On April 15, 1964, Simons was nominated by President
Lyndon B. Johnson to a seat on the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of South Carolina vacated by Judge
Ashton Hilliard Williams. Johnson was confirmed by the
United States Senate on April 30, 1964, and received his commission on May 1, 1964. On November 1, 1965, he was reassigned by
operation of law to the
United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, to a new seat established by 79 Stat. 951. He served as Chief Judge from 1980 to 1986, assuming
senior status on August 17, 1986, and serving in that capacity until his death on October 26, 1999, in Aiken. ==Honor==