---
title: "Elizabeth Lee Branch | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/elizabeth-lee-branch"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Elizabeth Lee Branch

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

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- State: National federal courts
- Role: U.S. Circuit Judge
- Service status: active
- 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 Eleventh Circuit, 2018-present
- Judge, Court of Appeals of Georgia, 2012-present
- Elizabeth Lee “Lisa” Branch is an American judge serving as a United States Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, appointed on March 19, 2018 by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the Senate 73–23
- State court service: Judge, Georgia Court of Appeals (2012–2018), appointed by Gov
- Associate general counsel for rules and legislation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2004-2005
- Early career: Law clerk to Hon. J. Owen Forrester, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (1994–1996)
- Current role: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

### Education

- B.A. (cum laude), Davidson College, 1990 J.D., Emory University School of Law, 1994; member of the Order of the Coif

### Additional information

- Notable fact: She is the first woman to serve on the Eleventh Circuit since its creation in 1981.
- Commissioned: March 19, 2018
- Senate confirmation: February 27, 2018 (73–23 vote)
- Nominated: September 7, 2017, to replace Frank M. Hull
- Private practice: Atlanta, GA (1996–2004; 2008–2012)
- Practitioner, 2011-2011
- counselor to the administrator, 2006-2008
- Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 2005-2008
- special assistant to the administrator, 2005-2006
- Born: 1968, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date of birth: 1968-01-01
- Nathan Deal.
- Branch has authored and participated in numerous appellate opinions, including cases such as Clarissa Zafirov v.
- Florida Medical Associates, LLC and Delta Air Lines, Inc. v.
- U.S. Department of Transportation.
- Her work covers a range of issues, from civil litigation to administrative law.
- Birth place: Atlanta

## 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/4237586)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4237586)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4237586)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7145/elizabeth-l-branch/)
- [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/7145/elizabeth-l-branch/)
- [Wikidata: Elizabeth L. Branch](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q38937868)

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