---
title: "Richard Allen Griffin | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-allen-griffin"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Richard Allen Griffin

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: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-25

## Summary

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

## Biography

### Professional career

- 2005–Present: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals, 1989-2005
- Federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

### Education

- B.A., Western Michigan University (1973) J.D., University of Michigan Law School (1977)

### Additional information

- Renominated in 2005, confirmed unanimously, and succeeded Judge Damon J. Keith.
- He was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate with a 95–0 vote on June 9, 2005, receiving his commission the following day.
- First nominated to the Sixth Circuit in 2002, but the nomination stalled.
- Private practice, Traverse City, MI, 1977-1988
- Born 1952 in Traverse City, Michigan.
- Date of birth: 1952-01-01
- Birth place: Traverse City, MI

## 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/1392281)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392281)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392281)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1287/richard-allen-griffin/)
- [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/1287/richard-allen-griffin/)
- [Wikidata: Richard Allen Griffin](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7323686)

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