Richard Federico | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit | |
| Assumed office December 13, 2023 | |
| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Mary Beck Briscoe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Edward Neel Federico[1] 1977 (age 47–48) Richmond, Indiana, U.S. |
| Education | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |
|
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit |  United States Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps |
| Awards | See list
|
Richard Edward Neel Federico (born 1977)[1] is an American lawyer from Kansas who is serving as aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Federico received aBachelor of Journalism fromIndiana University Bloomington in 1999 and aJuris Doctor from theUniversity of Kansas School of Law in 2002, and aMaster of Laws, with highest distinction, fromGeorgetown University Law Center in 2012.[2]
He served in theUnited States Navy onactive duty from 2002 to 2015, attaining the rank ofcaptain, and has been in active status in theSelect Reserves since 2015.[1] Since 2002, Federico had served in theJudge Advocate General's Corps as a prosecutor and as a defense counsel from 2008 to 2015. From 2015 to 2017, he was anassistant federal public defender for theDistrict of Oregon inPortland. He has been a military judge for the Navy Reserve Trial Judiciary since 2019, and he served as an Appellate Defense Counsel from 2015 to 2019. In 2017, Federico joined the Federal Public Defender for the District of Kansas inTopeka, where he served as a research and writing specialist from 2017 to 2018, an assistant federal public defender from 2018 to 2020 and as the senior litigator since 2020.[2]
On July 27, 2023, PresidentJoe Biden nominated Federico to serve as aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. President Biden nominated Federico to the seat vacated by JudgeMary Beck Briscoe, who assumedsenior status on March 15, 2021.[3] On September 6, 2023, a hearing on his nomination was held before theSenate Judiciary Committee.[4] During his confirmation hearing, he received push back from Republican SenatorsJosh Hawley andMarsha Blackburn over a client who he had represented as a public defender in 2018. The client pled guilty to distributing child pornography and Federico made a sentencing recommendation that was below the federal sentencing guidelines for the charge. In response, Federico pointed out that as a public defender, it was his "professional responsibility to vigorously defend his client", who he did not choose to represent.[5] On September 28, 2023, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 13–8 vote.[6][7] On December 7, 2023, theUnited States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 63–32 vote.[8] On December 11, 2023, his nomination was confirmed by a 61–29 vote.[9] He received his judicial commission on December 13, 2023.[10]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit 2023–present | Incumbent |
