---
title: "Alan Eugene Norris | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/alan-eugene-norris"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Alan Eugene Norris

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- State: National federal courts
- Role: U.S. Circuit Judge
- Service status: senior
- Last verified: 2026-07-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1986-2001
- Judge, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Tenth Appellate District, 1980-1986
- He held the role of a law clerk to Justice Kingsley A. Taft of the Ohio Supreme Court (1960–1961)
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

### Education

- University of Virginia School of Law — LL.M. (1986)
- New York University School of Law — 1960
- Otterbein University — B.A. (1957)
- Otterbein College — B.A. (1957)
- Polytechnic Institute of New York University — J.D.

### Additional information

- 12, 2026) — authored opinion
- 9, 2025) — panel decision
- 18, 2022) — authored opinion
- Senior status: July 1, 2001
- On April 22, 1986, President Ronald Reagan nominated Norris to the Sixth Circuit, replacing Leroy John Contie Jr..
- Commissioned: July 1, 1986
- Senate confirmation: June 6, 1986 (voice vote)
- Instructor, Otterbein College, 1976-1980
- State representative, Ohio, 1967-1980
- Ohio House of Representatives (1967–1980)
- Private practice, Westerville, Ohio, 1962-1980
- Westerville, OH (1962–1980)
- Practitioner, 1979-1979
- legis, 1979-1979
- prof, 1979-1979
- Private practice: Columbus, OH (1961–1962)
- Private practice, Columbus, Ohio, 1961-1962
- Date of birth: 1935-01-01
- United States v.
- Bernard Hardrick v.
- R. K. v.
- Whirlpool Int'l Holdings v.
- Succeeded in the active role by Deborah L. Cook.
- His work spans a range of federal appellate matters, including criminal, commercial, and administrative law cases.
- Birth place: Columbus, OH

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### appellate oral argument

Scope: courtwide

In federal courts of appeals, oral argument is allowed unless a three-judge panel unanimously finds one of Rule 34's specified grounds for dispensing with it; the clerk provides the date, time, place, and time allocation.

Evidence excerpt: Oral argument must be allowed in every case unless a panel of three judges who have examined the briefs and record unanimously agrees that oral argument is unnecessary

[Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1385816)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1385816)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1385816)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2427/alan-eugene-norris/)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2427/alan-eugene-norris/)
- [Judge Alan Eugene Norris](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1385816)
- [Wikidata: Alan Eugene Norris](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4706589)

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