---
title: "John Byron Owens | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-byron-owens"
page_type: "judge_profile"
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# John Byron Owens

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

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth 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 Ninth Circuit, 2014-present
- American judge serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2014
- Private practice: Associate, O’Melveny & Myers LLP, Washington, D.C. (2000–2001) Partner, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, Los Angeles (2012–2014)
- Assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of California, 2004-2012
- Assistant U.S. attorney, Central District of California, 2001-2004
- Trial attorney, Office of Consumer Litigation, U.S. Department of Justice, 1998-1999
- Trial attorney, DOJ Office of Consumer Litigation (1998–1999)
- Law clerk, Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court of the United States, 1997-1998
- Law clerkships: Hon. J. Clifford Wallace, Ninth Circuit (1996–1997) Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, U.S. Supreme Court (1997–1998)
- Law clerk, Hon. J. Clifford Wallace, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1996-1997
- Current role: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (active)

### Education

- B.A. (1993), University of California, Berkeley (high distinction) J.D. (1996), Stanford Law School, first in class, with distinction; editor of the Stanford Law Review
- Bellarmine College Preparatory

### Additional information

- Commissioned: April 2, 2014
- Senate confirmation: March 31, 2014, 56–43 vote
- Private practice, Los Angeles, CA, 2012-2014
- Nominated: August 1, 2013, to replace Stephen S. Trott
- chief, Criminal Division, 2010-2011
- deputy chief, Major Frauds Section, 2008-2010
- Born: 1971, Washington, D.C.
- Date of birth: 1971-01-01
- Harker School
- Birth place: Washington, DC

## 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/1394431)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394431)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394431)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2482/john-byron-owens/)
- [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/2482/john-byron-owens/)
- [Wikidata: John B. Owens](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16213691)

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