---
title: "Susan Harrell Black | KnowJudges"
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# Susan Harrell Black

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

## Profile

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

- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 1992-2011
- Judge, District Court, M.D. Florida, 1979-1992
- Judge, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida (1979–1992), appointed by President Jimmy Carter; held the role of Chief Judge (1990–1992)
- Judge, Circuit Court of Florida, Fourth Judicial Circuit, 1975-1979
- Judge, Duval County [Florida] Court, 1973-1975
- Attorney, U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, FL, 1968-1969
- Attorney, U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Florida, 1968-1969
- High school teacher, Jacksonville, FL, 1967-1968
- High school teacher, Jacksonville, Florida, 1967-1968
- Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- First female federal court judge in Florida

### Education

- University of Virginia School of Law — LL.M. (1984)
- University of Florida College of Law (now Fredric G. Levin College of Law) — J.D. (1967)
- Florida State University — B.A. (1964)

### Additional information

- Board member, Federal Judicial Center, 2008-2012
- Senior status: Assumed February 25, 2011
- Assistant general counsel, Jacksonville, FL, 1972-1973
- Assistant general counsel, Jacksonville, Florida, 1972-1973
- Assistant state's attorney, Jacksonville, FL, 1969-1972
- Assistant state's attorney, Jacksonville, Florida, 1969-1972
- Date of birth: 1943-01-01
- Birth place: Valdosta, GA

## 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/1377886)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377886)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377886)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/291/susan-harrell-black/)
- [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/291/susan-harrell-black/)
- [Judge Susan Harrell Black](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1377886)
- [Wikidata: Susan H. Black](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7647906)

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