Judges for the United States Court of Appeals: 8th Circuit

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  William Jay Riley Chief Judge

  Sworn In

  Fri, 08/03/2001

  Nominated By

  George W. Bush

  Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Nominated on May 23, 2001, to a seat vacated by C. Arlen Beam. Confirmed by the Senate on August 2, 2001, and received commission on August 3, 2001. Served as chief judge, 2010-present.

  Education: University of Nebraska, B.A., 1969; University of Nebraska College of Law, J.D., 1972

  Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Donald Lay, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 1972-1973; Private practice, Nebraska, 1973-2001; Adjunct professor, Creighton University College of Law, 1991-

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  Bobby E. Shepherd

  Sworn In

  Tue, 10/10/2006

  Nominated By

  George W. Bush

  ** Federal Judicial Service:** Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Nominated on May 18, 2006, to a seat vacated by Morris S. Arnold. Confirmed by the Senate on July 20, 2006, and received commission on October 10, 2006. U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas, 1993-2006

  Education: Ouachita Baptist University, B.A., 1973; University of Arkansas School of Law, J.D., 1975

  Professional Career: Private practice, Arkansas, 1976-1990; Circuit-chancery judge, Circuit Court of Arkansas, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, 1991-1993

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  Diana E. Murphy

  Sworn In

  Tue, 10/11/1994

  Nominated By

  Bill Clinton

  Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota Nominated by Jimmy Carter on November 30, 1979, to a new seat authorized by 92 Stat. 1629. Confirmed by the Senate on February 20, 1980, and received commission on February 20, 1980. Served as chief judge, 1992-1994. Service terminated on October 13, 1994, due to appointment to another judicial position. Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Nominated on July 28, 1994, to a seat vacated by John R. Gibson. Confirmed by the Senate on October 7, 1994, and received commission on October 11, 1994.

  Education: University of Minnesota, B.A., 1954; University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 1974

  Professional Career: Private practice, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1974-1976; Judge, Hennepin County [Minnesota] Municipal Court, 1976-1978; Judge, Minnesota District Court, Fourth Judicial District, 1978-1980; Chair, U.S. Sentencing Commission, 1999-2004

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  James B. Loken

  Sworn In

  Wed, 10/17/1990

  Nominated By

  George H. W. Bush

  Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Nominated on September 10, 1990, to a seat vacated by Gerald William Heaney. Confirmed by the Senate on October 12, 1990, and received commission on October 17, 1990. Served as chief judge, 2003-2010.

  Education: University of Wisconsin, B.S., 1962; Harvard Law School, LL.B., 1965

  Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. J. Edward Lumbard, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1965-1966; Law clerk, Hon. Byron White, Supreme Court of the United States, 1966-1967; Private practice, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1967-1970, 1973-1990; General counsel, President's Committee on Consumer Interests, 1970; Staff assistant, President Richard M. Nixon, 1970-1972

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  Jane Louise Kelly

  Sworn In

  Thu, 04/25/2013

  Nominated By

  Barack Obama

  Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Nominated on January 31, 2013, to a seat vacated by Michael Joseph Melloy. Confirmed by the Senate on April 24, 2013, and received commission on April 25, 2013.

  Education: Duke University, B.A., 1987; Harvard Law School, J.D., 1991

  Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Donald J. Porter, U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota, 1991-1992; Law clerk, Hon. David R. Hansen, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 1992-1993; Visiting instructor, University of Illinois College of Law, 1993-1994; Assistant federal public defender, Northern District of Iowa, 1994-2013; supervising attorney, 1999-2013

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  Kermit Edward Bye

  Sworn In

  Thu, 03/09/2000

  Nominated By

  Bill Clinton

  Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Nominated on April 22, 1999, to a seat vacated by John D. Kelly. Confirmed by the Senate on February 24, 2000, and received commission on March 9, 2000.

