--- title: "Sharon Prost | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sharon-prost" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Sharon Prost U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal 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 - Judge, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 2001-present - American federal judge who held the role of a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit from 2001 until 2021, and as its Chief Judge from 2014 to 2021 - Attorney, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1983-1984 - Recognized for her work in intellectual property and labor law, her leadership as Chief Judge, and her extensive background in federal legal and policy work ### Education - George Washington University Law School — LL.M. (1984) - M.B.A. — George Washington University — 1975 - Cornell University — B.S. (1973) ### Additional information - Chief Judge: Appointed Chief Judge on May 30, 2014, succeeding Randall Rader, and served until May 22, 2021. - Nomination: President George W. Bush nominated Prost to the Federal Circuit on May 21, 2001, to replace S. Jay Plager. - Confirmation: The Senate confirmed her by a 97–0 vote on September 21, 2001. - Minority chief counsel, deputy chief counsel, and chief counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 1993-2001 - Chief labor counsel, U.S. Senate, 1989-1993 - Assistant, associate, and acting solicitor, National Labor Relations Board, 1984-1989 - Field attorney, Federal Labor Relations Authority, 1980-1983 - Specialist and auditor, General Accounting Office, 1976-1980 - Labor relations specialist, U.S. Civil Service Commission, 1973-1976 - Born May 24, 1951, Newburyport, Massachusetts. - Date of birth: 1951-01-01 - Birth place: Newburyport, MA ## 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 ### argument check in Scope: courtwide Arguing counsel must check in with the courtroom deputy at least 30 minutes before the day's session starts. Evidence excerpt: Arguing counsel must check-in with the courtroom deputy at their assigned courtroom at least thirty minutes before the start of the day's session. [Federal Circuit: Attending Oral Arguments](https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/attending-oral-arguments/) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### same day changes Scope: courtwide Same-day changes to arguing counsel or time divisions are generally not allowed without a prior new appearance and amended response to the notice of oral argument. Evidence excerpt: Same-day changes to arguing counsel or time divisions are generally not allowed, absent prior filing of a new entry of appearance and an amended Response to Notice of Oral Argument in the case. [Federal Circuit: Attending Oral Arguments](https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/attending-oral-arguments/) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391296) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391296) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391296) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2634/sharon-prost/) - [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure) - [Federal Circuit: Attending Oral Arguments](https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/attending-oral-arguments/) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2634/sharon-prost/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sharon-prost", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sharon-prost", "name": "Sharon Prost | KnowJudges", "description": "Sharon Prost, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. 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