Holly Aiyisha Thomas at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- Jurisdiction
- National federal courts · Federal
- Judicial service
- January 24, 2022–present
Holly Aiyisha Thomas
Judge · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Available research
AI abuse cases
1 caseAI-related ruling · March 22, 2024
Grant v. City of Long Beach
- Court response
- Striking of Brief + Dismissal of Appeal
Biography
Professional career
- Professional Career: Special counsel to the solicitor general, State of New York, 2015-2016
- Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Kim McLane Wardlaw, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2004-2005
- Professional Career: Assistant counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, New York City, 2005-2010; Liman Fellow, 2005-2006
- Professional Career: Deputy director of executive programs, California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, 2016-2018
- Professional Career: Senior attorney, Appellate Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 2010-2015
Judicial service
- Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, 2018-present
- Professional Career: Judge pro tem, California Court of Appeal, Second District, 2021
- Professional Career: Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, 2018-2022
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Education
- Stanford University · A.B., 2000
- Yale University · J.D., 2004
Personal record
Born 1979 · San Diego
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/11386196CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14334/holly-aiyisha-thomas/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