---
title: "Patricia Ann Millett | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patricia-ann-millett"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Patricia Ann Millett

U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia 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, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 2013-present
- American lawyer and jurist serving as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since December 10, 2013
- 2007–2013: Partner leading the Supreme Court and appellate practices at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
- Assistant to the solicitor general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1996-2007
- 1996–2007: Assistant to the U.S. Solicitor General, arguing 25 U.S. Supreme Court cases and briefing over 50 others, including Tennessee v.
- Attorney, Civil Division, Appellate Section, U.S. Department of Justice, 1992-1996
- 1990–1992: Law clerk to Judge Thomas Tang, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- 1988–1990: Private litigation practice at Miller & Chevalier in Washington, D.C
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

### Education

- Harvard University — J.D. (1988)
- J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1988

### Additional information

- President Barack Obama nominated Millett to the D.C. Circuit in June 2013 to replace John G. Roberts Jr., who had moved to the Supreme Court.
- Her nomination was initially blocked by a filibuster, but after the Senate’s “nuclear option” change, she was confirmed on December 10, 2013, with a 56–38 vote.
- Private practice, Washington, D.C., 2007-2013
- Millett was born in September 1963 in Dexter, Maine, and grew up in Marine, Illinois.
- Date of birth: 1963-01-01
- Lane and Nevada Dept. of Human Resources v.
- Hibbs
- At the time of her nomination, Millett had argued 32 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, a record for a female lawyer.
- Birth place: Dexter, ME

## 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/1394311)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394311)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394311)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2263/patricia-ann-millett/)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [Federal Judicial Center: D.C. Circuit judicial service](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394311)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2263/patricia-ann-millett/)
- [Wikidata: Patricia Millett](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7145747)

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