Richard Gary Taranto at a glance
- Current role
- U.S. Circuit Judge
- Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- Jurisdiction
- National federal courts · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Richard Gary Taranto
U.S. Circuit Judge · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Available research
Biography
Professional career
- Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1989-2013
- Assistant to the solicitor general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1986-1989
- Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1984-1986
- Law clerk, Hon. Sandra Day O'Connor, Supreme Court of the United States, 1983-1984
- Law clerk, Hon. Robert Bork, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1982-1983
- Law clerk, Hon. Abraham Sofaer, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1981-1982
Judicial service
- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 2013-present
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- Richard Gary Taranto (born May 6, 1957, New York City) is an American federal judge serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit since March 12, 2013.
- Taranto was nominated by President Barack Obama on November 10, 2011, to replace retiring Judge Paul Redmond Michel. His nomination was returned to the President in January 2013 and resubmitted, leading to Senate confirmation on March 11, 2013 by a 91–0 vote and commission the next day.
- He then worked in private practice at Onek, Klein & Farr (later Farr & Taranto) in Washington, D.C., and held the role of Assistant to the Solicitor General at the U.S. Department of Justice from 1986 to 1989.
- Justice Sandra Day O’Connor (U.S. Supreme Court, 1983–84)
- The Federal Circuit has exclusive jurisdiction over patent appeals, certain international trade cases, and claims against the U.S. government.
Education
- Pomona College · B.A., 1977
- Yale University · J.D., 1981
Personal record
Born 1957 · New York, NY
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 ↗
Argument Check In
Arguing counsel must check in with the courtroom deputy at least 30 minutes before the day's session starts.
Arguing counsel must check-in with the courtroom deputy at their assigned courtroom at least thirty minutes before the start of the day's session.Federal Circuit: Attending Oral Arguments ↗
Same Day Changes
Same-day changes to arguing counsel or time divisions are generally not allowed without a prior new appearance and amended response to the notice of oral argument.
Same-day changes to arguing counsel or time divisions are generally not allowed, absent prior filing of a new entry of appearance and an amended Response to Notice of Oral Argument in the case.Federal Circuit: Attending Oral Arguments ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394141CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3170/richard-gary-taranto/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-procedureFederal Circuit: Attending Oral Arguments
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 30, 2026
https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/attending-oral-arguments/