---
title: "Leonard Steven Grasz | KnowJudges"
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# Leonard Steven Grasz

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: active
- 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 Eighth Circuit, 2018-present
- Served 11 years as Nebraska’s Chief Deputy Attorney General (1991–2002)
- Leonard Steven “Steve” Grasz is an American attorney and jurist serving as a United States Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- Grasz’s nomination drew criticism from the ABA and from the Alliance for Justice, which cited his opposition to women’s reproductive rights and LGBTQ equality

### Education

- University of Nebraska-Lincoln — J.D. (1989)
- University of Nebraska College of Law, Order of the Coif, Roscoe Pound Award for top oral advocate — J.D. (1989)
- in Agriculture, cum laude, University of Nebraska–Lincoln — B.S. (1984)
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Law

### Additional information

- The first Eighth Circuit nominee to receive a unanimous “not qualified” rating from the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, a rating not given since 2006.
- The Senate confirmed him on December 12, 2017, and he was commissioned on January 3, 2018.
- Nominated by President Donald Trump on August 3, 2017 to fill the seat vacated by William J. Riley, who took senior status in June 2017.
- Private practice, Omaha, NE, 2002-2017
- Private practice, Omaha, NE, 1989-1991
- Born November 1, 1961, in Chappell, Nebraska.
- Date of birth: 1961-01-01
- overseeing civil and appellate practice, state opinions, and representation of state officials.
- Carhart.
- Virginia D. Smith (Nebraska’s first woman in the U.S. House) and associate at Kutak Rock.
- He authored nine U.S. Supreme Court briefs, including in Stenberg v.
- Early roles included legislative assistant to Rep.
- Birth place: Chappell, NE

## 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/4025236)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8578/leonard-steven-grasz/)
- [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/8578/leonard-steven-grasz/)
- [Wikidata: L. Steven Grasz](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34803381)

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