--- title: "Coral Wong Pietsch | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/coral-wong-pietsch-9913" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Coral Wong Pietsch United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims · U.S. Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims - State: National federal courts - Role: U.S. Circuit Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, 2012-present - In 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Pietsch to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, filling the seat vacated by Judge William Greene, Jr - Commissioned into the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps in 1974, Pietsch served six years on active duty, including assignments with the Eighth Army in Korea and at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, before transferring to the Army Reserve - Began her public service when she joined the military and served on active duty in the United States Army as a Judge Advocate - She achieved historic milestones as the first woman promoted to brigadier general in the Army JAG Corps and the first Asian-American woman to reach general officer rank in the U.S. Army ### Education ### Additional information - Confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 24, 2012, and began her fifteen-year term in June 2012 - Her military service included deployments and exercises across the Asia-Pacific region, as well as a voluntary deployment to Iraq in 2007 as a Department of Defense civilian, where she held the role of Deputy Rule of Law Coordinator for the Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team, helping establish legal aid initiatives and supporting civil society projects - Judge Coral Wong Pietsch was born on November 11, 1947, in Waterloo, Iowa, to a Chinese immigrant father and a Czech-American mother, and she pursued higher education in theatre and law, earning a bachelor's degree from the College of Saint Teresa, a master's in drama from Marquette University, and a J.D. from the Catholic University of America in 1974, where she met her husband, James Pietsch, an Army officer and lawyer - As a judge, she continues to serve veterans by adjudicating appeals related to veterans’ benefits and claims - Before her judicial appointment, Pietsch held the role of a senior attorney and special assistant at Headquarters, U.S. Army Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, providing legal counsel in areas such as environmental, fiscal, personnel, international, and administrative law - She also chaired the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, improving administrative processes and public education programs during her tenure - Judge Pietsch resides in Hawaii with her husband, James H. Pietsch, a law professor and veteran ## 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 ### oral argument permission Scope: courtwide Oral argument is allowed only when ordered by the court and will occur at the place and time the court orders. Evidence excerpt: Oral argument will be allowed only when ordered by the Court and will be held where and when the Court orders. [Rule 34: Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/rule34.php) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### oral argument request Scope: courtwide For an appeal on the merits, move for oral argument no later than 14 days after the reply brief is due or filed, and explain why argument will aid the court. Do not embed the request in a brief. Evidence excerpt: A motion for oral argument shall specify why such argument will aid the Court. A motion for oral argument may not be included in any brief. [Rule 34: Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/rule34.php) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### amicus argument Scope: courtwide An amicus curiae may participate in oral argument only by invitation of the court. Evidence excerpt: An amicus curiae will be permitted to participate in oral argument only at the invitation of the Court. [Rule 34: Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/rule34.php) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### argument schedule changes Scope: courtwide Request postponement or additional argument time by motion reasonably before the argument date and show good cause. Evidence excerpt: A request for postponement of the argument or for the allowance of additional time shall be made by motion filed reasonably in advance of the date fixed for argument and shall contain a showing of good cause. [Rule 34: Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/rule34.php) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### argument order Scope: courtwide The appellant generally opens and concludes merits argument; on a motion, the movant generally opens and concludes. Evidence excerpt: The appellant will generally open and conclude the argument. In argument on motions, the movant generally will open and conclude the argument. [Rule 34: Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/rule34.php) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### physical exhibits Scope: courtwide Coordinate non-document physical exhibits with the clerk so they are in the courtroom before court convenes, and remove them after argument unless directed otherwise. Evidence excerpt: A party who wishes to use physical exhibits other than documents shall arrange with the Clerk to have them placed in the courtroom on the date of the argument before the Court convenes. [Rule 34: Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/rule34.php) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9913/coral-wong-pietsch/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9913/coral-wong-pietsch/) - [United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9913/coral-wong-pietsch/) - [Rule 34: Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/rule34.php) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9913/coral-wong-pietsch/) - [#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Coral Wong Pietsch - VA ...](https://news.va.gov/119685/veteranoftheday-army-coral-wong-pietsch) - [Coral wong pietsch | The White House](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/champions/women-veteran-leaders/coral-wong-pietsch) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/coral-wong-pietsch-9913", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/coral-wong-pietsch-9913", "name": "Coral Wong Pietsch | KnowJudges", "description": "Coral Wong Pietsch, United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. 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