Alvin Anthony Schall

Alvin Anthony Schall is a senior United States circuit judge on the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Appointed to the bench by President George H. W. Bush in 1992, he served as an active‑service judge until assuming senior status in 2009 and continues to hear cases. His career spans private practice, federal prosecution, service in the Department of Justice, and a period assisting the United States Attorney General before his elevation to the appellate judiciary.

Early life and legal career

Alvin Anthony Schall was born on April 4, 1944, in New York City to Gordon W. Schall and Helen D. Schall. He spent his secondary education at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, where he attended from 1956 until 1962. Following high school, Schall pursued undergraduate studies at Princeton University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1966. He then enrolled in Tulane University Law School, earning his Juris Doctor three years later in 1969.

After completing law school, Schall entered private practice with the New York City firm Shearman & Sterling. His tenure there lasted from 1969 to 1973, during which he gained experience in commercial and corporate matters typical of a large international firm. In 1973, he transitioned to public service as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Over the next five years he prosecuted federal crimes and represented the United States in civil litigation. During his final year in that office, from 1977 to 1978, Schall held the position of chief of the appeals division, overseeing appellate advocacy on behalf of the government.

In 1978 Schall joined the United States Department of Justice as a trial attorney in its Civil Division. He remained with the department for nearly a decade, handling complex civil cases involving the federal government. Within that period he was promoted to senior trial counsel, a role he occupied from 1986 until his departure in 1987. The senior trial counsel position involved supervising other attorneys and managing high‑profile or technically demanding matters.

After leaving the Department of Justice, Schall briefly returned to private practice, this time in Washington, D.C., where he worked for the firm Perlman and Partners from 1987 to 1988. His experience in both government and private sectors positioned him for a subsequent role within the executive branch. From 1988 until his judicial appointment in 1992, Schall served as an Assistant to the United States Attorney General. In that capacity he provided legal advice to the head of the Department of Justice and assisted with policy development and high‑level litigation strategy.

During his time at the Department of Justice, Schall contributed to scholarly work on federal procurement law. In 1989 he authored the chapter “Federal Contract Disputes and Forums” for the volume *Construction Litigation: Strategies and Techniques*, published by John Wiley & Sons. The contribution reflected his expertise in government contract disputes, a subject that would later be central to the jurisdiction of the Federal Circuit.

Schall’s personal life includes his marriage to Sharon Frances LeBlanc. Together they have two children—a daughter and a son.

Federal appellate service

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which has nationwide jurisdiction over certain specialized areas such as patents, government contracts, and international trade, created a vacancy when Judge Edward Samuel Smith retired. On March 3, 1992, President George H. W. Bush—who was a member of the Republican Party—nominated Schall to fill that seat, designated as CAFC1002. The Senate confirmed his appointment on August 12, 1992, and he received his commission five days later, on August 17.

Judge Schall entered active service on the Federal Circuit in 1992. Over the ensuing seventeen years he participated in the court’s adjudication of appeals arising from district courts, administrative agencies, and specialized tribunals. The Federal Circuit’s docket includes patent infringement cases, appeals from the United States Court of Federal Claims, and disputes involving federal procurement contracts—areas that align with Schall’s professional background in government contract litigation and civil division work.

On October 5, 2009, after more than a decade and a half of full‑time service, Judge Schall elected to take senior status. Senior judges on the federal appellate courts retain the authority to hear cases, often handling reduced caseloads while providing continuity and institutional memory for the court. Since assuming senior status, Scholl has continued to sit on panels, contributing his experience to the Federal Circuit’s ongoing jurisprudence.

Jurisprudence and legacy

Judge Schall’s tenure on the Federal Circuit coincided with a period of significant development in patent law, government contract litigation, and other specialized fields within the court’s jurisdiction. While specific opinions authored by him are not enumerated here, his long service—spanning active and senior status—means he has participated in numerous decisions that shape federal legal doctrine in these areas.

His earlier work on federal contract disputes, exemplified by the 1989 chapter contribution, indicates a sustained interest in the mechanisms through which the government resolves contractual disagreements. This expertise likely informed his perspective on cases involving the United States as a contracting party, an issue frequently addressed by the Federal Circuit. Moreover, his experience as chief of the appeals division for the Eastern District of New York and as senior trial counsel in the Department of Justice provided him with a deep understanding of appellate advocacy and complex civil litigation, skills directly applicable to the court’s review function.

By serving both as an active judge and later as a senior judge, Schall has contributed to the stability and continuity of the Federal Circuit. Senior judges often mentor newer members of the bench, assist in managing caseloads, and help preserve institutional knowledge. In this capacity, Judge Schall’s decades‑long involvement supports the court’s ability to maintain consistent legal standards across its specialized jurisdiction.

Beyond his judicial duties, Schall’s career reflects a trajectory that bridges private practice, federal prosecution, departmental litigation, and executive branch counsel work. This breadth of experience underscores the multifaceted pathways through which lawyers may ascend to the federal judiciary. His professional record illustrates how expertise in government contracts and civil litigation can translate into influential service on an appellate court tasked with interpreting those very areas of law.

In sum, Alvin Anthony Schall’s career encompasses significant contributions to both the practice and adjudication of federal law. From his early years in New York City through his education at Princeton and Tulane, through varied roles in private firms and the Department of Justice, to his long-standing presence on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, he exemplifies a legal professional whose work has intersected with key aspects of the nation’s specialized judicial system. His ongoing participation as a senior judge continues to shape the development of federal jurisprudence within the court’s distinctive domain.