---
title: "Kermit Edward Bye | KnowJudges"
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---

# Kermit Edward Bye

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: former
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 2000-present
- Special assistant attorney general, State of North Dakota, 1964-present
- Kermit Edward Bye (1937–2021) was a U.S. Circuit Judge on the Eighth Circuit, nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1999, confirmed unanimously in 2000, and serving until his retirement in 2016
- Private practice at Vogel Law Firm in Fargo, ND (1968–2000)
- Assistant U.S. attorney, District of North Dakota, 1966-1968
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

### Education


### Additional information

- He took office March 9, 2000, and assumed senior status on April 22, 2015, retiring September 1, 2016.
- His nomination was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and confirmed 98–0 on February 24, 2000.
- President Bill Clinton nominated Bye to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on April 22, 1999, to replace the late John David Kelly.
- Deputy securities commissioner, State of North Dakota, 1962-1964
- Born January 13, 1937 in Hatton, North Dakota, Bye obtained a B.S. in business and public administration from the University of North Dakota in 1959 and a J.D. with honors in 1962 from the University of North Dakota School of Law.
- Date of birth: 1937-01-01
- Bye also served on the U.S. Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules and as chair of the Eighth Circuit’s Court Reporter Management Committee and Rules Committee.
- He was the first UND Law graduate appointed to a U.S. Circuit Court seat.
- Bye was married for 63 years to Carol Beth Bye, with whom he had children and grandchildren.
- He was proud of his Norwegian Lutheran heritage and deep ties to Hatton, ND.
- Birth place: Hatton, ND

## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/489/kermit-edward-bye/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/489/kermit-edward-bye/)
- [Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/489/kermit-edward-bye/)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/489/kermit-edward-bye/)
- [Bye, Kermit Edward | Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/bye-kermit-edward)
- [Wikidata: Kermit Edward Bye](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6394057)

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