William Holcombe Pryor Jr. at a glance
- Current role
- U.S. Circuit Judge
- Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Jurisdiction
- National federal courts · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
William Holcombe Pryor Jr.
U.S. Circuit Judge · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Available research
AI abuse cases
1 caseAI-related ruling · May 4, 2026
Eliott Williamson v. TransUnion LLC, Experian Information Solutions, Inc.
- Court response
- Affirmed on appeal earlier dismissal with prejudice
Biography
Professional career
- Private Practice: Birmingham, AL — Cabaniss, Johnston, Gardner, Dumas & O’Neal (1988–1991) and Walston, Stabler, Wells, Anderson & Bains (1991–1995)
- Deputy Attorney General of Alabama (1995–1997)
- Attorney General of Alabama (1997–2004) — youngest state attorney general in the U.S. at the time
- Visiting Professor: University of Alabama School of Law (2006–present)
- Commissioner, U.S. Sentencing Commission (2013–2018; Acting Chair 2017–2018)
- Commissioner, U.S. Sentencing Commission, 2013-present
- Attorney general, State of Alabama, 1997-2004
- Deputy attorney general, State of Alabama, 1995-1997
- Adjunct professor, Samford University, Cumberland School of Law, 1989-1995
- Private practice, Alabama, 1988-1995
- Law clerk, Hon. John Minor Wisdom, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1987-1988
Judicial service
- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 2005-present
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Confirmed: June 9, 2005, by the U.S. Senate (53–45 vote)
- For official court information and case filings, see the Eleventh Circuit’s judge page.
Education
- Tulane University of Louisiana · J.D., 1987
- University of Louisiana at Monroe
- McGill-Toolen Catholic High School
Personal record
Born 1962 · Mobile, AL
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/1392086CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2636/william-holcombe-pryor-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