---
title: "David S. Tatel | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-s-tatel-3174"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# David S. Tatel

U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- State: District of Columbia
- Role: U.S. Circuit Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1994-2024
- Director, Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1977-1979
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

### Education

- University of Chicago Law School

### Additional information

- Assumed senior status on the D.C. Circuit on May 16, 2022; retired from judicial service on January 16, 2024.
- Joined the court in 1994 after being nominated by President Bill Clinton (D).
- Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1979-1994
- Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1974-1977
- Chicago Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, 1972-1974
- director, 1972-1974
- Private practice, Chicago, IL, 1970-1972
- Chicago Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, 1969-1970
- executive director, 1969-1970
- Private practice, Chicago, IL, 1967-1969
- Instructor, University of Michigan Law School, 1966-1967
- Date of birth: 1942-01-01
- Birth place: Washington, DC

## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/tatel-david-s)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3174/david-s-tatel/)
- [U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3174/david-s-tatel/)
- [Federal Judicial Center: D.C. Circuit judicial service](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/tatel-david-s)
- [Judicial service and biography correction](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/tatel-david-s)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3174/david-s-tatel/)
- [Tatel, David S.](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/tatel-david-s)
- [David Tatel](https://ballotpedia.org/David_Tatel)
- [Wikidata: David S. Tatel](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5239398)

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