<P> 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 . </P> <P> 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 . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="4"> Seat 1 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> Seat established on March 2, 1901 by 31 Stat. 880 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Archbald </Td> <Td> 1901--1911 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Witmer </Td> <Td> 1911--1925 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Johnson </Td> <Td> 1925--1945 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Murphy </Td> <Td> 1946--1962 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nealon, Jr . </Td> <Td> 1963--1989 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> McClure, Jr . </Td> <Td> 1990--2001 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jones III </Td> <Td> 2002--present </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Seat 2 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Seat established on February 28, 1929 by 45 Stat. 1344 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Watson </Td> <Td> 1929--1955 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Seat abolished on May 31, 1955 pursuant to 68 Stat. 8 </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="4"> Seat 3 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> Seat established on July 24, 1946 by 60 Stat. 654 (temporary) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 2 on May 31, 1955 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Follmer </Td> <Td> 1946--1967 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Herman </Td> <Td> 1969--1981 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Caldwell </Td> <Td> 1982--1994 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Munley </Td> <Td> 1998--2009 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mariani </Td> <Td> 2011--present </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Seat 4 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sheridan </Td> <Td> 1961--1976 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Seat abolished on August 23, 1976 (Temporary judgeship expired) </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="4"> Seat 1 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> Seat established on March 2, 1901 by 31 Stat. 880 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Archbald </Td> <Td> 1901--1911 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Witmer </Td> <Td> 1911--1925 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Johnson </Td> <Td> 1925--1945 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Murphy </Td> <Td> 1946--1962 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nealon, Jr . </Td> <Td> 1963--1989 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> McClure, Jr . </Td> <Td> 1990--2001 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jones III </Td> <Td> 2002--present </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Seat 2 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Seat established on February 28, 1929 by 45 Stat. 1344 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Watson </Td> <Td> 1929--1955 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Seat abolished on May 31, 1955 pursuant to 68 Stat. 8 </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="4"> Seat 3 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> Seat established on July 24, 1946 by 60 Stat. 654 (temporary) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 2 on May 31, 1955 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Follmer </Td> <Td> 1946--1967 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Herman </Td> <Td> 1969--1981 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Caldwell </Td> <Td> 1982--1994 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Munley </Td> <Td> 1998--2009 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mariani </Td> <Td> 2011--present </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Seat 4 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sheridan </Td> <Td> 1961--1976 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Seat abolished on August 23, 1976 (Temporary judgeship expired) </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr>

United states district court middle district of pa