--- title: "Michael Brian Brennan | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-brian-brennan" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Michael Brian Brennan U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh 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 Seventh Circuit, 2018-present - Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (since May 11, 2018) - Partner, Gass Weber Mullins LLC, Milwaukee (2009–2018) - Judge, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Milwaukee County, 2000-2008 - Judge, Milwaukee County Circuit Court (2000–2008), presiding over nearly 300 trials and thousands of motions - Assistant district attorney, Milwaukee County, WI, 1997-1999 - Law clerk to Judge Daniel A. Manion, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (1995–1997) - Litigation associate, Foley & Lardner LLP, Milwaukee (1991–1995) - Law clerk to Chief Judge Robert W. Warren, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (1989–1991) - Law Clerk, District Court, E.D. Wisconsin, 1989-1991 - Trial Judge, Municipal Court of California, County of San Diego, 1979-1985 - Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit - In summary, Michael Brian Brennan is a seasoned federal judge with a background in public service, private practice, and judicial leadership, now serving as the Seventh Circuit’s Chief Judge ### Education - Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law) — J.D. (1989) - in Government and Philosophy, University of Notre Dame — B.A. (1986) - held the role of coordinating editor of the Northwestern University Law Review and won the Julius H. Miner Moot Court Competition. ### Additional information - member, 2000-present - Appointed by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the Senate on May 10, 2018 (vote 49–46). - Private practice, Milwaukee, WI, 2008-2018 - Chair, Governor Scott Walker’s Judicial Selection Advisory Committee (2011–2017). - Wisconsin Governor's Task Force to Enhance Probation, 1999-2000 - staff counsel, 1999-2000 - Staff counsel, Wisconsin Criminal Penalties Committee, 1998-1999 - Private practice, Milwaukee, WI, 1991-1995 - Date of birth: 1963-01-01 - handling commercial litigation and appeals - Birth place: Milwaukee, WI ## 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/4602991) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4602991) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4602991) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8553/michael-brian-brennan/) - [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/8553/michael-brian-brennan/) - [Wikidata: Michael Brian Brennan](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34802354) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-brian-brennan", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-brian-brennan", "name": "Michael Brian Brennan | KnowJudges", "description": "Michael Brian Brennan, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. 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