--- title: "Leonard Philip Stark | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leonard-philip-stark" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Leonard Philip Stark U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal 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 - Judge, District Court, D. Delaware, 2010-present - U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Delaware, 2007-2010 - Assistant U.S. attorney, District of Delaware, 2002-2007 - Associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Wilmington, DE (1997–2001) - Adjunct professor, University of Delaware, 1998-1999 - Law clerk, Hon. Walter K. Stapleton, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1996-1997 - Law clerk to Hon. Walter King Stapleton, 3rd Circuit (1996–1997) - Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit - Adjunct professor at University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and George Washington University Law School ### Education - Yale University — J.D. (1996) - Yale Law School — J.D. (1996) - Magdalen College, University of Oxford — D.Phil. in Politics (Rhodes Scholar), 1993 - University of Delaware — B.A. (Political Science), B.S. (History/Economics), M.A. (History), 1991 ### Additional information - His elevation to the Federal Circuit in 2022 ended his 12-year tenure on the District of Delaware bench. - Confirmed by Senate: February 9, 2022, vote 61–35 - 17, 2022) Appointed by President Barack Obama held the role of Chief Judge from July 1, 2014, to July 1, 2021 - Private practice, Wilmington, DE, 1997-2001 - Date of birth: 1969-01-01 - Predecessor: Kathleen M. O’Malley - Birth place: Detroit, MI ## 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 ### argument check in Scope: courtwide Arguing counsel must check in with the courtroom deputy at least 30 minutes before the day's session starts. Evidence excerpt: Arguing counsel must check-in with the courtroom deputy at their assigned courtroom at least thirty minutes before the start of the day's session. [Federal Circuit: Attending Oral Arguments](https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/attending-oral-arguments/) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### same day changes Scope: courtwide Same-day changes to arguing counsel or time divisions are generally not allowed without a prior new appearance and amended response to the notice of oral argument. Evidence excerpt: Same-day changes to arguing counsel or time divisions are generally not allowed, absent prior filing of a new entry of appearance and an amended Response to Notice of Oral Argument in the case. [Federal Circuit: Attending Oral Arguments](https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/attending-oral-arguments/) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393291) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393291) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393291) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3083/leonard-philip-stark/) - [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure) - [Federal Circuit: Attending Oral Arguments](https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/attending-oral-arguments/) - [Federal Judicial Center — Biographical Directory of Federal Judges](https://www.fjc.gov/sites/default/files/history/judges.csv) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3083/leonard-philip-stark/) - [Wikidata: Leonard P. Stark](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6525608) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leonard-philip-stark", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leonard-philip-stark", "name": "Leonard Philip Stark | KnowJudges", "description": "Leonard Philip Stark, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. 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