On January 5, 1920, a group of government lawyers met at the U.S. Department of Interior in Washington, D.C., to create a new association which would focus on promoting the welfare of all federal judges and attorneys.

The Federal Bar Association’s 438 members elected James W. Witten, who was serving as chief law officer of the General Land Office at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C., as the first president.

Judge Karoline Mehalchick is currently serving as the FBA’s 98th president.

                     President                          Years

97 Glen R. McMurry 2024-25
96 Jonathan O. Hafen 2023-24
95 Matthew C. Moschella 2022-23
94 Anh Le Kremer 2021-22
93 W. West Allen 2020-21
92 Christian K. Adams 2019-20
91 Maria Z. Vathis 2018-19
90 Kip T. Bollin 2017-18
89 Hon. Michael J. Newman 2016-17
88 Mark K. Vincent 2015-16
87 Matthew B. Moreland 2014-15
86 Hon. Gustavo A. Gelpi 2013-14
85 Robert J. DeSousa 2012-13
84 Fern C. Bomchill* 2011-12
83 Ashley L. Belleau 2010-11
82 Lawrence R. Baca 2009-10
81 Juanita Sales Lee 2008-09
80 James S. Richardson Sr. 2007-08
79 William N. LaForge 2006-07
78 Robyn J. Spalter* 2005-06
77 Thomas R. Schuck 2004-05
76 Joyce E. Kitchens 2003-04
75 Kent S. Hofmeister 2002-03
74 Russell A. Del Toro 2001-02
73 Robert A. McNew 2000-01
72 Jackie A. Goff 1999-2000
71 Adrienne A. Berry 1998-99
70 Robert C. Mueller 1997-98
69 Hon. Dana E. McDonald 1996-97
68 Hon. Marvin H. Morse 1995-96
67 Alan C. Harnisch 1994-95
66 Ellen M. Lazarus 1993-94
65 Malcolm W. Monroe* 1992-93
64 Alfred F. Belcuore 1991-92
63 Hon. Barry Russell 1990-91
62 Hon. William R. Robie* 1989-90
61 Richard J. Wieland* 1988-89
60 James T. Bland 1987-88
59 Stanley M. Fisher* 1986-87
58 Gerald E. Gilbert 1985-86
57 Joseph E. Ross* 1984-85
56 Evan L. Hultman* 1983-84
55 Paul G. Dembling* 1982-83
54 W. Edwin Youngblood* 1981-82
53 Dr. J. Clay Smith Jr.* 1980-81
52 Thomas G. Lilly 1979-80
51 William G. Malone* 1978-79
50 John A. Knebel 1977-78
49 Richard E. Wiley 1976-77
48 Col. William R. Kenney* 1975-76
47 Hon. David H. Allard 1974-75
46 Simon H. Trevas* 1973-74
45 Richard G. Kleindienst* 1972-73
44 C. Normand Poirier* 1971-72
43 A.S. Harzenstein* 1970-71
42 Prof. Paul Treusch* 1969-70
41 Cyril F. Brickfield* 1968-69
40 James Mcl. Henderson* 1967-68
39 Paul H. Gantt* 1966-67
38 Marshall C. Gardner* 1965-66
37 Ramsey Clark* 1964-65
36 Conrad D. Philos* 1963-64
35 Richard E. Lankford* 1962-63
34 John H. Grosvenor, Jr.* 1961-62
33 Thomas G. Meeker* 1960-61
32 Whitney Gillilland* 1959-60
Earl W. Kintner* 1958-59
31 Laurence H. Axman* 1957-58
30 Earl W. Kintner* 1956-57
29 Clarence A. Davis* 1955-56
28 Hon. Stanley N. Barnes* 1954-55
27 Bettin Stalling* 1953-54
26 Hon. William L. Ellis* 1952-53
25 Frank J. Delany* 1951-52
24 John A. Mclntyre* 1950-51
23 James E. Palmer Jr.* 1949-50
22 Charles Oliphant* 1948-49
21 Harold Lee* 1947-48
20 Theron L. Caudle* 1946-47
19 Robert H. Shields* 1945-46
18 Hon. Tom C. Clark* 1944-45
17 Marguerite Rawalt* 1943-44
16 Robert N. Anderson* 1942-43
15 William E. Reese* 1941-42
14 Heber H. Rice* 1940-41
13 William N. Morell* 1939-40
12 Robert E. Freer* 1938-39
11 Horace Russell* 1937-38
10 Justin Miller* 1935-37
9 Ralph G. Cornell* 1934-35
8 William A. Roberts* 1933-34
William R. Vallance* 1927-33
7 Charles W. Freeman* 1926-27
6 F. Clyde Baggarly* 1925-26
5 Thomas G. Shearman* 1924-25
F.C. Dozendorf* 1924-25
4 Pickens Neagle* 1923-24
3 William R. Vallance* 1922-23
2 David D. Caldwell* 1921-22
1 James W. Witten* 1920-21

*deceased