---
title: "Patrick Errol Higginbotham | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patrick-errol-higginbotham"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Patrick Errol Higginbotham

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

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth 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

- Adjunct professor of constitutional law, Southern Methodist University Law School, 1976-present
- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1982-2006
- Judge, District Court, N.D. Texas, 1975-1982
- U.S. Air Force judge advocate, 1961-1964
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

### Education

- University of Alabama School of Law — 1961
- University of Alabama — B.A. (1960)

### Additional information

- Oral History of Distinguished American Judges, Institute of Judicial Administration, New York University School of Law, New York City, 2024.
- Higginbotham, Hon. Patrick E. Interview conducted on April 30, 2024, by Judge Christopher G. Bradley and Thomas "T.L." Cubbage.
- Private practice, Dallas, TX, 1964-1975
- Private practice, Dallas, Texas, 1964-1975
- Date of birth: 1938-01-01
- Birth place: McCalla, AL

## 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/1382136)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382136)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382136)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1453/patrick-errol-higginbotham/)
- [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/1453/patrick-errol-higginbotham/)
- [Judge Patrick Errol Higginbotham](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382136)
- [Wikidata: Patrick Higginbotham](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7146730)

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