| With the retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens and | | | | Article III Judge. However, throughout U.S. History all |
| President Obama declaring he would like to have | | | | were private attorneys, state judges, other federal |
| Stevens' replacement confirmed before the court's | | | | court judges or law professors prior to their Article III |
| new term begins in October, people are discussing | | | | nomination and confirmation. |
| Federal Judges. Two questions keep circulating: | | | | Bankruptcy, magistrate, and U.S. Court of Federal |
| whether there are different types of Federal Judges | | | | Claims Judges are not Judges under Article III of the |
| and how do they get selected. | | | | Constitution. These judges are appointed for specific |
| There are seven types of Federal Judges: (1) | | | | terms and are not protected from a guarantied no pay |
| Supreme Court justices, (2) court of appeals, (3) district | | | | reduction. There is a statutory requirement for |
| judges, (4) U.S. Court of International Trade, (5) | | | | bankruptcy and magistrate judges to be lawyers. |
| bankruptcy judges, (6) magistrate judges, (7) U.S. Court | | | | Bankruptcy judges are appointed by the majority of |
| of Federal Claims. | | | | the US court of appeals to exercise jurisdiction over |
| Supreme Court justices, court of appeals, district | | | | bankruptcy matters. Bankruptcy judges are appointed |
| judges and the U.S. Court of International Trade are | | | | for 14 year terms and handle almost all bankruptcy |
| established by Article III of the Constitution. Names of | | | | matters. |
| nominees are recommended by senators or | | | | Magistrate judges are appointed by the majority vote |
| sometimes members of the House. The President | | | | of the active district judges of the court to exercise |
| then makes his nominations. The Senate Judiciary | | | | jurisdiction over matters delegated by the district |
| Committee conducts confirmation hearings for each | | | | judges and assigned by statute. Magistrate judges are |
| nominee. Article III Judges are appointed for life and | | | | appointed for 8 year terms and their duties vary from |
| never get a pay cut to exercise what the Constitution | | | | court to court. |
| calls the "judicial power of the United States." The | | | | U.S. Court of Federal Claims are appointed by the |
| reasoning behind this is to guaranty Article III Judges will | | | | President. U.S. Court of Federal Claims is a special |
| never fear making politically or socially unpopular | | | | court that hears claims for money damages in excess |
| decisions. | | | | of $10,000 against the United States. U.S. Court of |
| There are no official requirements to become an | | | | Claims judges are appointed for 15 year terms. |