--- title: "William Curtis Bryson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-curtis-bryson" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # William Curtis Bryson 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: senior - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: Judge (1994–2013), Senior Judge (2013–present) - Deputy associate attorney general (acting associate attorney general), U.S. Department of Justice, 1994-present - Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review: Judge (2011–2018), Presiding Judge (2013–2018) - Deputy solicitor general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1986-1994 - Special counsel, Organized Crime and Racketeering Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1982-1986 - Chief, Appellate Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1979-1982 - Assistant to the solicitor general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1978-1979 - Law clerk, Hon. Thurgood Marshall, Supreme Court of the United States, 1974-1975 - Law clerk, Hon. Henry J. Friendly, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1973-1974 - Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit - He also clerked for Judge Henry J. Friendly (2nd Circuit) and Justice Thurgood Marshall (Supreme Court) ### Education - University of Texas School of Law — J.D. (1973) - Harvard University — B.A. (1969) - Harvard College ### Additional information - Federal Circuit since September 29, 1994, appointed by President Bill Clinton and confirmed by the Senate. - He assumed senior status on January 7, 2013, while continuing to hear cases and sit by designation on district courts in Texas and Delaware. - Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1975-1978 - Date of birth: 1945-01-01 - St. John's School - Birth place: Houston, TX ## 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/1378491) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1378491) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1378491) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/447/william-curtis-bryson/) - [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/447/william-curtis-bryson/) - [Wikidata: William Curtis Bryson](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8007398) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-curtis-bryson", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-curtis-bryson", "name": "William Curtis Bryson | KnowJudges", "description": "William Curtis Bryson, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. 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