Richard C. Tallman

Richard C. Tallman is a senior United States circuit judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 2000, he has served on the appellate bench for more than two decades and continues to hear cases after assuming senior status in 2018. In addition to his work on the Ninth Circuit, Tallman was a member of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review from 2014 to 2021. His career spans service as a federal prosecutor, private‑practice attorney, and law clerk, providing him with experience across criminal, civil, and national‑security matters.

Early life and legal career

Richard Charles Tallman was born on March 3, 1953, in Oakland, California. He pursued undergraduate studies at the University of Santa Clara, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975. Continuing his education on the West Coast, he attended Northwestern University School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor in 1978. While at Northwestern, Tallman held the position of executive director of the law school’s review publication, indicating early involvement in legal scholarship and editorial work.

Following graduation, Tallman entered the federal judiciary as a law clerk for Judge Morell Edward Sharp of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. This clerkship provided him with direct exposure to district‑court proceedings and judicial decision‑making processes. After completing his clerkship, he joined the Department of Justice as a trial lawyer, where he represented the federal government in civil and criminal matters.

Tallman later served as an assistant United States attorney in Seattle, Washington. In that capacity, he prosecuted federal crimes and contributed to the enforcement of federal statutes within the Western District of Washington. His experience as a federal prosecutor complemented his earlier work at the Department of Justice and laid groundwork for future practice areas.

In 1983 Tallman entered private practice in Seattle. He became associated with the firm Bogle and Gates, where he eventually chaired the white‑collar criminal defense practice group from 1990 until the firm’s dissolution in March 1999. After the closure of Bogle and Gates, Tallman co‑founded the law firm Tallman & Severin, continuing to represent a range of clients in complex litigation. Among his higher‑profile representations was counsel for the Seattle Mariners in disputes concerning scheduling rights at the Kingdome, illustrating involvement in high‑stakes commercial matters. His private practice also encompassed medical malpractice defense and procurement cases involving government contracts.

Federal appellate service

The vacancy on the Ninth Circuit that Tallman eventually filled arose when Judge Betty Binns Fletcher assumed senior status in 1998. Initial efforts to fill the seat involved a bipartisan arrangement between Washington’s senators, Slade Gorton (Republican) and Patty Murray (Democrat), which led to the nomination of Washington State Supreme Court Justice Barbara Durham in early 1999. Durham withdrew her nomination later that year for personal reasons, prompting further consideration of candidates.

Senator Gorton recommended three potential nominees to the White House, one of whom was Tallman. Although a Republican, Tallman was nominated by President Bill Clinton—a Democrat—on October 20, 1999. The nomination proceeded without significant opposition, and the United States Senate confirmed him on May 24, 2000, by voice vote. He received his commission the following day, May 25, 2000, and began service as a circuit judge on the Ninth Circuit.

During his active‑service tenure, Tallman participated in panels addressing a broad spectrum of federal law, ranging from criminal procedure to administrative regulation. On March 3, 2018—coinciding with his 65th birthday—he assumed senior status, a form of semi‑retirement that permits continued judicial work while creating a vacancy for a new full‑time judge.

In addition to his Ninth Circuit duties, Tallman was appointed to the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review by Chief Justice John Roberts on January 27, 2014. The six‑year term placed him on the appellate body that reviews decisions from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. He succeeded Judge Morris S. Arnold, whose term had expired in August 2013. Tallman’s service on this specialized court concluded on January 26, 2021.

Jurisprudence and legacy

Judge Tallman’s judicial output reflects his extensive background in both prosecution and defense, as well as experience with complex civil litigation. While serving on the Ninth Circuit, he authored opinions and dissents that addressed procedural safeguards, governmental authority, and individual rights. One notable dissent appeared in *Bull v. City and County of San Francisco* (August 22, 2008), where Tallman argued for allowing jail authorities to conduct strip searches of detainees charged with minor, non‑violent offenses when security considerations warranted such measures. In his dissent he wrote, “When people are dying as a result of our errant jurisprudence, it is time to correct the course of our law,” emphasizing his view on balancing safety concerns with procedural protections.

Tallman’s participation on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review placed him at the intersection of national security and privacy law. Though specific opinions from that tenure are not detailed here, his role involved reviewing government surveillance requests and ensuring compliance with statutory standards under the FISA framework.

Since assuming senior status, Tallman continues to sit on Ninth Circuit panels, contributing to the court’s caseload and maintaining an active presence in appellate jurisprudence. His ongoing service illustrates a commitment to the federal judiciary that extends beyond the typical retirement point for circuit judges. The combination of his prosecutorial background, private‑practice experience, and long tenure on the appellate bench has provided him with a multifaceted perspective on legal issues confronting the Ninth Circuit.

Overall, Richard C. Tallman’s career embodies a trajectory from clerkship through federal prosecution, private practice, and ultimately to senior judicial service at both the appellate level and within a specialized national‑security court. His contributions reflect an adherence to procedural rigor and an engagement with complex legal questions that continue to shape the development of federal law in the western United States.