--- title: "Haldane Robert Mayer | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/haldane-robert-mayer" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Haldane Robert Mayer U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal 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 - Adjunct professor, University of Virginia School of Law, 1992-present - Judge, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 1987-2010 - Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit from 1997 to 2004 - Special assistant, Chief Justice of the United States Warren Burger, 1977-1980 - Special assistant to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger (1977–1980) - Law clerk, Hon. John D. Butzner, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 1971-1972 - Law clerk to Judge John D. Butzner Jr., 4th Circuit (1971–1972) - Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit - Notable role: held the role of Chief Judge for seven years, shaping Federal Circuit precedent ### Education - College of William and Mary — J.D. (1971) - Mayer then attended William & Mary Law School, graduating first in his class in 1971 with a J.D., and later studied at the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School at the University of Virginia. - U.S. Military Academy — B.S. (1963) ### Additional information - Senior status since June 30, 2010 - acting special counsel, 1982-present - DVA (2025) and Smith v. - Collins (2025). - Member, Judicial Conference of the United States, 1998-2004 - 3, 1987; confirmed June 11, 1987; commissioned June 15, 1987 - U.S. Claims Court (now U.S. Court of Federal Claims) — appointed 1982, served until 1987 - U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, 1981-1982; deputy special counsel, 1981-1982; acting special counsel, 1982 - Private practice in Charlottesville, VA (1975–1977) and Washington, D.C. (1980–1981) - Private practice, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1975-1977 - He served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1975, earning the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and multiple combat and special service badges for his Vietnam War service. - Born February 21, 1941 in Buffalo, New York, Mayer attended public schools in Lockport, NY, and was appointed to the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1963 with a B.S. degree. - Date of birth: 1941-01-01 - Recent cases include Beacon Point Associates LLC v. - U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit — nominated Feb. - Patent claim construction — reversing when the district court’s interpretation is legally untenable - Agency decision-making — requiring agencies to fully articulate reasoning under the Administrative Procedure Act - Contract law in patent contexts — applying ordinary contract principles to the on-sale bar - Birth place: Buffalo, NY ## 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 ### argument check in Scope: courtwide Arguing counsel must check in with the courtroom deputy at least 30 minutes before the day's session starts. Evidence excerpt: Arguing counsel must check-in with the courtroom deputy at their assigned courtroom at least thirty minutes before the start of the day's session. [Federal Circuit: Attending Oral Arguments](https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/attending-oral-arguments/) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### same day changes Scope: courtwide Same-day changes to arguing counsel or time divisions are generally not allowed without a prior new appearance and amended response to the notice of oral argument. Evidence excerpt: Same-day changes to arguing counsel or time divisions are generally not allowed, absent prior filing of a new entry of appearance and an amended Response to Notice of Oral Argument in the case. [Federal Circuit: Attending Oral Arguments](https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/attending-oral-arguments/) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384471) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384471) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384471) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2090/haldane-robert-mayer/) - [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure) - [Federal Circuit: Attending Oral Arguments](https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/attending-oral-arguments/) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2090/haldane-robert-mayer/) - [Judge Haldane Robert Mayer](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384471) - [Wikidata: Haldane Robert Mayer](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5641234) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/haldane-robert-mayer", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/haldane-robert-mayer", "name": "Haldane Robert Mayer | KnowJudges", "description": "Haldane Robert Mayer, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. 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