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title: "Richard Fred Suhrheinrich | KnowJudges"
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# Richard Fred Suhrheinrich

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

- Assistant prosecutor, Macomb County, MI, 1967-present
- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1990-2001
- Judge, District Court, E.D. Michigan, 1984-1990
- Associate professor of law, Detroit College of Law, 1975-1985
- held the role of assistant prosecutor for Macomb County, Michigan (1967)
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- In summary: Richard Fred Suhrheinrich is a veteran federal judge with a career spanning district court, appellate court, academic service, and private practice, recognized for his judicial contributions and legal scholarship

### Education

- University of Virginia School of Law — LL.M. (1990)
- Wayne State University — B.S. (1960)
- Michigan State University College of Law

### Additional information

- Retired in 2025.
- Assumed senior status on August 15, 2001.
- Served until July 13, 1990, when elevated to the Court of Appeals.
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Nominated by President George H. W. Bush on April 18, 1990, to replace Albert J. Engel Jr. Confirmed by the Senate on June 28, 1990, and commissioned July 10, 1990.
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Nominated by President Ronald Reagan on September 6, 1984, to replace R. James Harvey.
- Confirmed by the Senate on October 3, 1984, and commissioned October 4, 1984.
- Private practice, Michigan, 1963-1984
- Date of birth: 1936-01-01

## 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/1388431)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1388431)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1388431)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3131/richard-fred-suhrheinrich/)
- [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/3131/richard-fred-suhrheinrich/)
- [Wikidata: Richard Fred Suhrheinrich](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7325778)

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