---
title: "Terrence L. O'Brien | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/terrence-l-o-brien"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Terrence L. O'Brien

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

## Profile

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

- It is important to note that Terrence L. O'Brien of the Tenth Circuit is distinct from W. Terrence O’Brien, an administrative judge in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, who has served on the Court of Common Pleas since 1987
- He held the role of a District Judge for the Sixth Judicial District Court of Wyoming from 1980 to 2000
- Began his legal career as a staff attorney in the Land & Natural Resources Division/Appellate Section of the U.S. Department of Justice from 1972 to 1974

### Education

- University of Wyoming Law School in — J.D. (1972)
- University of Wyoming in — B.S. (1965)
- University of Wyoming College of Law

### Additional information

- O'Brien assumed senior status on April 30, 2013, and was succeeded by Judge Gregory Alan Phillips.
- The Senate confirmed him by a 98–0 vote on April 15, 2002, and he received his commission on April 16, 2002.
- Private practice, Wyoming, 2001-2002
- President George W. Bush nominated O'Brien to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit on September 4, 2001, to fill the seat vacated by Wade Brorby.
- President, Visionary Communications, Inc., 2000-2001
- He then practiced privately in Wyoming from 1974 to 1980.
- U.S. Army, Ordnance Corps, 1966-1969
- Between 1966 and 1969, he served in the United States Army, Ordnance Corps.
- Terrence Leo O'Brien was born on August 8, 1943, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
- Date of birth: 1943-01-01
- After a brief period in private practice and as President of Visionary Communications, Inc., he was nominated to the federal bench.
- Birth place: Lincoln, NE

## 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/1391521)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391521)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391521)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2442/terrence-l-obrien/)
- [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/2442/terrence-l-obrien/)
- [Wikidata: Terrence L. O'Brien](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7703480)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/terrence-l-o-brien",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/terrence-l-o-brien",
      "name": "Terrence L. O'Brien | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Terrence L. O'Brien, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-09",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/terrence-l-o-brien#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/terrence-l-o-brien#judge",
      "name": "Terrence L. O'Brien",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/terrence-l-o-brien",
      "jobTitle": "U.S. Circuit Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391521",
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2442/terrence-l-obrien/"
      ],
      "birthDate": "1943",
      "birthPlace": "Lincoln, NE",
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Wyoming"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Wyoming College of Law"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "National federal courts",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/national-federal-courts"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Terrence L. O'Brien",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/terrence-l-o-brien"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```