28 USC § 143 - Vacant judgeship as affecting proceedings

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s143"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "28 USC § 143 - Vacant judgeship as affecting proceedings"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "143"
section_name: "Vacant judgeship as affecting proceedings"
chapter_number: 5
chapter_name: "DISTRICT COURTS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "ORGANIZATION OF COURTS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 898.)"
---


# § 143. Vacant judgeship as affecting proceedings

When the office of a district judge becomes vacant, all pending process, pleadings and proceedings shall, when necessary, be continued by the clerk until a judge is appointed or designated to hold such court.

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**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 898.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 26 (, ).

The last clause of , U.S.C., 1940, ed., prescribing the powers of a designated judge was omitted as covered by .

Minor changes were made in phraseology.