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title: "William Duane Benton | KnowJudges"
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# William Duane Benton

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

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth 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 Eighth Circuit, 2004-present
- Benton held the role of an active judge on the Eighth Circuit from July 2, 2004 until his retirement to senior status in 2026
- Adjunct professor, Westminster College, 1998-2004
- Adjunct professor, University of Missouri School of Law, 1998-2004
- Judge, Supreme Court of Missouri, 1991-2004
- Chief Justice, Missouri Supreme Court (1997–1999)
- Director of revenue, Missouri Department of Revenue, 1989-1991
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- Naval Justice School

### Education

- Yale University — J.D. (1975)
- Northwestern University — B.A. (1972)
- University of Virginia School of Law

### Additional information

- Campaign manager, Wendell Bailey for Congress, 1980-present
- In 2018, Benton ruled that Missouri’s requirement for a state license to braid hair did not violate the U.S. Constitution.
- Practitioner, 2005-2005
- He was nominated by President George W. Bush on February 12, 2004, confirmed by the Senate by voice vote on June 24, 2004, and commissioned the same day.
- U.S. Navy/Naval Reserve captain, 1972-2002
- Practitioner, 1990-1990
- prof, 1990-1990
- Private practice, Jefferson City, MO, 1983-1989
- Wendell Bailey, MO, 1981-1982
- Date of birth: 1950-01-01
- Administrative assistant, U.S. Rep.
- Danforth Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
- Birth place: Springfield, MO

## 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/1392186)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392186)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392186)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/257/william-duane-benton/)
- [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/257/william-duane-benton/)
- [Wikidata: William Duane Benton](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16144666)

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