Tennessee was admitted to the Union as a state in 17961 but Congress did not make provision for the establishment of the Federal Courts in the new state until its next session. The first district court for Tennessee was created in 1797 and consisted of the entire state.2 One district judge was authorized and directed to hold court alternatively at Nashville and Knoxville. The first Tennessee district judge was John McNairy, appointed by President George Washington on February 17, 1797, at a salary of $800 per year. The first session of court was held at Nashville beginning July 3, 1797.
In 1802,3 Tennessee was divided into two districts but with only one authorized judge. The East Tennessee District4 then consisted of that part of the state which lies "on the east side of Cumberland mountain, and to be called the district of East Tennessee, the other to consist of the remaining part of said state, and to be called the district of West Tennessee." The Act of June 18, 1838,5 required that the judge of the district courts of East and West Tennessee hold court at Jackson. This statute was amended by the Act of January 18, 1839,6 so as to create a third district, the Middle District of Tennessee,7 but with no additional judge. Until 1878 only one district judge was authorized for the entire state. The Act of June 14, 1878,8 created a judgeship for the Western District of Tennessee.9 While the current judge, Connley F. Trigg, continued to preside in the Eastern and Middle Districts, Eli S. Hammond was appointed the first Judge for the Western District of Tennessee.
The Judicial Act of September 14, 1922,10 authorized a district judge for the Middle District of Tennessee. John J. Gore was the first judge to be appointed to this position, taking office March 10, 1923. |
