Operating Procedure 2: Titles and Precedence of Judges
Circuit Rules and Operating Procedures of the Seventh Circuit — Operating Procedures
(a) Except to the extent required by law, the court does not distinguish between judges in regular active service and senior judges with respect to title, precedence, and eligibility to participate in the court's decisions.
(b) Judges hold precedence in this sequence for the purpose of presiding at a session of the court: (1) Circuit Justice; (2) the Chief Judge of the circuit; (3) the judge of this circuit in regular active service with the greatest seniority according to the terms of 28 U.S.C. § 45(b). Every panel includes at least one circuit judge in regular active service, so no further provision for the selection of a presiding judge is necessary.
(c) Subject to part (b) of this rule, judges have precedence and are listed on opinions in the following order: (1) Circuit Justice; (2) Chief Judge of the circuit; (3) Associate Justice (Retired); (4) Circuit Judges by seniority of commission (without distinction between judges of this and other circuits); (5) District Judges by seniority of commission.
(d) Clerk's office personnel will ensure that all orders and opinions comply with this rule. The Clerk's office also will ensure that the description of the panel is consistent and conforms to the appropriate model: "X, Chief Judge, and Y and Z, Circuit Judges"; "X, Y, and Z, Circuit Judges"; "X and Y, Circuit Judges, and Z, District Judge."