John D. Bates at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- Jurisdiction
- District of Columbia · Federal
- Judicial service
- December 14, 2001–present
John D. Bates
Judge · U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Available research
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Biography
Professional career
- Director, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, 2013-present
- Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1998-2001
- Deputy independent counsel, Whitewater investigation, 1995-1997
- chief, Civil Division, 1987-1997
- Assistant U.S. attorney, District of Columbia, 1980-1997
- Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1977-1980
- Law clerk, Hon. Roszel C. Thomsen, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 1976-1977
- U.S. Army first lieutenant, 1968-1971
Judicial service
- Judge, District Court, District of Columbia, 2001-2014
Education
- Wesleyan University · B.A., 1968
- University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
- Pingry School
Personal record
Born 1946 · Elizabeth, NJ
Courtroom rules and guidance
Civil Remote Testimony
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391381CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/201/john-d-bates/Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts