James Loken
US Circuit Judge on the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
James Loken is a US Circuit Judge on the Eighth Circuit. On 21 September, he sat on a panel ordering Missouri to use its 2025 congressional map for November.
Last refreshed: 24 September 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why did an 8th Circuit panel including James Loken side against the 2022 Missouri map?
Timeline for James Loken
Joined the panel's order
US Midterms 2026: 8th Circuit puts Missouri on 2025 mapBackground
James Loken serves as a US Circuit Judge on the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. His role is to decide federal appeals within the circuit, including disputes that can shape election administration.
On 21 September, Loken sat with David Stras and Lavenski Smith on an Eighth Circuit panel considering Missouri’s congressional map. The panel ordered the state to use its 2025 map for the November election, then paused that order until 28 September while challengers sought Supreme Court review.
That case illustrates the practical weight of an appellate judge’s work: a panel ruling can affect an election timetable even while further review remains possible. Loken’s durable significance lies in that judicial office, rather than in one electoral dispute.
What did the 8th Circuit rule on Missouri's map?
Who are the judges on the 8th Circuit Missouri panel?
Is Missouri's map going back to the Supreme Court?
