History / Courts

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

61 judges have served since Feb 20, 1855. Now: Michael Jason Hendershot RBridget Meehan Brennan DCharles Esque Fleming DDavid Augustin Ruiz DJ. Philip Calabrese RJames Ray Knepp, II RPamela Ann Barker RJeffrey James Helmick DBenita Yalonda Pearson DSara Elizabeth Lioi RJohn R. Adams R.

Judges
61
31 R · 30 D
Longest tenure
42 years
Paul J. Jones
Current
3 months
Michael Jason Hendershot, since Jul 9, 2026
history/court/district-court-for-the-northern-district-of-ohioEvery holder, newest first
+61
186018801900192019401960198020002020Hiram V. Willson · 1855-02-20 – 1866-11-11 · DemocratCharles Taylor Sherman · 1867-03-02 – 1872-11-25 · DemocratMartin Welker · 1873-12-08 – 1889-06-01 · RepublicanAugustus J. Ricks · 1890-01-16 – 1906-12-22 · RepublicanJohn Milton Killits · 1910-06-24 – 1928-10-06 · RepublicanGeorge Philip Hahn · 1928-12-17 – 1937-02-12 · RepublicanFrank Le Blond Kloeb · 1937-08-20 – 1964-09-30 · DemocratDon John Young · 1965-05-22 – 1980-07-01 · DemocratAlvin I. Krenzler · 1981-12-10 – 1992-01-01 · RepublicanLesley Brooks Wells · 1994-02-11 – 2006-02-14 · DemocratJack Zouhary · 2006-03-28 – 2019-07-01 · RepublicanJames Ray Knepp, II · 2020-11-13 – present · RepublicanFrancis Joseph Wing · 1901-01-23 – 1905-02-01 · RepublicanWilliam Louis Day · 1911-05-09 – 1914-05-01 · RepublicanJohn Hessin Clarke · 1914-07-21 – 1916-07-24 · DemocratDavid C. Westenhaver · 1917-03-14 – 1928-07-29 · DemocratSamuel H. West · 1928-12-17 – 1938-10-05 · RepublicanRobert Nugen Wilkin · 1939-06-03 – 1949-08-31 · DemocratCharles Joseph McNamee · 1951-03-09 – 1964-05-02 · DemocratWilliam Kernahan Thomas · 1966-03-07 – 1981-02-15 · DemocratJohn William Potter · 1982-06-21 – 1992-08-01 · RepublicanJames G. Carr · 1994-05-09 – 2010-06-01 · DemocratBenita Yalonda Pearson · 2010-12-27 – present · DemocratRobert Walker Tayler · 1905-01-10 – 1910-11-25 · RepublicanPaul J. Jones · 1923-03-02 – 1965-08-04 · RepublicanThomas Demetrios Lambros · 1967-08-18 – 1995-02-10 · DemocratPeter C. Economus · 1995-06-30 – 2009-07-03 · DemocratJeffrey James Helmick · 2012-06-07 – present · DemocratEmerich B. Freed · 1941-10-07 – 1955-12-04 · DemocratPaul Charles Weick · 1956-03-29 – 1959-10-08 · RepublicanFrank Joseph Battisti · 1961-09-22 – 1994-04-01 · DemocratSolomon Oliver, Jr. · 1994-05-09 – 2021-02-15 · DemocratBridget Meehan Brennan · 2022-02-08 – present · DemocratJames C. Connell · 1954-08-10 – 1971-09-21 · RepublicanLeroy John Contie, Jr. · 1971-12-06 – 1982-03-23 · RepublicanDavid Dudley Dowd, Jr. · 1982-09-23 – 1996-06-30 · RepublicanJames S. Gwin · 1997-11-07 – 2021-01-31 · DemocratCharles Esque Fleming · 2022-02-08 – present · DemocratGirard Edward Kalbfleisch · 1959-09-21 – 1970-09-30 · RepublicanRobert B. Krupansky · 1970-10-16 – 1982-03-19 · RepublicanSamuel H. Bell · 1982-12-22 – 1996-10-30 · RepublicanDan A. Polster · 1998-08-03 – 2021-01-31 · DemocratDavid Augustin Ruiz · 2022-02-08 – present · DemocratBen Charles Green · 1962-07-02 – 1976-01-05 · DemocratJohn Michael Manos · 1976-03-29 – 1991-04-01 · RepublicanPaul Ramon Matia · 1991-11-18 – 2004-12-31 · RepublicanChristopher A. Boyko · 2005-01-03 – 2020-01-06 · RepublicanJ. Philip Calabrese · 2020-12-03 – present · RepublicanNicholas Joseph Walinski, Jr. · 1970-10-21 – 1985-12-01 · RepublicanRichard B. McQuade, Jr. · 1986-09-15 – 1989-09-30 · RepublicanDavid A. Katz · 1994-10-11 – 2005-01-01 · DemocratSara Elizabeth Lioi · 2007-03-14 – present · RepublicanGeorge Washington White · 1980-05-23 – 1999-02-26 · DemocratJohn R. Adams · 2003-02-12 – present · RepublicanAnn Aldrich · 1980-05-24 – 1995-05-12 · DemocratDonald C. Nugent · 1995-06-30 – 2017-01-01 · DemocratPamela Ann Barker · 2019-06-18 – present · RepublicanAlice Moore Batchelder · 1985-04-04 – 1992-01-04 · RepublicanKathleen McDonald O'Malley · 1994-10-12 – 2010-12-27 · DemocratMichael Jason Hendershot · 2026-07-09 – present · RepublicanPatricia Anne Gaughan · 1995-12-26 – 2023-10-01 · Democrat
