Andrew Oldham | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Oldham in 2018 | |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit | |
| Assumed office July 19, 2018 | |
| Appointed by | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Edward C. Prado |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Andrew Stephen Oldham 1978 (age 46–47) Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Education | University of Virginia (BA) University of Cambridge (MPhil) Harvard University (JD) |
Andrew Stephen Oldham (born 1978)[1] is an American lawyer and jurist who serves as aUnited States circuit judge of theU.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He was appointed in 2018 by PresidentDonald Trump. Prior to his appointment, Oldham was thegeneral counsel toTexas GovernorGreg Abbott and an associate at the law firmKellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick.
Oldham was born in 1978 inRichmond, Virginia. He graduated from theUniversity of Virginia in 2001 with aBachelor of Arts with highest honors. He then studied at theUniversity of Cambridge on aHarry S. Truman Scholarship, receiving aMaster of Philosophy withfirst-class honours in 2002. He then attendedHarvard Law School, where he was an editor of theHarvard Journal of Law and Public Policy and a semi-finalist in theAmes Moot Court Competition. He graduated in 2005 with aJuris Doctor,magna cum laude.[1]
After law school, Oldham was alaw clerk to judgeDavid B. Sentelle of theU.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 2005 to 2006. He worked as an attorney-adviser in theU.S. Department of Justice'sOffice of Legal Counsel from 2006 to 2008, as part of theGeorge W. Bush Administration.[2] He then clerked for JusticeSamuel Alito of theU.S. Supreme Court from 2008 to 2009, where he was a co-clerk of future federal judgeMichael H. Park.[2]
Oldham entered private practice in 2009 at the law firm Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick in Washington, D.C.[2] His practice focused on appellate litigation in federal courts of appeals throughout the country. He then served in theOffice of the Solicitor General of Texas as Deputy Solicitor General, where he represented Texas in federal courts across the country.[3] In 2015, Oldham wrote anamicus curiae brief in support of Abbott's successful challenge of PresidentBarack Obama'sDeferred Action for Childhood Arrivals executive order.[2][4]
Prior to becoming a judge, Oldham served as general counsel to Texas governorGreg Abbott,[3][5] where he advised Abbott on a range of issues under federal and state law and managed litigation in which the Governor was an interested party.[6]
Abbott appointed Oldham as general counsel to replaceJimmy Blacklock, who left to take a seat on theSupreme Court of Texas.[3]
Oldham has been anadjunct professor at theUniversity of Texas School of Law since 2019.[7] He has been a member of theFederalist Society since 2002.[8]
On February 12, 2018, PresidentDonald Trump announced his intent to nominate Oldham to an undetermined seat on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. On February 15, 2018, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Trump nominated Oldham to the seat vacated by JudgeEdward C. Prado, who became theUnited States Ambassador to Argentina.[3] On April 25, 2018, a hearing on his nomination was held before theSenate Judiciary Committee.[9] On May 24, 2018, his nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 vote.[10] On July 17, 2018, the Senate invokedcloture on his nomination by a 50–49 vote.[11] On July 18, 2018, his nomination was confirmed by a 50–49 vote.[12] He received his judicial commission on July 19, 2018.[13]
He has been suggested as a potentialUnited States Supreme Court nominee for thesecond Trump presidency.[14] A March 21, 2025Washington Post op-ed byGeorge Will discussed, with high praise, Oldham's July 2024 opinion for the majority of the Fifth Circuit, sittingen banc, inConsumers Research v.FCC. Will's piece stated that Oldham "merits promotion to a higher court".[15][16] The Supreme Court overturned the ruling 6-3 on June 27, 2025.[17]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 2018–present | Incumbent |