---
title: "Ralph R. Erickson | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ralph-r-erickson"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Ralph R. Erickson

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: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, District Court, D. North Dakota, 2003-present
- Judge, Traill, Steele, Nelson, and Griggs Counties North Dakota Court, 1994-present
- Judge, North Dakota District Court, East Central Judicial District, 1995-2003
- State District Judge, East Central Judicial District (1995–2003)
- County Judge for Traill, Steele, Nelson & Griggs Counties (1994)
- Magistrate judge, Cass County North Dakota Court, 1993-1994
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- Senior Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

### Education

- University of North Dakota School of Law — J.D. (1984)
- Jamestown College — B.A. (1980)
- University of Jamestown — B.A.

### Additional information

- Private practice, West Fargo, ND, 1984-1994
- Born April 28, 1959, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.
- Date of birth: 1959-01-01
- Ralph Robert Erickson is an American federal judge with a long career in both state and federal courts.
- Birth place: Thief River Falls, MN

## 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/1391751)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391751)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391751)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1003/ralph-r-erickson/)
- [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/1003/ralph-r-erickson/)
- [Wikidata: Ralph R. Erickson](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7287986)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ralph-r-erickson",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ralph-r-erickson",
      "name": "Ralph R. Erickson | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Ralph R. Erickson, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-07",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ralph-r-erickson#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ralph-r-erickson#judge",
      "name": "Ralph R. Erickson",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ralph-r-erickson",
      "jobTitle": "U.S. Circuit Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391751",
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1003/ralph-r-erickson/"
      ],
      "birthDate": "1959",
      "birthPlace": "Thief River Falls, MN",
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of North Dakota School of Law"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Jamestown"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "National federal courts",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/national-federal-courts"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Ralph R. Erickson",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ralph-r-erickson"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```