The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. As of May 29, 2025[update], the actingUnited States Attorney is Nancy Larson.[1]
The first federal judge inTexas wasJohn C. Watrous, who was appointed on May 26, 1846, and had previously served asAttorney General of theRepublic of Texas. He was assigned to hold court inGalveston, at the time, the largest city in the state. As seat of theUnited States District Court for the District of Texas, the Galveston court had jurisdiction over the whole state.[2] On February 21, 1857, the state was divided into two districts,Eastern andWestern, with Judge Watrous continuing in the Eastern district.[3] Judge Watrous and JudgeThomas Howard DuVal, of the Western District of Texas, left the state on the secession of Texas from the Union, the only two United States judges not to resign their posts in states that seceded. When Texas was restored to the Union, Watrous and DuVal resumed their duties and served until 1870.
In 1879, Texas was further subdivided with the creation of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, using territory taken from both the Eastern and Western districts.[4]
In the twenty-first century, the Northern District of Texas has become a destination forforum shopping by conservative judicial activists who hope to use the conservative lean of the judges to gain favorable ideological decisions.[5][6]
Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.
A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.
When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known assenior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.
^Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 13, 1898, confirmed by theUnited States Senate on February 15, 1899, and received commission the same day.
^Recess appointment; formally nominated on May 23, 1919, confirmed by the Senate on June 24, 1919, and received commission the same day.
^abRecess appointment; formally nominated on January 15, 1962, confirmed by the Senate on March 16, 1962, and received commission on March 17, 1962.
