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Judge Neil M. Gorsuch

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

Confirmed on July 20, 2006
  • Neil Gorsuch was confirmed on July 20, 2006, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which hears appeals from the federal district courts of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming.
  • Judge Gorsuch has a distinguished record as a practicing attorney with extensive trial and appellate litigation experience, and as a public servant who served as a senior official in the Department of Justice. 
    • In 2005, Judge Gorsuch joined the Department of Justice as the Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General.  In that capacity, he assisted in managing the Department’s civil litigating components (Antitrust, Civil, Civil Rights, Environment and Natural Resources, and Tax), as well as developing and implementing of a wide variety of civil justice initiatives and policies.
    • From 1995 to 2005, Judge Gorsuch worked as an associate and partner at the law firm of Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel, PLLC, where he represented clients that included small corporations, Fortune 100 corporations, non-profit organizations, and individuals.    
    • While in private practice, Judge Gorsuch had a thriving litigation practice, and was involved in some very significant litigation, including what was believed to be the largest private antitrust damages award to stand on appeal—more than one billion dollars.   He has tried several cases to verdict and briefed dozens of cases in the courts of appeals.   The range of issues Judge Gorsuch worked on included antitrust, breach of contract, securities litigation, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud, and shareholders rights.
    • Judge Gorsuch is known for his outstanding intellect, keen analytical skills, writing skills, excellent courtroom skills, work ethic, and integrity.   Clients, co-counsel, colleagues, judges, and opposing counsel all praised Judge Gorsuch's nomination to the federal appellate bench.
    • Judge Gorsuch has long been dedicated to pro bono service and improvement of the legal profession, most recently participating in the Department of Justice’s pro bono legal clinic and representing the Department before various judicial and legal groups.
  • Judge Gorsuch has impeccable academic credentials and professional training.
    • He served as a law clerk for Justice Byron White (also assisting Justice Kennedy) of the United State Supreme Court, and Judge David Sentelle of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. 
    • He attended Harvard Law School as a Harry Truman Scholar and graduated with honors in 1991.  He graduated with honors from Columbia University in 1988, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. 
    • Judge Gorsuch attended Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar and received his Doctorate in Philosophy in 2004.
  • Judge Gorsuch has used his legal skills to assist clients on a pro bono and reduced fee basis.
    • Judge Gorsuch represented Columbia Hospital for Women, the Council of Institutional Investors, and several individuals on issues ranging from breach of contract to shareholders rights to criminal investigations.
    • Judge Gorsuch participated in the Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project and the Harvard Defenders program while in law school and also articipated in the Justice Department’s legal aid clinic.