The United States District Court for the Western District of New York (in case citations, W.D.N.Y.) is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the western parts of Upstate New York.
Appeals are taken to the Second Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).
Jurisdiction
New York's Southern District Court Celebrates its 225th Anniversary - Judges and court staff in Manhattan gathered to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the Southern District of New York. The district is commonly referred to as the "Mother Court" because it was...
The Western District of New York includes the following counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates. It has jurisdiction over the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, and Elmira. From 1904 to 1916, the court met at the United States Post Office (Lockport, New York).
The United States Government is represented in the district by the US Attorney for the Western District of New York. The current Acting US Attorney is James P. Kennedy.
Current judges
Vacancies and pending nominations
Former judges
Chief judges
Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court, and preside over any panel on which they serve unless circuit judges are also on the panel. 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 as senior 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.
Succession of seats
See also
- Courts of New York
- List of United States federal courthouses in New York
- Denise O'Donnell, former US Attorney for this district
Notes
External links
- United States District Court for the Western District of New York Official Website
- United States Attorney for the Western District of New York Official Website