Rachel Sarah Bloomekatz at a glance
- Current role
- U.S. Circuit Judge
- Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- Jurisdiction
- National federal courts · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Rachel Sarah Bloomekatz
U.S. Circuit Judge · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Available research
Biography
Professional career
- Adjunct professor at Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
- Law clerk to Judge Guido Calabresi, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2008–2009)
- Law clerk to Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (2009–2010)
- Assistant Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (2010–2011)
- Legal director for Sen. Sherrod Brown’s 2012 reelection campaign
- Law clerk to Justice Stephen G. Breyer, U.S. Supreme Court (2011–2012)
- Associate at Jones Day (2013–2015) and principal at Gupta Wessler PLLC (2016–2019)
- Solo practitioner at Bloomekatz Law LLC in Columbus, Ohio (2019–2023)
- Professional Career: Visiting professor, Universidad Católica del Uruguay, 2019
- Professional Career: Legal director, Campaign to Reelect Sen.
- Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Stephen G. Breyer, Supreme Court of the United States, 2011-2012
- Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Guido Calabresi, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 2008-2009
- Professional Career: Private practice, Columbus, Ohio, 2013-2015, 2019-2023
- Professional Career: Adjunct professor, Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, 2015, 2020, 2022
- Professional Career: Assistant attorney general, Government Bureau, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2010-2011
- Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Margaret H. Marshall, Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, 2009-2010
- Professional Career: Private practice, Washington, D.C., 2016-2019
Judicial service
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- Rachel Sarah Bloomekatz (born 1982 in Southfield, Michigan) is an American judge serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit since July 20, 2023.
- Nominated by: President Joe Biden on January 3, 2023 (initially May 25, 2022)
- Confirmed by Senate: July 18, 2023, by a 50–48 vote
- Commissioned: July 20, 2023
- In summary: Rachel Sarah Bloomekatz is a Harvard-educated attorney with extensive experience in federal and state courts, public service, and private practice, now serving as a federal appellate judge on the Sixth Circuit since 2023.
- Predecessor: R. Guy Cole Jr.
- As a Sixth Circuit judge, Bloomekatz hears appeals in federal cases across Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, and parts of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. She has described the role as her “dream job” because it allows her to engage in meaningful public service while doing what she loves — reading briefs and writing opinions.
Education
- Harvard University · A.B., 2004
- University of California · J.D., 2008
Personal record
Born December 3, 1982 · Southfield
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/13760736Federal 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