On August 1, 1991, Carnes was nominated by President
George H. W. Bush to a seat on the
United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia vacated by
Robert Howell Hall. She was confirmed by the
United States Senate on February 6, 1992, and received her commission on February 10, 1992. From 2009 to 2014 she served as chief judge. Her service as a district court judge was terminated on July 31, 2014, when she was elevated to the court of appeals. She received a hearing before the
United States Senate Judiciary Committee on May 13, 2014. On June 19, 2014, her nomination was reported out of committee by a
voice vote. On July 16, 2014, Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid filed a
cloture motion on Carnes' nomination. On July 17, 2014, the
United States Senate invoked
cloture on her nomination by a 68–23 vote. On July 21, 2014, her nomination was confirmed by a 94–0 vote. She received her judicial commission on July 31, 2014. She assumed
senior status on June 18, 2018. Carnes is unrelated to
Edward Earl Carnes, with whom she serves on the Eleventh Circuit. ==Notes==