--- title: "Tiffany Patrice Cunningham | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tiffany-patrice-cunningham" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Tiffany Patrice Cunningham 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 - Also mentioned in January 2022 as a potential Supreme Court nominee following Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement announcement - U.S. circuit judge on the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, appointed by President Joe Biden in 2021 and confirmed by the Senate, making her the first African American judge to serve on that court - 2007–2014: Partner at Kirkland & Ellis - 2002–2007: Associate at Kirkland & Ellis (Chicago), promoted to partner in 2007 - Law clerk, Hon. Timothy B. Dyk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 2001-2002 - The first African American judge to sit on the Federal Circuit - Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ### Education - Harvard Law School in — J.D. (2001) - Massachusetts Institute of Technology — 1998 ### Additional information - On March 30, 2021, President Biden nominated Cunningham to replace Judge Evan Wallach, who took senior status on May 31, 2021. - April 19, 2021: Nomination sent to the Senate. - June 17, 2021: Senate Judiciary Committee reported favorably (16–6). - July 15, 2021: Senate invoked cloture (63–34). - July 19, 2021: Confirmed by the Senate (63–33). - August 6, 2021: Judicial commission issued. - September 1, 2021: Sworn in. - 2014–2021: Partner at Perkins Coie in Chicago, specializing in patent litigation and serving on the firm’s executive committee. - Private practice, Chicago, Illinois, 2002-2021 - Date of birth: 1976 - Also a registered patent attorney before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. - Birth place: Detroit ## 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/10376611) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10376611) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10376611) - [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/) - [Judge Tiffany Patrice Cunningham](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10376611) - [Wikidata: Tiffany P. Cunningham](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106287245) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tiffany-patrice-cunningham", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tiffany-patrice-cunningham", "name": "Tiffany Patrice Cunningham | KnowJudges", "description": "Tiffany Patrice Cunningham, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. 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