Michael Jason Hendershot R
Jul 9, 2026 – present · 3 months · appointed by Donald J. Trump · confirmed 50–44
Bridget Meehan Brennan D
Feb 8, 2022 – present · 4.7 years · appointed by Joseph R. Biden · confirmed 61–35
Charles Esque Fleming D
Feb 8, 2022 – present · 4.7 years · appointed by Joseph R. Biden · confirmed 56–42
David Augustin Ruiz D
Feb 8, 2022 – present · 4.7 years · appointed by Joseph R. Biden · confirmed 62–35
J. Philip Calabrese R
Dec 3, 2020 – present · 5.9 years · appointed by Donald J. Trump · confirmed 58–35
James Ray Knepp, II R
Nov 13, 2020 – present · 5.9 years · appointed by Donald J. Trump · confirmed 64–24
Pamela Ann Barker R
Jun 18, 2019 – present · 7.3 years · appointed by Donald J. Trump · confirmed 91–5
Jeffrey James Helmick D
Jun 7, 2012 – present · 14 years · appointed by Barack Obama · confirmed 62–36
Benita Yalonda Pearson D
Dec 27, 2010 – present · 16 years · appointed by Barack Obama · confirmed 56–39
Sara Elizabeth Lioi R
Mar 14, 2007 – present · 20 years · appointed by George W. Bush
Jack Zouhary R
Mar 28, 2006 – Jul 1, 2019 · 13 years · appointed by George W. Bush · senior status Jul 1, 2019 · confirmed 96–0
Christopher A. Boyko R
Jan 3, 2005 – Jan 6, 2020 · 15 years · appointed by George W. Bush · senior status Jan 6, 2020
John R. Adams R
Feb 12, 2003 – present · 24 years · appointed by George W. Bush · confirmed 91–0
Dan A. Polster D
Aug 3, 1998 – Jan 31, 2021 · 22 years · appointed by William J. Clinton · senior status Jan 31, 2021
James S. Gwin D
Nov 7, 1997 – Jan 31, 2021 · 23 years · appointed by William J. Clinton · senior status Jan 31, 2021 · confirmed 100–0
Patricia Anne Gaughan D
Dec 26, 1995 – Oct 1, 2023 · 28 years · appointed by William J. Clinton · senior status Oct 1, 2023
Peter C. Economus D
Jun 30, 1995 – Jul 3, 2009 · 14 years · appointed by William J. Clinton · senior status Jul 3, 2009
Donald C. Nugent D
Jun 30, 1995 – Jan 1, 2017 · 22 years · appointed by William J. Clinton · senior status Jan 1, 2017
Kathleen McDonald O'Malley D
Oct 12, 1994 – Dec 27, 2010 · 16 years · appointed by William J. Clinton
David A. Katz D
Oct 11, 1994 – Jan 1, 2005 · 10 years · appointed by William J. Clinton · senior status Jan 1, 2005
James G. Carr D
May 9, 1994 – Jun 1, 2010 · 16 years · appointed by William J. Clinton · senior status Jun 1, 2010
Solomon Oliver, Jr. D
May 9, 1994 – Feb 15, 2021 · 27 years · appointed by William J. Clinton · senior status Feb 15, 2021
Lesley Brooks Wells D
Feb 11, 1994 – Feb 14, 2006 · 12 years · appointed by William J. Clinton · senior status Feb 14, 2006
Paul Ramon Matia R
Nov 18, 1991 – Dec 31, 2004 · 13 years · appointed by George H.W. Bush · senior status Dec 31, 2004
Richard B. McQuade, Jr. R
Sep 15, 1986 – Sep 30, 1989 · 3 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan
Alice Moore Batchelder R
Apr 4, 1985 – Jan 4, 1992 · 6.8 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan
Samuel H. Bell R
Dec 22, 1982 – Oct 30, 1996 · 14 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan · senior status Oct 30, 1996
David Dudley Dowd, Jr. R
Sep 23, 1982 – Jun 30, 1996 · 14 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan · senior status Jun 30, 1996
John William Potter R
Jun 21, 1982 – Aug 1, 1992 · 10 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan · senior status Aug 1, 1992
