---
title: "Lara Elizabeth Montecalvo | KnowJudges"
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updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Lara Elizabeth Montecalvo

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: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Lara Elizabeth Montecalvo (née Ewens; born 1974 in Syracuse, New York) is an American judge serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit since September 20, 2022
- On May 19, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Montecalvo to the First Circuit, replacing Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson
- Rhode Island Public Defender's Office, 2004-2022
- 2004–2020: Assistant public defender in the Rhode Island Public Defender’s Office, serving as trial attorney (2004–2010), appellate attorney (2010–2014), and Chief of the Appellate Division (2014–2020)
- Supervising attorney, Newport County, 2007-2009
- 2000–2004: Trial attorney, U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division, litigating civil tax cases in federal courts
- Notable as the sixth public defender nominated by Biden to a federal circuit court, giving him the record for such appointments

### Education

- B.A. — Swarthmore College and her J.D., magna cum laude, from Boston College Law School in 2000 (1996)

### Additional information

- Senate Judiciary Committee hearing: May 25, 2022.
- Senate cloture: June 13, 2022 (51–45).
- Commission: September 20, 2022.
- Committee report: June 16, 2022 (12–10 vote).
- Confirmation: September 14, 2022, by a 52–47 vote.
- 2020–2022: Public Defender of Rhode Island, nominated by Governor Gina Raimondo.
- Date of birth: 1974
- Birth place: Syracuse

## 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/12588656)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12588656)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12588656)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [Judge Lara Elizabeth Montecalvo](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12588656)
- [Wikidata: Lara Montecalvo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111738947)

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