  Education: University of North Dakota, B.S., 1959; University of North Dakota School of Law, J.D., 1962

  Professional Career: Deputy securities commissioner, State of North Dakota, 1962-1964; Special assistant attorney general, State of North Dakota, 1964-1966; Assistant U.S. attorney, District of North Dakota, 1966-1968; Private practice, Fargo, North Dakota, 1968-2000

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  Lavenski R. Smith

  Sworn In

  Fri, 07/19/2002

  Nominated By

  George W. Bush

  Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Nominated on September 4, 2001, to a seat vacated by Richard S. Arnold. Confirmed by the Senate on July 15, 2002, and received commission on July 19, 2002.

  Education: University of Arkansas, B.A., 1981; University of Arkansas School of Law, J.D., 1987

  Professional Career: Law clerk in private practice, Arkansas, 1985-1987; Staff attorney, Ozark Legal Services, 1987-1991; Private practice, Springdale, Arkansas, 1991-1994; Assistant professor, John Brown University, 1994-1996; Regulatory liaison, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Arkansas, 1996-1997; Arkansas Public Service Commission, 1997-1999, 2001-2002; chairman, 1997-1999; commissioner, 2001-2002; Associate justice, Arkansas Supreme Court, 1999-2000

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  Raymond W. Gruender

  Sworn In

  Sat, 06/05/2004

  Nominated By

  George W. Bush

  Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Nominated on September 29, 2003, to a seat vacated by Pasco M. Bowman II. Confirmed by the Senate on May 20, 2004, and received commission on June 5, 2004.

  Education: Washington University in St. Louis, B.A., 1984; Washington University School of Law, J.D., 1987; Washington University in St. Louis, M.B.A., 1987

  Professional Career: Private practice, 1987-1990, 1994-2000; Assistant U.S. attorney, Eastern District of Missouri, 1990-1994, 2000-2001; U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, 2001-2004

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  Roger Leland Wollman

  Sworn In

  Mon, 07/22/1985

  Nominated By

  Ronald Reagan

  Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Nominated on June 25, 1985, to a new seat authorized by 98 Stat. 333. Confirmed by the Senate on July 19, 1985, and received commission on July 22, 1985. Served as chief judge, 1999-2002.

  Education: Tabor College, B.A., 1957; University of South Dakota School of Law, J.D., 1962; Harvard Law School, LL.M., 1964

  Professional Career: U.S. Army, 1957-1959; Law clerk, Hon. George T. Mickelson, U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota, 1962-1963; Private practice, Aberdeen, South Dakota, 1964-1971; State's attorney, Aberdeen, South Dakota, 1967-1971; Justice, South Dakota Supreme Court, 1971-1985; chief justice, 1978-1982

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  Steven M. Colloton

  Sworn In

  Wed, 09/10/2003

  Nominated By

  George W. Bush

  Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Nominated on February 12, 2003, to a seat vacated by David R. Hansen. Confirmed by the Senate on September 4, 2003, and received commission on September 10, 2003.

  Education: Princeton University, A.B., 1985; Yale Law School, J.D., 1988

  Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Laurence H. Silberman, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1988-1989; Law clerk, Hon. William H. Rehnquist, Supreme Court of the United States, 1989-1990; Special assistant to the assistant attorney general, Office of Legal Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice, 1990-1991; Assistant U.S. attorney, Northern District of Iowa, 1991-1999; Associate independent counsel, Whitewater investigation, 1995-1996; Private practice, Iowa, 1999-2001; Adjunct lecturer, University of Iowa College of Law, 2000 U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, 2001-2003

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  William Duane Benton

  Sworn In

  Fri, 07/02/2004

  Nominated By

  George W. Bush

  Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Nominated on February 12, 2004, to a seat vacated by Theodore McMillian. Confirmed by the Senate on June 24, 2004, and received commission on July 2, 2004.

  Education: Northwestern University, B.A., 1972; Yale Law School, J.D., 1975; Memphis State University (now University of Memphis), M.B.A., 1979; University of Virginia School of Law, LL.M., 1994

  Professional Career: U.S. Navy/Naval Reserve captain, 1972-2002; Campaign manager, Wendell Bailey for Congress, 1980; Administrative assistant, U.S. Rep. Wendell Bailey, Missouri, 1981-1982; Private practice, Jefferson City, Missouri, 1983-1989; Director of revenue, Missouri Department of Revenue, 1989-1991; 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, 1997-1999