---
title: "Ransey Guy Cole Jr. | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ransey-guy-cole-jr"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Ransey Guy Cole Jr.

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

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth 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, Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1995-present
- In summary: Ransey Guy Cole Jr. is a distinguished federal judge with a career spanning private law practice, DOJ service, bankruptcy court, and nearly three decades on the Sixth Circuit, culminating in senior status in 2023
- held the role of Judge on the Sixth Circuit from 1995 until senior status in 2023
- Chief Judge of the Sixth Circuit from August 15, 2014, to May 1, 2021
- Adjunct professor, Ohio State University College of Law (2010–)
- Private practice at Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease in Columbus, Ohio (1975–1978, 1980–1986, 1993–1995) — becoming the firm’s first African-American partner in 1983
- U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, Southern District of Ohio, 1987-1993
- Trial attorney, Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, U.S. Department of Justice, 1978-1980
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

### Education

- Yale University — J.D. (1975)
- Yale Law School — J.D. (1975)
- Tufts University — B.A. (1972)

### Additional information

- Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy (2022)
- Board member, Federal Judicial Center (2022–)
- Professionalism Award (American Inns of Court Foundation, 2021)
- Member, Judicial Conference of the United States (2014–2021)
- Nominated by President Bill Clinton on June 29, 1995, to replace Nathaniel R. Jones
- Confirmed by the Senate on December 22, 1995, by voice vote; commissioned December 26, 1995
- Private practice, Columbus, OH, 1993-1995
- Private practice, Columbus, OH, 1980-1986
- Private practice, Columbus, OH, 1975-1978
- Date of birth: 1951-01-01
- Cole is now a Senior Judge on the Sixth Circuit, no longer actively participating in case disposition but retaining judicial status.
- His successor as active judge is Rachel Bloomekatz.
- Birth place: Birmingham, 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/1379321)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379321)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379321)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/672/ransey-guy-cole-jr/)
- [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/672/ransey-guy-cole-jr/)
- [Wikidata: R. Guy Cole, Jr.](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7273659)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ransey-guy-cole-jr",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ransey-guy-cole-jr",
      "name": "Ransey Guy Cole Jr. | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Ransey Guy Cole Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-09",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ransey-guy-cole-jr#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ransey-guy-cole-jr#judge",
      "name": "Ransey Guy Cole Jr.",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ransey-guy-cole-jr",
      "jobTitle": "U.S. Circuit Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379321",
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/672/ransey-guy-cole-jr/"
      ],
      "birthDate": "1951",
      "birthPlace": "Birmingham, AL",
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Tufts University"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Yale University"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@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": "Ransey Guy Cole Jr.",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ransey-guy-cole-jr"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```