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title: "Thomas Lee Kirsch II | KnowJudges"
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# Thomas Lee Kirsch II

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

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh 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 attorney and jurist who has held the role of a United States circuit judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit since December 17, 2020
- On November 16, 2020, Trump nominated Kirsch to the Seventh Circuit seat vacated by Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who was elevated to the U.S. Supreme Court
- On October 10, 2017, President Donald Trump appointed him U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, a role he held until his judicial appointment in December 2020
- He then worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana from 2001 to 2008, prosecuting cases involving mail and wire fraud, tax fraud, bank fraud, health care fraud, racketeering, and other offenses
- From 2006 to 2007, he was Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Policy
- Counsel to the assistant attorney general, Office of Legal Policy, U.S. Department of Justice (on detail), 2006-2007
- After law school, he held the role of a law clerk to Judge John D. Tinder of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana (2000–2001).

### Education

- Indiana University (BA, 1996), Harvard Law School (JD, 1999)
- Indiana University — economics and political science with highest distinction — B.A. (1996)

### Additional information

- The Senate confirmed him on December 15, 2020, and he was commissioned on December 17, 2020.
- Appointed by: Donald J. Trump; confirmed by Senate December 15, 2020
- Private practice, Chicago, Illinois, 1999-2000, 2008-2017
- Born January 25, 1974, in Hammond, Indiana.
- Date of birth: 1974-01-25
- In this capacity, he oversaw federal prosecutions in the district, including high-profile cases.
- Birth place: Hammond

## 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/9353346)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9353346)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9353346)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [Judge Thomas Lee Kirsch II](https://www.fjc.gov/node/9353346)
- [Wikidata: Thomas Kirsch](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q41593180)

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