List of United States federal judges by longevity of service
Rank Judge Court Appointed by Began active service Ended active service Ended senior status Total active service Total service
1 Joseph William Woodrough D. Neb . 8th Cir Wilson F.D.R April 3 , 1916 April 12 , 1933 April 12 , 1933 January 3 , 1961 October 2 , 1977 44 years , 275 days 61 years , 182 days
2 Henry Potter 5th Cir . D.N.C Jefferson May 9 , 1801 April 7 , 1802 April 7 , 1802 December 20 , 1857 n/a 56 years , 225 days 56 years , 225 days
3 William Joseph Nealon Jr M.D . Pa Kennedy December 13 , 1962 January 1 , 1989 August 30 , 2018 26 years , 19 days 55 years , 260 days
4 Joseph Buffington W.D . Pa. 3rd Cir . 3rd Cir B. Harrison T. Roosevelt T. Roosevelt February 23 , 1892 September 25 , 1906 September 25 , 1906 September 26 , 1906 December 31 , 1911 June 1 , 1938 October 21 , 1947 46 years , 98 days 55 years , 240 days
5 Joseph Chappell Hutcheson Jr S.D . Tex . 5th Cir Wilson Hoover April 6 , 1918 January 26 , 1931 January 26 , 1931 November 4 , 1964 January 18 , 1973 46 years , 212 days 54 years , 287 days
6 Seybourn Harris Lynne N.D. Ala Truman January 3 , 1946 January 9 , 1973 September 10 , 2000 27 years , 6 days 54 years , 251 days
7 Edward Joseph McManus N.D. Iowa Kennedy July 16 , 1962 February 9 , 1985 March 20 , 2017 22 years , 208 days 54 years , 247 days
8 William Cranch D.C. Cir J. Adams March 3 , 1801 September 1 , 1855 n/a 54 years , 182 days 54 years , 182 days
9 George C. Young S.D . Fl . N.D. Fl . M.D . Fl Kennedy September 18 , 1961 September 18 , 1961 October 29 , 1962 September 17 , 1966 September 17 , 1966 October 19 , 1981 April 24 , 2015 20 years , 31 days 53 years , 218 days
10 Jack B. Weinstein E.D.N.Y L.B.J April 25 , 1967 March 1 , 1993 Incumbent 25 years , 310 days 53 years , 68 days
11 Wilfred Feinberg S.D.N.Y . 2nd Cir Kennedy L.B.J October 5 , 1961 March 7 , 1966 March 7 , 1966 January 31 , 1991 July 31 , 2014 29 years , 118 days 52 years , 299 days
12 Manuel Real C.D . Cal L.B.J November 3 , 1966 November 4 , 2018 June 26 , 2019 52 years , 1 day 52 years , 235 days
13 Albert Branson Maris E.D . Pa. 3rd Cir F.D.R June 22 , 1936 June 24 , 1938 June 16 , 1938 December 31 , 1958 February 7 , 1989 22 years , 192 days 52 years , 230 days
14 Learned Hand S.D.N.Y . 2d Cir Taft Coolidge April 26 , 1909 December 20 , 1924 December 29 , 1924 June 1 , 1951 August 18 , 1961 42 years , 36 days 52 years , 114 days
15 Orie Leon Phillips D.N.M . 10th Cir Harding Hoover March 3 , 1923 April 29 , 1929 April 29 , 1929 January 1 , 1956 November 14 , 1974 32 years , 304 days 51 years , 256 days
16 John P. Fullam E.D . Pa L.B.J August 11 , 1966 April 1 , 1990 March 8 , 2018 23 years , 233 days 51 years , 209 days
17 Damon Keith E.D . Mich. 6th Cir L.B.J . Carter October 12 , 1967 October 21 , 1977 November 22 , 1977 May 1 , 1995 April 28 , 2019 27 years , 201 days 51 years , 198 days
18 Alexander Harvey II D. Md L.B.J September 22 , 1966 March 8 , 1991 December 4 , 2017 24 years , 167 days 51 years , 73 days
19 William Augustus Bootle M.D . Ga Eisenhower May 20 , 1954 March 11 , 1972 January 25 , 2005 17 years , 296 days 50 years , 250 days
20 James R. Browning 9th Cir Kennedy September 18 , 1961 September 1 , 2000 May 6 , 2012 38 years , 349 days 50 years , 231 days
Total combined service
This is a list of Article III United States federal judges by longevity of service. The judges on the lists below were presidential appointees who have been confirmed by the Senate, and who served on the federal bench for over 40 years. It includes neither Article I judges (e.g., U.S. Tax Court) nor Article IV judges.