Bridget Shelton Bade at a glance
- Current role
- U.S. Circuit Judge
- Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- Jurisdiction
- National federal courts · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Bridget Shelton Bade
U.S. Circuit Judge · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Available research
Biography
Professional career
- Practiced civil litigation in Phoenix at Beshears Wallwork Bellamy (1995–1996) and as special counsel at Steptoe & Johnson (1996–1997).
- held a position as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona (2006–2012).
- Assistant U.S. attorney, District of Arizona, 2006-2012
- Private practice, Phoenix, AZ, 1995-2006
- Trial attorney, Environmental Torts Litigation Section, U.S. Department of Justice, 1991-1995
Judicial service
- Law Clerk, Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1990-1991
- Magistrate, District Court, D. Arizona, 2012-2019
- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2019-present
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- Bridget Shelton Bade (née Shelton; born 1965 in Phoenix, Arizona) is an American judge serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit since April 1, 2019.
- U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona (2012–2019).
- Confirmed by the Senate on March 26, 2019, by a 78–21 vote, and received her judicial commission on April 1, 2019.
- Nominated by President Donald J. Trump on August 27, 2018, to replace Barry G. Silverman, who took senior status in 2016.
- held the role of a trial attorney in the Environmental Torts Section of the U.S. Department of Justice (1991–1995).
- As a Ninth Circuit judge, Bade has authored and participated in numerous appellate decisions, covering areas such as labor law, environmental law, and civil rights. Her record shows a high affirmation rate in reviewed cases.
Education
- Arizona State University-Tempe · B.A., 1987
- Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
- McClintock High School
Personal record
Born 1965 · Phoenix, AZ
Courtroom rules and guidance
Appellate Oral Argument
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.
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 unnecessaryFederal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/6202901CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8538/bridget-shelton-bade/Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure