--- title: "Richard D. Bennett | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-d-bennett" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Richard D. Bennett U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland · Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland - State: Maryland - Role: Judge - Service status: senior - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Senior Judge, District Court, D. Maryland, MD, 2021-present - Richard W. Bennett – Magistrate Judge, Southern District of Texas, appointed 2024, with prior federal prosecutorial and ICE experience This distinction clarifies that multiple judges named Richard Bennett exist, with separate jurisdictions, appointments, and career histories - Article III Federal Judge, District Court, D. Maryland, MD, 2003-2021 - Richard D. Bennett – Senior Judge, District of Maryland, appointed 2003, senior status 2021, extensive federal and private practice experience, military service, and awards - Partner, Miles and Stockbridge, P.C., MD, 1993-2003 - U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland, MD, 1991-1993 - Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland, MD, 1976-1980 ### Education - University of Maryland-Baltimore — J.D. (1973) - University of Pennsylvania — B.A. (1969) ### Additional information - Chairman, Maryland Republican Party, MD, 1998-2000 - Special Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives, 1997-1998 - Guardsman, later Major, Maryland National Guard, MD, 1983-1997 - Partner, Weaver, Bendos, and Bennett, 1989-1991 - Partner, Marr and Bennett, MD, 1981-1991 - Practitioner, Smith, Somerville, and Case, MD, 1973-1976 - U.S. Army Reserve, 1969-1975 - Reservist, United States Army Reserve, 1969-1975 - Date of birth: 1947-08-12 - Birth place: Baltimore, MD ## 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 ### courtroom technology Scope: courtwide Courtwide presentation-related guidance applies to this judge. Evidence excerpt: Jury Evidence Recording System (JERS) . The District has two Jury Evidence Recording System (JERS) equipment in each division. JERS allows for jurors to view exhibits electronically in the jury deliberation room. [Courthouse/Courtroom Technology | District of Maryland | United States District Court](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/courthousecourtroom-technology) Source checked: 2026-07-24 ### civil remote testimony Scope: courtwide In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards. Evidence excerpt: For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location. [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### criminal recording and broadcasting Scope: courtwide Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception. Evidence excerpt: Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom. [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391816) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391816) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391816) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/253/richard-d-bennett/) - [Courthouse/Courtroom Technology | District of Maryland | United States District Court](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/courthousecourtroom-technology) - [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) - [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/253/richard-d-bennett/) - [Wikidata: Richard D. Bennett](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7325031) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-d-bennett", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-d-bennett", "name": "Richard D. Bennett | KnowJudges", "description": "Richard D. Bennett, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. 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/richard-d-bennett#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-d-bennett#judge", "name": "Richard D. 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Bennett", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-d-bennett" } ] } ] } ``` ## Federal civil docket activity Dataset updated through 2026-06-30. | Period | Assigned cases | Terminated cases | Median disposition (months) | Median sample | | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | | 1y | 66 | 4 | Not available | 4 | | 2y | 217 | 68 | 4.6 | 68 | | 5y | 696 | 504 | 5.1 | 504 | | 10y | 2097 | 1895 | 5.6 | 1895 | Source: https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/ ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-651872d6e45e0d82319ecccc) — Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.