernard Thomas Moynahan, Jr. · 1963-11-08 – 1984-09-30 · DemocratKarl Spillman Forester · 1988-07-27 – 2005-05-02 · RepublicanGregory Frederick Van Tatenhove · 2006-01-05 – 2026-07-19 · RepublicanMac Swinford · 1937-08-21 – 1975-02-03 · DemocratEugene Edward Siler, Jr. · 1975-11-13 – 1991-09-20 · RepublicanJennifer B. Coffman · 1993-10-01 – 2013-01-08 · DemocratClaria Horn Boom · 2018-04-11 – present · RepublicanH[oward] David Hermansdorfer · 1972-03-07 – 1981-01-31 · RepublicanHenry Rupert Wilhoit, Jr. · 1981-09-28 – 2000-12-31 · RepublicanKaren K. Caldwell · 2001-10-24 – present · RepublicanScott Elgin Reed · 1979-11-02 – 1988-08-01 · DemocratJoseph Martin Hood · 1990-04-30 – 2007-10-14 · RepublicanAmul Roger Thapar · 2008-01-04 – 2017-05-30 · RepublicanRobert Earl Wier · 2018-06-12 – present · RepublicanWilliam Odis Bertelsman · 1979-11-27 – 2001-02-01 · DemocratDanny C. Reeves · 2001-12-10 – 2025-02-01 · RepublicanStephen Chad Meredith · 2025-11-03 – present · RepublicanGreen Wix Unthank · 1980-06-18 – 1988-06-14 · DemocratDavid L. Bunning · 2002-02-19 – present · Republican
Stephen Chad Meredith R
Nov 3, 2025 – present · 11 months · appointed by Donald J. Trump · confirmed 48–45
Robert Earl Wier R
Jun 12, 2018 – present · 8.3 years · appointed by Donald J. Trump · confirmed 95–0
Claria Horn Boom R
Apr 11, 2018 – present · 8.5 years · appointed by Donald J. Trump · confirmed 96–1
Amul Roger Thapar R
Jan 4, 2008 – May 30, 2017 · 9.4 years · appointed by George W. Bush
Gregory Frederick Van Tatenhove R
Jan 5, 2006 – Jul 19, 2026 · 21 years · appointed by George W. Bush
David L. Bunning R
Feb 19, 2002 – present · 25 years · appointed by George W. Bush
Danny C. Reeves R
Dec 10, 2001 – Feb 1, 2025 · 23 years · appointed by George W. Bush · senior status Feb 1, 2025
Karen K. Caldwell R
Oct 24, 2001 – present · 25 years · appointed by George W. Bush · confirmed 100–0
Jennifer B. Coffman D
Oct 1, 1993 – Jan 8, 2013 · 19 years · appointed by William J. Clinton
Joseph Martin Hood R
Apr 30, 1990 – Oct 14, 2007 · 17 years · appointed by George H.W. Bush · senior status Oct 14, 2007
Karl Spillman Forester R
Jul 27, 1988 – May 2, 2005 · 17 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan · senior status May 2, 2005
Henry Rupert Wilhoit, Jr. R
Sep 28, 1981 – Dec 31, 2000 · 19 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan · senior status Dec 31, 2000
Green Wix Unthank D
Jun 18, 1980 – Jun 14, 1988 · 8 years · appointed by Jimmy Carter · senior status Jun 14, 1988
William Odis Bertelsman D
Nov 27, 1979 – Feb 1, 2001 · 21 years · appointed by Jimmy Carter · senior status Feb 1, 2001
Scott Elgin Reed D
Nov 2, 1979 – Aug 1, 1988 · 8.7 years · appointed by Jimmy Carter · senior status Aug 1, 1988
Eugene Edward Siler, Jr. R
Nov 13, 1975 – Sep 20, 1991 · 16 years · appointed by Gerald Ford
H[oward] David Hermansdorfer R
Mar 7, 1972 – Jan 31, 1981 · 8.9 years · appointed by Richard M. Nixon
Bernard Thomas Moynahan, Jr. D
Nov 8, 1963 – Sep 30, 1984 · 21 years · appointed by John F. Kennedy · senior status Sep 30, 1984
Mac Swinford D
Aug 21, 1937 – Feb 3, 1975 · 37 years · appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt
Hiram Church Ford D
Mar 28, 1935 – Jan 1, 1963 · 28 years · appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt · senior status Jan 1, 1963
Andrew McConnell January Cochran R
Dec 17, 1901 – Jun 12, 1934 · 32 years · appointed by William McKinley

Dates are from the Federal Judicial Center (commission to senior status or departure). Consecutive terms of one person are merged.