William Curtis Bryson at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- Jurisdiction
- National federal courts · Federal
- Judicial service
- September 29, 1994–present
William Curtis Bryson
Judge · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Available research
Biography
Professional career
- Deputy associate attorney general (acting associate attorney general), U.S. Department of Justice, 1994-present
- Deputy solicitor general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1986-1994
- Special counsel, Organized Crime and Racketeering Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1982-1986
- Chief, Appellate Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1979-1982
- Assistant to the solicitor general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1978-1979
- Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1975-1978
- Law clerk, Hon. Thurgood Marshall, Supreme Court of the United States, 1974-1975
- Law clerk, Hon. Henry J. Friendly, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1973-1974
Judicial service
- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 1994-2013
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Education
- Harvard University · A.B., 1969
- University of Texas School of Law
- St. John's School
Personal record
Born 1945 · Houston, TX
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/1378491CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/447/william-curtis-bryson/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/