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title: "William Holcombe Pryor Jr. | KnowJudges"
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# William Holcombe Pryor Jr.

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

## Profile

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

- Visiting Professor: University of Alabama School of Law (2006–present)
- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 2005-present
- Attorney General of Alabama (1997–2004) — youngest state attorney general in the U.S. at the time
- Deputy attorney general, State of Alabama, 1995-1997
- Adjunct professor, Samford University, Cumberland School of Law, 1989-1995
- Private Practice: Birmingham, AL — Cabaniss, Johnston, Gardner, Dumas & O’Neal (1988–1991) and Walston, Stabler, Wells, Anderson & Bains (1991–1995)
- Law clerk, Hon. John Minor Wisdom, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1987-1988
- Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

### Education

- Tulane University of Louisiana — J.D. (1987)
- magna cum laude — Tulane University School of Law — J.D. (1987)
- B.A., magna cum laude — Northeast Louisiana University (now University of Louisiana at Monroe), 1984

### Additional information

- Commissioner, U.S. Sentencing Commission, 2013-present
- Acting Chair 2017–2018)
- Confirmed: June 9, 2005, by the U.S. Senate (53–45 vote)
- Private practice, Alabama, 1988-1995
- Date of birth: 1962-01-01
- McGill-Toolen Catholic High School
- Birth place: Mobile, AL

## 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/1392086)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392086)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392086)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2636/william-holcombe-pryor-jr/)
- [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/2636/william-holcombe-pryor-jr/)
- [Wikidata: William H. Pryor, Jr.](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8010558)

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