Thomas B. Russell

Thomas Banister Russell
Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
In office May 19, 2015 – May 18, 2022
Appointed by	John Roberts
Preceded by	James Zagel
Succeeded by	Joan N. Ericksen
Judge of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court
In office 2016–2021
Appointed by	John Roberts
Preceded by	James C. Cacheris
Succeeded by	Louis Guirola Jr.
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
In office November 15, 2011 – September 1, 2023
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
In office 2008–2011
Preceded by	John G. Heyburn II
Succeeded by	Joseph H. McKinley Jr.
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
In office October 11, 1994 – November 15, 2011
Appointed by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Edward Huggins Johnstone
Succeeded by	Gregory N. Stivers
Personal details
Born	Thomas Banister Russell (1945-11-15) November 15, 1945 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Education	Western Kentucky University (BA) University of Kentucky (JD)

Thomas Banister Russell (born November 15, 1945) is a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. He also served as a judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court from 2015 to 2022. He served as a judge of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court from 2016 to 2021.

Education and career

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Russell received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Kentucky University in 1967 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1970. He was in private practice in Paducah, Kentucky from 1970 to 1994.

Federal judicial service

On September 14, 1994, Russell was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky vacated by Edward Huggins Johnstone. Russell was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 7, 1994, and received his commission on October 11, 1994. He served as Chief Judge from 2008 to 2011. He took senior status on November 15, 2011. He served as a judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court from 2015 to 2022. He served as a judge of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court from 2016 to 2021. He retired from active service on September 1, 2023.

Sources

• Thomas B. Russell at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.