Kimberly Ann Moore

Kimberly Ann Moore is an American jurist who has served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit since 2006 and, beginning in 2021, holds the position of chief judge of that court. Her career combines technical training in electrical engineering with extensive experience in patent law, academia, and federal judicial service, positioning her as a leading figure in the nation’s specialized appellate jurisdiction over intellectual‑property matters.

Early life and legal career

Born in 1968 in Halethorpe, Maryland, Moore pursued an undergraduate education in engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering in 1990 and continued at MIT to obtain a Master of Science in the same field the following year. After completing her graduate work, she entered the Naval Surface Warfare Center, where she was employed as an electrical engineer from 1988 until 1992. This early technical experience provided a foundation for her later focus on patent law.

Moore transitioned to legal studies by enrolling at Georgetown University Law Center, graduating cum laude with a Juris Doctor in 1994. Following law school, she joined the Los Angeles office of Kirkland & Ellis as an associate attorney, working there from 1994 to 1995. She then returned to the federal judiciary for a two‑year clerkship with Judge Glenn L. Archer Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1995‑1997). The clerkship offered direct exposure to the appellate issues that would later define her judicial career.

After completing her clerkship, Moore entered academia. She taught at Chicago‑Kent College of Law between 1997 and 1999, focusing on subjects related to intellectual property and litigation. A brief appointment followed at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law from 1999 to 2000. In 2000 she joined the faculty of George Mason University School of Law (now Antonin Scalia Law School), initially as an associate professor. She was promoted to full professor in 2004 and remained on the faculty until her appointment to the Federal Circuit bench. During this period, Moore contributed to legal education through a variety of roles: she served as a mediator for the Federal Circuit Appellate Mediation Pilot Program, helping parties resolve disputes before formal appellate review, and she acted as a lecturer for the BARBRI Patent Bar Review program, preparing attorneys for the United States Patent and Trademark Office registration examination.

Moore’s scholarly output includes co‑authoring multiple editions of *Patent Litigation and Strategy*, a treatise that examines procedural and substantive aspects of patent disputes. She also served as editor‑in‑chief of the Federal Circuit Bar Journal, overseeing publication of articles on emerging issues before the court.

Federal appellate service

President George W. Bush nominated Moore to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on May 18 2006, selecting her to fill a vacancy created when Judge Raymond C. Clevenger III assumed senior status earlier that year. The Senate confirmed her nomination without opposition on September 5 2006, recording a unanimous 92‑0 vote. Moore received her judicial commission three days later, on September 8 2006, and entered active service as an appellate judge.

Throughout her tenure, Judge Moore has participated in the court’s adjudication of cases involving patents, trademarks, government contracts, and other specialized federal matters. Her background in engineering and patent practice has informed her contributions to the court’s technical jurisprudence. In May 2021 she succeeded Judge Sharon Prost as chief judge of the Federal Circuit, assuming administrative leadership of the court while continuing to hear appeals. As chief judge, Moore oversees case management, policy implementation, and the coordination of the court’s relationship with other branches of government.

Jurisprudence and legacy

Judge Moore’s judicial record reflects a consistent engagement with intellectual‑property issues, particularly those that intersect with constitutional considerations. A notable decision authored by her in December 2015 addressed the registration of a trademark for the musical group The Slants. In that opinion, the court held that the United States Patent and Trademark Office could not refuse registration on the basis that the mark was disparaging, thereby extending First Amendment protections to expressive trademarks. This ruling reversed an earlier administrative determination and contributed to broader national discourse on free speech and trademark law.

Beyond individual opinions, Moore’s influence extends through her scholarly contributions and mentorship of younger lawyers. The *Patent Litigation and Strategy* treatise, which she co‑authored across several editions, is widely cited by practitioners and courts for its analysis of procedural tactics and substantive doctrine in patent cases. Her editorial stewardship of the Federal Circuit Bar Journal helped shape a forum for academic discussion on the court’s evolving jurisprudence.

In her capacity as chief judge, Moore has guided administrative reforms aimed at improving efficiency and access within the Federal Circuit system. While specific initiatives are not detailed here, the role traditionally involves overseeing case flow, implementing technology upgrades, and fostering collegiality among judges and staff. Her leadership occurs in a court that handles a relatively small but highly specialized docket, making procedural stewardship especially consequential for litigants nationwide.

Personal aspects of Moore’s life have occasionally been noted in public profiles. She is married to Matt Moore, a partner at the law firm Latham & Watkins LLP, and together they raise four children. The family practices Catholicism, attending a parish that was also frequented by the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Her chambers are located in the Howard T. Markey National Courts Building in Washington, D.C., reflecting her long‑standing connection to the federal judiciary.

Judge Kimberly Ann Moore’s career illustrates the integration of technical expertise, academic scholarship, and judicial service within a specialized appellate court. From her early work as an electrical engineer to her current role overseeing the Federal Circuit, she has contributed to the development of patent and trademark law while managing the administrative responsibilities of chief judge. Her decisions and publications continue to shape the legal landscape for innovators, businesses, and courts across the United States.