---
title: "Jonathan Allen Kobes | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jonathan-allen-kobes"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Jonathan Allen Kobes

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

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth 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

- United States Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, a position he has held since December 12, 2018
- Counsel, advisor, and senior counsel, POET, LLC, Sioux Falls, SD, 2008-2012
- Assistant U.S. attorney, District of South Dakota, 2003-2005
- Law Clerk, Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 2000-2001

### Education

- Harvard University — J.D. (2000)
- Dordt College — B.A. (1996)
- in Political Science, Dordt University — B.A. (1996)

### Additional information

- Nominated by: President Donald J. Trump (June 11, 2018)
- The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary rated Kobes “Not Qualified” in 2018, citing that while he was “accomplished, competent, and capable,” his career path did not demonstrate sufficient evidence of the written work skills needed for a circuit judge, and questioned his understanding of complex legal analysis
- Confirmed by Senate: December 11, 2018, by a 50–50 vote with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking “yea
- deputy chief of staff and counsel, 2016-2018
- deputy chief of staff and counsel, 2014-2018
- General Counsel to U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (2014–2018)
- M. Michael Rounds, South Dakota, 2014-2018
- deputy chief of staff and counsel, 2015-2016
- political fund designee, 2014-2016
- deputy director, transition, 2014-2015
- Director of corporate compliance, Raven Industries, Sioux Falls, SD, 2013-2014
- Senior regulatory counsel, DuPont Pioneer, Johnston, IA, 2012-2013
- Private practice, Sioux Falls, SD, 2005-2008
- Honors attorney, Central Intelligence Agency, 2002-2003
- Born: August 25, 1974, in Sioux City, Iowa
- Date of birth: 1974-01-01
- Preceded by: Judge Roger Leland Wollman, who assumed senior status
- Office of U.S. Sen
- Birth place: Sioux City, IA
- Editor and business manager of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy

## 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/5675191)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/5675191)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/5675191)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8594/jonathan-allen-kobes/)
- [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/8594/jonathan-allen-kobes/)
- [Wikidata: Jonathan A. Kobes](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54862532)

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