---
title: "Kermit Victor Lipez | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kermit-victor-lipez"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Kermit Victor Lipez

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

## Profile

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

- Judge, Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 1998-2011
- Justice, Maine Supreme Judicial Court, 1994-1998
- Justice, Maine Superior Court, 1985-1994
- Staff attorney, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice Honors Program, 1967-1968
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

### Education

- University of Virginia School of Law — LL.M. (1990)
- Yale University — LL.B. (1967)
- Yale Law School — J.D. (1967)
- Haverford College — B.A. (1963)
- Yale University — J.D.

### Additional information

- In August 2017, he dissented in an en banc decision rejecting a lawsuit seeking to grant Puerto Ricans the right to vote.
- First Circuit until December 31, 2011, when he assumed senior status.
- Judge, 1999-1999
- Nominated by President Bill Clinton on October 20, 1997 to a seat vacated by Judge Conrad K. Cyr, confirmed by the Senate on April 2, 1998, and commissioned on April 7, 1998.
- Practitioner, 1993-1993
- Private practice, Portland, ME, 1973-1985
- 1973–1985: Private practice in Portland, Maine
- Edmund S. Muskie, ME, 1971-1972
- 1971–1972: Legislative aide to U.S. Senator Edmund S. Muskie
- Kenneth M. Curtis, ME, 1968-1971
- 1968–1971: Special assistant and legal counsel to Maine Governor Kenneth M. Curtis
- Date of birth: 1941-01-01
- Legislative aide, U.S. Sen.
- Special assistant and legal counsel, Gov.
- While on the First Circuit, Lipez authored and participated in numerous opinions, including cases on civil rights, environmental law, and federal statutory interpretation.
- Birth place: Philadelphia, PA

## 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/1390656)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390656)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390656)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1944/kermit-victor-lipez/)
- [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/1944/kermit-victor-lipez/)
- [Wikidata: Kermit Lipez](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6394068)

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