---
title: "Kevin Gafford Ritz | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-gafford-ritz"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Kevin Gafford Ritz

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

## Profile

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

- American judge serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit since September 19, 2024
- In summary: Kevin Gafford Ritz is a former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee now serving as a federal appellate judge on the Sixth Circuit, appointed in 2024 after a close Senate confirmation vote.
- U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, 2022-2024
- Assistant U.S. attorney, Western District of Tennessee, 2005-2022; criminal appellate chief, 2010-2018; special counsel to the U.S. attorney, 2011-2022; appellate chief, 2018-2022
- Adjunct professor, University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, 2008-2016
- Law clerk, Hon. Julia S. Gibbons, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2004-2005
- Law clerk to Judge Julia Smith Gibbons (6th Cir.) (2004–2005)
- As a circuit judge, Ritz sits on the Sixth Circuit, one of the 13 U.S. Courts of Appeals, hearing appeals from federal district courts in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, and parts of Illinois and Wisconsin

### Education

- University of Virginia School of Law — J.D. (2004)
- Georgetown University School of Foreign Service — M.S. (1999)
- in, University of Virginia (Jefferson Scholar) — B.A. (1997)

### Additional information

- Nominated by President Joe Biden on March 21, 2024, to replace Judge Julia Smith Gibbons, who was taking senior status.
- He received his judicial commission on September 19, 2024.
- The U.S. Senate confirmed him on September 16, 2024, by a 48–46 vote.
- Served in various appellate and prosecutorial roles, including criminal appellate chief (2010–2018)
- Born 1974.
- Jonathan Skrmetti and United States v.
- William Boylston.
- His recent docket includes cases such as NetChoice, LLC v.

## 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/13761862)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761862)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761862)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [Ritz, Kevin Gafford](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761862)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-gafford-ritz",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-gafford-ritz",
      "name": "Kevin Gafford Ritz | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Kevin Gafford Ritz, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-07",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-gafford-ritz#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-gafford-ritz#judge",
      "name": "Kevin Gafford Ritz",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-gafford-ritz",
      "jobTitle": "U.S. Circuit Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761862"
      ],
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Virginia"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Georgetown University School of Foreign Service"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Virginia School of Law"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "National federal courts",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/national-federal-courts"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Kevin Gafford Ritz",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-gafford-ritz"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```