---
kind: "section"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 143"
title: "28"
title_heading: "Judiciary and Judicial Procedure"
number: "143"
heading: "Vacant judgeship as affecting proceedings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/28/143"
units:
  - "Part I — Organization of Courts"
  - "Chapter 5 — District Courts"
---

# §143. Vacant judgeship as affecting proceedings


When the office of a district [judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=d-1) becomes vacant, all pending process, pleadings and proceedings shall, when necessary, be continued by the clerk until a [judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=d-1) is appointed or designated to hold such court.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 898.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 26 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 22, 36 Stat. 1090).

The last clause of section 26 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940, ed., prescribing the powers of a designated judge was omitted as covered by section 296 of this title.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.