---
title: "Nancy Louise Moritz | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/nancy-louise-moritz"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Nancy Louise Moritz

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth 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 Tenth Circuit, 2014-present
- American federal judge serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit since July 29, 2014
- 2011–2014: Justice, Kansas Supreme Court, appointed by Governor Mark Parkinson
- 2004–2011: Judge, Kansas Court of Appeals, appointed by Governor Kathleen Sebelius
- 1999–2004: Appellate Coordinator, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Kansas City
- Assistant U.S. attorney, District of Kansas, 1995-2004
- 1987–1989: Law clerk to Judge Patrick F. Kelly, U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
- 1985–1987: Research attorney to Justice Harold S. Herd, Kansas Supreme Court

### Education

- Washburn University — J.D. (1985)
- Washburn Law School in — J.D. (1985)
- B.B.A. from Washburn University in 1982

### Additional information

- received her commission on July 29, 2014.
- In August 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Moritz to replace Deanell Reece Tacha.
- appellate coordinator, 2000-2004
- 1995–1999: Assistant U.S. Attorney, Kansas City, MO
- Private practice, Overland Park, KS, 1994-1995
- 1989–1995: Associate at Spencer, Fane, Britt and Browne, Overland Park, KS
- Private practice, Kansas City, MO, 1991-1993
- Private practice, Overland Park, KS, 1989-1990
- Born 1960 in Beloit, Kansas.
- Date of birth: 1960-01-01
- focusing on medical malpractice and employment discrimination
- The American Bar Association rated her Unanimously Qualified.
- As a Tenth Circuit judge, Moritz has authored opinions, participated in panels, and addressed a range of cases, including civil, criminal, and administrative matters.
- Notable recent activity includes dissenting in Black Emergency Response Team v.
- Drummond and authoring opinions in United States v.
- Barker.
- Moritz, formerly Nancy Caplinger, was raised in Tipton and Salina, Kansas, and graduated valedictorian from Sacred Heart High School in Salina.
- Birth place: Beloit, KS

## 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/1394481)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394481)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394481)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2312/nancy-louise-moritz/)
- [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/2312/nancy-louise-moritz/)
- [Wikidata: Nancy Moritz](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6962584)

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