Alvin I. Krenzler R
Dec 10, 1981 – Jan 1, 1992 · 10 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan · senior status Jan 1, 1992
Ann Aldrich D
May 24, 1980 – May 12, 1995 · 15 years · appointed by Jimmy Carter · senior status May 12, 1995
George Washington White D
May 23, 1980 – Feb 26, 1999 · 19 years · appointed by Jimmy Carter · senior status Feb 26, 1999
John Michael Manos R
Mar 29, 1976 – Apr 1, 1991 · 15 years · appointed by Gerald Ford · senior status Apr 1, 1991
Leroy John Contie, Jr. R
Dec 6, 1971 – Mar 23, 1982 · 10 years · appointed by Richard M. Nixon
Nicholas Joseph Walinski, Jr. R
Oct 21, 1970 – Dec 1, 1985 · 15 years · appointed by Richard M. Nixon · senior status Dec 1, 1985
Robert B. Krupansky R
Oct 16, 1970 – Mar 19, 1982 · 11 years · appointed by Richard M. Nixon
Thomas Demetrios Lambros D
Aug 18, 1967 – Feb 10, 1995 · 27 years · appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson
William Kernahan Thomas D
Mar 7, 1966 – Feb 15, 1981 · 15 years · appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson · senior status Feb 15, 1981
Don John Young D
May 22, 1965 – Jul 1, 1980 · 15 years · appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson · senior status Jul 1, 1980
Ben Charles Green D
Jul 2, 1962 – Jan 5, 1976 · 14 years · appointed by John F. Kennedy · senior status Jan 5, 1976
Frank Joseph Battisti D
Sep 22, 1961 – Apr 1, 1994 · 33 years · appointed by John F. Kennedy · senior status Apr 1, 1994
Girard Edward Kalbfleisch R
Sep 21, 1959 – Sep 30, 1970 · 11 years · appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower · senior status Sep 30, 1970
Paul Charles Weick R
Mar 29, 1956 – Oct 8, 1959 · 3.5 years · appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower
James C. Connell R
Aug 10, 1954 – Sep 21, 1971 · 17 years · appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower · senior status Sep 21, 1971
Charles Joseph McNamee D
Mar 9, 1951 – May 2, 1964 · 13 years · appointed by Harry S Truman
Emerich B. Freed D
Oct 7, 1941 – Dec 4, 1955 · 14 years · appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt
Robert Nugen Wilkin D
Jun 3, 1939 – Aug 31, 1949 · 10 years · appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt · senior status Aug 31, 1949
Frank Le Blond Kloeb D
Aug 20, 1937 – Sep 30, 1964 · 27 years · appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt · senior status Sep 30, 1964
George Philip Hahn R
Dec 17, 1928 – Feb 12, 1937 · 8.2 years · appointed by Calvin Coolidge
Samuel H. West R
Dec 17, 1928 – Oct 5, 1938 · 9.8 years · appointed by Calvin Coolidge
Paul J. Jones R
Mar 2, 1923 – Aug 4, 1965 · 42 years · appointed by Warren G. Harding
David C. Westenhaver D
Mar 14, 1917 – Jul 29, 1928 · 11 years · appointed by Woodrow Wilson
John Hessin Clarke D
Jul 21, 1914 – Jul 24, 1916 · 2 years · appointed by Woodrow Wilson
William Louis Day R
May 9, 1911 – May 1, 1914 · 3 years · appointed by William H. Taft
John Milton Killits R
Jun 24, 1910 – Oct 6, 1928 · 18 years · appointed by William H. Taft · senior status Oct 6, 1928
Robert Walker Tayler R
Jan 10, 1905 – Nov 25, 1910 · 5.9 years · appointed by Theodore Roosevelt
Francis Joseph Wing R
Jan 23, 1901 – Feb 1, 1905 · 4 years · appointed by William McKinley
Augustus J. Ricks R
Jan 16, 1890 – Dec 22, 1906 · 17 years · appointed by Benjamin Harrison
Martin Welker R
Dec 8, 1873 – Jun 1, 1889 · 15 years · appointed by Ulysses Grant
Charles Taylor Sherman D
Mar 2, 1867 – Nov 25, 1872 · 5.7 years · appointed by Andrew Johnson
Hiram V. Willson D
Feb 20, 1855 – Nov 11, 1866 · 12 years · appointed by Franklin Pierce

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