William J. Riley

William Riley
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Incumbent
Assumed office March 31, 2010
Preceded by	James Loken
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Incumbent
Assumed office August 3, 2001
Appointed by	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Clarence Beam
Personal details
Born	March 11, 1947 Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Nebraska, Lincoln

William Jay Riley (born March 11, 1947 in Lincoln, Nebraska) is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Nomination and confirmation

He was nominated by President George W. Bush on May 23, 2001 to a seat vacated by Judge Clarence Arlen Beam. He was swiftly confirmed 97-0 by the United States Senate just over two months later on August 2, 2001. He was the first Bush circuit judge nominee confirmed.

Education and background

Riley received a B.A. from the University of Nebraska and earned his J.D. at the UNL College of Law. Following graduation, he was a law clerk to Eighth Circuit Judge Donald Lay, and then he was in private practice until his appointment to the Eighth Circuit. He has also taught as an adjunct professor at the Creighton University, College of Law, and at University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Law since 2006.

External links

• William J. Riley at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.