---
title: "Seth Robert Aframe | KnowJudges"
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page_type: "judge_profile"
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---

# Seth Robert Aframe

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

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the First 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

- American lawyer and judge who has held the role of a United States circuit judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit since May 23, 2024
- 2007–2024: Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire Civil Division Chief (2010–2010) Appellate Chief (2010–2024) Chief, Criminal Division (2023–2024)
- 2018: Elections and Civil Rights Coordinator, U.S. Attorney’s Office
- Law clerk, Hon. Jeffrey R. Howard, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 2003-2007
- Law clerk, Hon. Judith A. Cowin, Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, 1999-2000

### Education

- magna cum laude — Georgetown University Law Center — J.D. (1999)
- summa cum laude — Tufts University — B.A. (1996)

### Additional information

- Commission issued: May 23, 2024
- Senate confirmation: May 20, 2024, by a 49–40 vote
- Criminal Division, 2010-2024; appellate chief, 2010-2024; deputy chief, Criminal Division, 2022-2023; chief, Criminal Division, 2023-2024
- Nominated: October 4, 2023, by President Joe Biden for the seat vacated by Judge Jeffrey R. Howard
- Smith (2019), where he handled pretrial motions, trial, and sentencing in a child exploitation case.
- Instructor of legal research and writing, Boston University School of Law, 2006-2007
- Private practice, Boston, Massachusetts, 2000-2003
- 2000–2003: Associate at Choate, Hall & Stewart, Boston, MA
- Born 1974 in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Aframe’s legal work has included high-profile criminal cases, such as United States v.
- Current role: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, based in Boston, MA.
- He has also taught First Amendment law at the University of New Hampshire and legal writing at Boston University.

## 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/13761681)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761681)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761681)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [Aframe, Seth Robert](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761681)

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