--- title: "Michael Joseph Melloy | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-joseph-melloy" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Michael Joseph Melloy 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: senior - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, District Court, N.D. Iowa, 1992-2002 - U.S. District Judge, Northern District of Iowa (1992–2002), appointed by President George H.W. Bush; held the role of Chief Judge from 1992 to 1999 - U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, Northern District of Iowa, 1986-1992 - Practiced civil litigation, administrative law, real estate, bankruptcy, and tax law as an associate and later partner at O’Connor & Thomas in Dubuque, Iowa, from 1974 to 1986 - Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit - He interned during law school at the Jo Daviess County, Illinois, attorney’s office - In summary: Michael Joseph Melloy is a veteran federal judge with a career spanning bankruptcy, district, and appellate courts, recognized for his service in the Eighth Circuit and his leadership roles in the federal judiciary ### Education - University of Iowa College of Law in (with high distinction) — J.D. (1974) - Loras College — economics — B.A. (1970) ### Additional information - Took inactive senior status on October 4, 2024 - Board member, Federal Judicial Center, 2012-2016 - Assumed senior status on February 1, 2013 - U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (2002–2013), appointed by President George W. Bush; confirmed by the Senate 91–0 on February 11, 2002 - Private practice, Dubuque, IA, 1974-1986 - Private practice, Dubuque, Iowa, 1974-1986 - He served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972 and in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1972 to 1976, initially stationed at Fort Leonard Wood. - Date of birth: 1948-01-01 - Wahlert Catholic High School - He also served in various community and Catholic organization roles. - During his Eighth Circuit tenure, Melloy authored 33 signed orders, covering a range of cases including class action appeals and medical malpractice matters. - His rulings often focused on procedural thresholds and factual sufficiency in pleadings. - Birth place: Dubuque, IA ## 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/1384996) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384996) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384996) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2213/michael-joseph-melloy/) - [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/2213/michael-joseph-melloy/) - [Judge Michael Joseph Melloy](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384996) - [Wikidata: Michael Joseph Melloy](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6831738) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-joseph-melloy", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-joseph-melloy", "name": "Michael Joseph Melloy | KnowJudges", "description": "Michael Joseph Melloy, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. 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