Richard J. Leon at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- Jurisdiction
- District of Columbia · Federal
- Judicial service
- February 19, 2002–present
Richard J. Leon
Judge · U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Available research
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Biography
Professional career
- Adjunct professor, George Washington University Law School, 2004-present
- Commissioner, Judicial Review Commission on Foreign Asset Control, 2000-2001
- Special counsel, U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Reform Task Force, 1997-present
- Adjunct professor, Georgetown University Law Center, 1997-present
- Special counsel, Whitewater investigation, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, 1994-present
- Chief minority counsel, October Surprise Task Force, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, 1992-1993
- Commissioner, White House Fellows Commission, 1990-1993
- Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1989-2002
- Deputy assistant attorney general, Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1988-1989
- Deputy chief minority counsel, U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Transactions with Iran, 1987-1988
- Senior trial attorney, Criminal Section, Tax Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1983-1987
- Assistant professor of law, St. John's University School of Law, 1979-1983
- Special assistant U.S. attorney, Civil Division, Southern District of New York, 1977-1978
- Attorney, Immigration and Naturalization Service, U.S. Department of Justice Honors Program, 1976-1977
- Law clerk, Hon. Thomas F. Kelleher, Supreme Court of Rhode Island, 1975-1976
- Law clerk, Massachusetts Superior Court, 1974-1975
Judicial service
- Judge, District Court, District of Columbia, 2002-present
Education
- College of the Holy Cross · A.B., 1971
- Suffolk University · J.D., 1974
- Harvard University · LL.M., 1981
Personal record
Born 1949 · South Natick, MA
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/1391441CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1911/richard-j-leon/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