Thomas Patrick Barber

Who put them on the bench?

Every Article III appointment, who nominated them, and how the Senate voted.

A voice vote means no individual senator's position was recorded. That is a fact about the confirmation, not about the level of support.

Source · Federal Judicial Center, Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges, 1789–present (public domain)

Who held this seat before them?

Every prior holder of the same seat, and who appointed each.

No prior holders of this seat are recorded in the directory.

Source · Federal Judicial Center, Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges, 1789–present (public domain)

How long can they serve?

Article III judges hold office during good behaviour.

There is no term, no election, and no recall. A federal judge leaves the bench by resignation, retirement, death, or impeachment and conviction by Congress. Fifteen federal judges have been impeached by the House in the nation's history; eight were convicted by the Senate.

Source · U.S. Constitution, Article III, Section 1

What do they own, and what have they traded?

Financial disclosure reports filed under the Ethics in Government Act — the same statute that covers Congress.

Not in the local cache yet. python3 judge_fd_ingest.py

For the judiciary this is the accountability channel, not one of several. There is no vote to check and no election to contest.

Source · Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts; Free Law Project

Which cases have they stepped away from?

Recusals, and the fact that no reason need be given.

Not in the local cache yet. python3 recusal_ingest.py

A judge may recuse without stating why, and for the Supreme Court no other judge reviews that decision. The absence of a stated reason is itself the disclosure gap.

Source · CourtListener, Free Law Project

What have they written?

Published opinions, in their own words.

Not in the local cache yet. python3 opinion_ingest.py

Opinions are quoted and linked, never summarised into a position. What a judge decided is a matter of record; what it says about them is not this site's call.

Source · CourtListener, Free Law Project

Can I write to this judge?

No — and that is a rule worth understanding.

Do not contact a federal judge about a case. One-sided contact with a judge about a matter before them is improper and can harm the very case you care about. Judges are barred from considering it.

If you want to be heard on a legal question, the routes are public: file or join a case, submit an amicus brief through counsel, attend a public hearing, or write to your elected representatives, who confirm judges and write the laws judges apply.

Source · Code of Conduct for United States Judges, Canon 3A(4)