On August 11, 1981, Wilhoit was nominated by President
Ronald Reagan to a seat on the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky vacated by Judge
Howard David Hermansdorfer. Wilhoit was confirmed by the
United States Senate on September 25, 1981, and received his commission on September 28, 1981. He served as chief judge from 1998 to 2000, assuming
senior status on December 31, 2000. ==References==