On August 16, 1954, Van Oosterhout was nominated by President
Dwight D. Eisenhower to a seat on the
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated when a fellow Iowan, Judge
Seth Thomas, assumed
senior status. He was confirmed by the
United States Senate on August 20, 1954, and received his commission on August 26, 1954. He served as Chief Judge and member of the
Judicial Conference of the United States from 1968 to 1970. He assumed
senior status on July 6, 1971. He was a Judge of the
Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals from 1972 to 1977. He served in senior status until his death on January 28, 1979. ==Personal life==