Rhesa Hawkins Barksdale at a glance
- Current role
- U.S. Circuit Judge
- Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Jurisdiction
- National federal courts · Federal
- Judicial service
- Senior
Rhesa Hawkins Barksdale
U.S. Circuit Judge · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Available research
Biography
Professional career
- From 1973 to 1990, Barksdale practiced law in Jackson, Mississippi, and also taught constitutional law at the University of Mississippi School of Law and Mississippi College School of Law. He chaired the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program from 1982 to 1985.
- Chairman, Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program, 1982-1985
- Instructor, Mississippi College School of Law, 1976-present
- Instructor in constitutional law, University of Mississippi Law School Paralegal Course, 1975-1976
- Private practice, Jackson, MS, 1973-1990
- Law clerk, Hon. Byron White, Supreme Court of the United States, 1972-1973
- U.S. Army, 1966-1970
Judicial service
- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1990-2009
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- As a senior judge, Barksdale continues to sit on panels and author opinions in Fifth Circuit cases, with recent appearances in matters such as United States v. Bonner (Nov. 14, 2025) and Jackson v. Tarrant County (Oct. 29, 2025).
- On November 17, 1989, President George H. W. Bush nominated Barksdale to the Fifth Circuit, a seat vacated by Alvin B. Rubin. He was confirmed by the Senate on March 9, 1990 and commissioned on March 12, 1990. He assumed senior status on August 8, 2009.
- In summary, Rhesa Hawkins Barksdale is a decorated military veteran, distinguished legal scholar, and long-serving federal judge whose career spans military service, legal practice, and over two decades on the Fifth Circuit.
Education
- Murrah High School
- United States Military Academy
- University of Mississippi School of Law
Personal record
Born 1944 · Jackson, MS
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/1377456CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/174/rhesa-hawkins-barksdale/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