Daniel Aaron Bress

Daniel Aaron Bress (born 1979) is an American jurist who serves as an active United States circuit judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Appointed by President Donald J. Trump in 2019, he filled the vacancy left by Judge Alex Kozinski. Prior to his elevation to the federal bench, Bress built a career that combined high‑profile appellate clerkships, private‑practice litigation, and academic teaching. His professional trajectory reflects extensive experience in both governmental and commercial legal environments, as well as longstanding involvement with the Federalist Society.

Early life and legal career

Daniel Bress grew up in Gilroy, California, a community located in the Santa Clara Valley. He pursued undergraduate studies at Harvard University, where he majored in government and graduated magna cum laude in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Following his graduation, Bress spent a year working as a paralegal for the Federal Trade Commission, gaining early exposure to federal regulatory practice.

He continued his education at the University of Virginia School of Law, earning his Juris Doctor in 2005. While at UVA, Bress distinguished himself academically and editorially; he was elected editor‑in‑chief of the Virginia Law Review and graduated as a member of the Order of the Coif, an honor recognizing academic excellence among law students.

After completing law school, Bress entered the appellate clerkship circuit, first serving with Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 2005 to 2006. He then secured a highly competitive clerkship with Justice Antonin Scalia of the United States Supreme Court, which he held from 2006 to 2007. These experiences provided him with direct insight into federal appellate and Supreme Court decision‑making processes.

Bress transitioned to private practice following his clerkships, joining the San Francisco office of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. In that role he engaged in complex civil litigation, representing a range of corporate and individual clients. His career later moved to Washington, D.C., where he became a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in 2011. During his tenure at Kirkland & Ellis, Bress focused on high‑stakes commercial disputes, antitrust matters, and other areas typical of the firm’s national practice.

In addition to his litigation work, Bress contributed to legal education as an adjunct professor. He taught courses at both the University of Virginia School of Law and the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America. His teaching assignments allowed him to share practical insights from appellate advocacy and corporate law with graduate students. Since 2003, he has also been a member of the Federalist Society, an organization dedicated to promoting a textualist and originalist approach to constitutional interpretation.

Federal appellate service

President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate Bress to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on January 30 2019. The nomination was formally transmitted to the Senate on February 6 2019, designating him to fill the seat vacated by Judge Alex Kozinski, who retired in December 2017.

The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Bress’s nomination on May 22 2019. Following deliberations, the committee reported his nomination favorably on June 20 2019 with a vote of twelve to ten. The full Senate subsequently invoked cloture on his nomination on July 8 2019 by a margin of fifty to forty‑two, and confirmed him the following day, July 9 2019, by a vote of fifty‑three to forty‑five. Bress received his judicial commission on July 26 2019, officially beginning his service as an active circuit judge on the Ninth Circuit.

Since joining the bench, Judge Bress has participated in the routine work of a federal appellate court that covers a vast geographic region, including nine western states and two Pacific Island jurisdictions. The Ninth Circuit’s docket encompasses a broad spectrum of legal issues, ranging from immigration and environmental regulation to intellectual property and civil rights. As a member of the panel system, Judge Bress contributes to the deliberative process that results in published opinions, orders, and memoranda interpreting federal law.

Judge Bress’s role includes authoring majority, concurring, and dissenting opinions that articulate legal reasoning for the court’s decisions. While specific case details are beyond the scope of this biography, his contributions align with the Ninth Circuit’s responsibility to resolve disputes arising from district courts within its jurisdiction and to address petitions for rehearing or certiorari from the United States Supreme Court.

In addition to opinion writing, Judge Bress participates in en banc sessions, where all active judges of the circuit consider matters of exceptional importance or to resolve inconsistencies among panel decisions. He also engages in administrative duties associated with managing the court’s operations, such as supervising case assignments and contributing to policy discussions on procedural reforms.

Jurisprudence and legacy

Judge Bress’s judicial philosophy reflects the analytical training he received during his clerkships with Judge Wilkinson and Justice Scalia, both noted for their emphasis on textualism and originalist interpretation. His longstanding affiliation with the Federalist Society further indicates a commitment to principles that prioritize the plain meaning of statutory text and constitutional provisions.

Throughout his tenure on the Ninth Circuit, Judge Bress has authored opinions addressing a wide array of federal questions. These writings demonstrate careful attention to precedent, statutory construction, and the balance between governmental authority and individual rights. By participating in both panel and en banc decisions, he contributes to the development of coherent legal standards across the circuit’s expansive jurisdiction.

Beyond his written opinions, Judge Bress maintains an ongoing connection to legal education through his prior adjunct teaching roles. Although his full‑time judicial responsibilities limit direct classroom involvement, his experience as a former law professor informs his mentorship of clerks and younger attorneys who appear before the court. His background in both private practice and academia enables him to appreciate the practical implications of appellate rulings for litigants and practitioners.

Judge Bress’s service on the Ninth Circuit also intersects with broader discussions about the composition and direction of the federal judiciary. Appointed by a Republican president, his confirmation contributed to the administration’s effort to shape the ideological balance of the appellate courts. Nonetheless, as a lifetime appointee, he operates within the constraints of judicial independence, applying the law impartially regardless of political considerations.

The legacy of Judge Bress will continue to evolve as additional opinions are issued and as the Ninth Circuit confronts emerging legal challenges. His contributions to the body of federal appellate jurisprudence—particularly in areas such as commercial litigation, regulatory interpretation, and constitutional analysis—add to the collective work of the court in shaping United States law. As an active judge with a career that spans high‑level clerkships, major law firm practice, and academic instruction, Daniel Aaron Bress exemplifies the multifaceted experience often found among federal appellate jurists.