Don R. Willett at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Jurisdiction
- National federal courts · Federal
- Judicial service
- January 2, 2018–present
Don R. Willett
Judge · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Available research
Biography
Professional career
- Justice, Supreme Court of Texas, 2005-2017
- Deputy attorney general for legal counsel, State of Texas, 2003-2005
- Deputy assistant attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice, 2002-2003
- Special assistant to President George W. Bush, 2001-2002
- Domestic policy and special projects advisor, George W. Bush presidential campaign and transition team, 2000-2001
- Director of research and special projects, Office of Gov. George W. Bush, TX, 1996-2000
- Private practice, Austin, TX, 1993-1996
Judicial service
- Law Clerk, Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1992-1993
- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2018-present
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Education
- Baylor University · B.B.A., 1988
- Duke University · J.D., 1992
- Forney High School
Personal record
Born 1966 · Dallas, TX
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/4025356CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8649/don-r-willett/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