<page_title> List of former United States district courts </page_title> <section_title> Kentucky </section_title> <table> <cell> Bland Ballard </cell> <cell> Abraham Lincoln </cell> <cell> October 16, 1861 </cell> </table>
On October 16, 1861, Ballard received a recess appointment from President Abraham Lincoln to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Kentucky.