Scott Milne Matheson Jr. at a glance
- Current role
- U.S. Circuit Judge
- Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- Jurisdiction
- National federal courts · Federal
- Judicial service
- December 27, 2010–present
Scott Milne Matheson Jr.
U.S. Circuit Judge · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Available research
AI abuse cases
2 casesAI-related ruling · July 1, 2026
Gregory Ashley Moyer v. James V. Murray, et al.
- Court response
- Warning
AI-related ruling · June 15, 2026
Andria Borsody v. Frontier Heritage Communities
- Court response
- Admonishment
Biography
Professional career
- Private practice at Williams & Connolly LLP in Washington, D.C. (1981–1985).
- Other roles: Deputy County Attorney for Salt Lake County (1988–1989), visiting professor at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (1989–1990), and public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (2006–2007).
- Faculty at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law (1985–2010), including Dean from 1998–2006.
- Public policy scholar, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 2006-2007
- dean, 1998-2006
- U.S. attorney for the District of Utah, 1993-1997
- professor of law, 1991-2010
- associate dean for academic affairs, 1990-1993
- Visiting associate professor, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 1989-1990
- Deputy county attorney, Salt Lake County, UT, 1988-1989
- associate professor of law, 1985-1991
- Faculty, University of Utah College of Law, 1985-2010
- Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1981-1985
Judicial service
- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, 2010-present
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- Matheson was nominated by President Barack Obama on March 3, 2010, to fill the seat vacated by Michael W. McConnell. The U.S. Senate confirmed him on December 22, 2010, and he received his commission on December 27, 2010. The American Bar Association rated him Unanimously Qualified.
- As a Tenth Circuit judge, Matheson hears appeals in federal cases within the 10th Circuit’s jurisdiction, which covers parts of the western United States. His official court profile provides details on case filings, opinions, and clerkship/internship opportunities.
- Notable background: His career reflects a blend of legal practice, academic leadership, and public service, and he is recognized for his work in constitutional law, criminal law, and civil procedure.
Education
- Stanford University · A.B., 1975
- Yale University · J.D., 1980
- Magdalen College
Personal record
Born 1953 · Salt Lake City, UT
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/1393591CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2076/scott-milne-matheson-jr/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