Kurt Damian Engelhardt

Kurt Damian Engelhardt (born April 21, 1960) is a United States circuit judge serving on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Appointed by President Donald J. Trump in 2018, he has been an active member of the appellate bench since that time. Prior to his elevation, Judge Engelhardt spent more than sixteen years on the federal trial court in New Orleans, including a period as chief judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. His career combines extensive experience in private practice, state judicial administration, and federal judicial service.

Early life and legal career

Engelhardt was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He completed his secondary education at Brother Martin High School before enrolling at Louisiana State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1982. Continuing at LSU’s law school, he received his Juris Doctor in 1985. Following graduation, Engelhardt served as a law clerk to Judge Charles Grisbaum of the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal from 1985 until 1987, gaining early exposure to appellate practice and state judicial processes.

After completing his clerkship, Engelhardt entered private legal practice in Louisiana. He began his career with the firm Little & Metzger and later joined Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale LLP, where he remained until his appointment to the federal bench in 2001. While practicing law, he was appointed by the governor of Louisiana to serve on the Louisiana Judiciary Commission, an agency tasked with adjudicating statewide ethics complaints against judges. His peers elected him chairman of that commission in 1998, reflecting a role in overseeing judicial conduct and ethical standards within the state.

Engelhardt’s professional affiliations include longstanding membership in the New Orleans chapter of the Federalist Society, which he joined in 2002. This involvement situates him within a national network of lawyers and jurists who discuss constitutional interpretation and legal philosophy, though his judicial work remains nonpartisan as required by federal office.

Federal appellate service

Engelhardt’s federal judicial career began with his nomination to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. President George W. Bush submitted his name on September 4, 2001 to fill the vacancy created by Judge Morey Leonard Sear. The Senate confirmed Engelhardt on December 11, 2001, and he received his commission two days later. During his tenure on the district court, he presided over a broad docket of civil and criminal matters arising in southeastern Louisiana.

In addition to his caseload, Judge Engelhardt contributed to the administration of the federal judiciary. In 2004 Chief Justice William Rehnquist appointed him to the Judicial Conference Committee of Federal‑State Jurisdiction, a body that addresses issues at the intersection of state and federal courts. He was reappointed to this committee in 2007 by Chief Justice John Roberts, indicating continuity in his service on matters affecting jurisdictional coordination. From 2011 to 2012 he served as president of the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, a professional organization representing attorneys who practice before federal courts.

Engelhardt’s leadership within the district court culminated with his appointment as chief judge on October 1, 2015. As chief judge, he oversaw administrative functions for the Eastern District of Louisiana, managed case assignments, and represented the district in interactions with the Judicial Conference of the United States. He held that position until May 15, 2018, when he transitioned to the appellate bench.

The process leading to his Fifth Circuit appointment began on September 28, 2017, when President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate Engelhardt to fill the seat vacated by Judge Edith Brown Clement, who planned to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor. The nomination was formally transmitted to the Senate on October 5, 2017. The American Bar Association evaluated Engelhardt’s qualifications and unanimously rated him “Well Qualified,” the organization’s highest assessment.

Engelhardt’s initial nomination expired under Senate Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6, on January 3, 2018, prompting a renomination by President Trump on January 5, 2018. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on his candidacy on January 10, 2018 and subsequently reported the nomination out of committee on February 8, 2018 with a vote of fifteen to six in favor. The full Senate invoked cloture on his nomination on May 7, 2018 by a vote of sixty‑four to thirty‑one, limiting further debate. On May 9, 2018 the Senate confirmed Engelhardt by a vote of sixty‑two to thirty‑four, and he received his commission the following day, May 10, 2018.

Judge Engelhardt served as an active circuit judge on the Fifth Circuit from that date onward. After nearly eight years on the appellate bench, he announced his intention to assume senior status on June 9, 2026, a form of semi‑retirement that permits continued judicial service while creating a vacancy for a new full‑time appointment.

Jurisprudence and legacy

While Judge Engelhardt’s written opinions on the Fifth Circuit are not detailed in the available source material, his professional trajectory illustrates a sustained commitment to both adjudicative responsibilities and the broader governance of the federal judiciary. His early work as a law clerk provided foundational insight into appellate review, an experience that later informed his own service at the circuit level.

Engelhardt’s long tenure on the district court, including his period as chief judge, placed him at the center of judicial administration for a major federal district. In that capacity he oversaw case management systems, coordinated with magistrate judges and court staff, and represented the district in policy discussions within the Judicial Conference. His participation on the Committee of Federal‑State Jurisdiction underscores an ongoing interest in the efficient operation of courts across jurisdictional boundaries, a concern that remains pertinent to appellate jurisprudence where questions of preemption and concurrent jurisdiction frequently arise.

His leadership roles within professional organizations—the Louisiana Judiciary Commission, the Federal Bar Association’s New Orleans chapter, and the Federalist Society—reflect engagement with both ethical oversight and scholarly discourse. As chairman of the state judiciary commission, Engelhardt contributed to maintaining standards of judicial conduct in Louisiana, a function that complements his later federal responsibilities. Membership in the Federalist Society indicates participation in forums that explore constitutional interpretation, though his rulings are rendered independently of any ideological affiliation.

The unanimous “Well Qualified” rating from the American Bar Association highlights peer recognition of his legal acumen, temperament, and professional integrity at the time of his appellate nomination. The Senate confirmation votes, while partisan in nature, demonstrate sufficient bipartisan support to secure his appointment to a lifetime position on one of the nation’s most influential regional courts.

Judge Engelhardt’s decision to take senior status in 2026 will transition him into a role that allows for continued contribution to the Fifth Circuit’s workload while opening an opportunity for a new presidential nominee. This step aligns with customary practices among federal judges who, after extensive service, seek to balance reduced caseloads with ongoing judicial participation.

In sum, Kurt D. Engelhardt’s career reflects a progression from local education and early clerkship through private practice, state judicial oversight, and substantial federal trial court experience, culminating in appellate service on the Fifth Circuit. His administrative leadership, committee involvement, and professional affiliations collectively shape a legacy of dedication to the efficient and ethical operation of both state and federal courts.