Federal judge - Definition and Overview

A federal judge is a judge appointed in accordance with Article III of the United States Constitution. All federal judges are appointed by the President of the United States and approved by the United States Senate. The federal judiciary includes the United States Supreme Court, thirteen Courts of Appeals (also called 'Circuit Courts') with appellate jurisdiction over different regions of the United States, and over 100 United States district courts.

In accordance with the Constitution, federal judges serve until they die, resign or are removed from office by the impeachment process. Since the impeachment process requires a trial by the United States Senate, and since the Constitutional provision concerning federal judges' tenure cannot be changed without the ratifications of three-fourths of the (now 50) states, federal judges have the best job security available in the United States.

However, the judges who preside over certain federal courts of limited jurisdiction are not life-tenured. Federal magistrates and bankruptcy judges, for example, are appointed for specified terms by the administrative bodies of the federal judiciary.