Richard Edward Neel Federico

Richard E. N. Federico (born 1977) is an American attorney who serves as a United States circuit judge on the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Appointed by President Joseph R. Biden and confirmed in December 2023, Judge Federico brings more than two decades of experience in military law, federal public defense, and appellate practice to the federal bench. His career has spanned active duty service in the United States Navy, roles as a prosecutor and defense counsel within the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, and senior positions with federal public defender offices in Oregon and Kansas.

Early life and legal career

Federico was raised in Kansas and pursued an interdisciplinary undergraduate education, earning a Bachelor of Journalism from Indiana University Bloomington in 1999. He continued his studies at the University of Kansas School of Law, receiving a Juris Doctor in 2002. A decade later he completed a Master of Laws at Georgetown University Law Center, graduating with highest distinction in 2012, an achievement that reflects advanced scholarly work beyond the standard law degree.

Immediately after law school, Federico entered military service, joining the United States Navy on active duty in 2002. He served for thirteen years, attaining the rank of captain before transitioning to reserve status in 2015. Within the Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps he performed both prosecutorial and defense functions. From 2008 through 2015 he acted as a defense counsel, representing service members in courts‑martial and other military judicial proceedings. His combined experience as a prosecutor and defender provided a comprehensive view of military justice.

Following his active‑duty tenure, Federico shifted to civilian federal practice while maintaining his reserve affiliation. From 2015 to 2017 he worked as an assistant federal public defender for the District of Oregon in Portland, handling a broad array of criminal matters on behalf of indigent defendants. During this period he also served as appellate defense counsel, a role that continued through 2019 and involved representing clients in appeals before federal circuit courts.

In 2017 Federico joined the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the District of Kansas, based in Topeka. He initially served as a research and writing specialist, contributing to the preparation of briefs and memoranda that support defense strategies. In 2018 he returned to trial work as an assistant federal public defender, and two years later was promoted to senior litigator. As senior litigator he oversaw complex criminal cases, mentored junior attorneys, and coordinated litigation strategy for high‑stakes matters before both district courts and appellate panels.

Parallel to his civilian practice, Federico has remained active in the Navy Reserve’s judicial system. Since 2019 he has served as a military judge within the Navy Reserve Trial Judiciary, presiding over courts‑martial and other disciplinary proceedings involving reserve personnel. This ongoing judicial role complements his experience on the federal public defender side, giving him first‑hand insight into both advocacy and adjudication.

Federal appellate service

President Joseph R. Biden nominated Federico to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit on July 27 2023. The nomination filled a vacancy created when Judge Mary Beck Briscoe assumed senior status on March 15 2021. Federico’s confirmation process proceeded through the standard Senate procedures. A hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee took place on September 6 2023, during which Republican senators raised concerns about a 2018 client representation in which Federico, acting as a public defender, recommended a sentence below the federal sentencing guidelines for a child‑pornography distribution charge. In response, Federico emphasized his professional obligation to provide vigorous representation to all clients, irrespective of personal choice.

The committee reported his nomination favorably on September 28 2023 by a vote of 13–8. The full Senate subsequently invoked cloture on the nomination on December 7 2023 with a 63–32 vote, limiting further debate and moving toward final consideration. On December 11 2023 the Senate confirmed Federico by a margin of 61–29. He received his judicial commission two days later, on December 13 2023, officially becoming an active circuit judge for the Tenth Circuit.

Since joining the bench, Judge Federico has participated in panels that address a wide spectrum of federal legal issues, ranging from civil rights and administrative law to complex criminal matters. While his tenure is still early, his prior experience as both a military judge and senior public defender informs his approach to appellate review, particularly in cases involving procedural safeguards, sentencing considerations, and the rights of defendants.

Jurisprudence and legacy

Judge Federico’s professional background distinguishes him among his peers on the Tenth Circuit. His extensive service within the Navy JAG Corps provides a deep familiarity with military justice, an area that occasionally intersects with federal appellate review in matters such as courts‑martial appeals, jurisdictional questions, and the application of constitutional protections to service members. Moreover, his years spent defending indigent clients at the federal level contribute a perspective grounded in criminal defense advocacy, procedural fairness, and the practical implications of sentencing policy.

Although only a short period has elapsed since his appointment, Federico’s early opinions reflect an attentiveness to the statutory text and precedent, as well as a concern for ensuring that appellate courts respect the roles of trial judges. In cases involving sentencing guidelines, his prior experience recommending departures from those guidelines as a public defender may inform a nuanced view of judicial discretion versus mandatory frameworks. Likewise, his military judge service equips him to assess issues related to evidentiary standards and command‑influence concerns with an insider’s understanding.

The combination of defense work and military adjudication positions Judge Federico to contribute meaningfully to the development of jurisprudence on the Tenth Circuit, particularly in areas where criminal procedure, constitutional rights, and federal statutory interpretation converge. His career trajectory—from active‑duty Navy officer to senior litigator for a federal public defender’s office, and ultimately to an appellate judge—exemplifies a pathway through which practical courtroom experience translates into judicial service.

Looking forward, observers anticipate that Judge Federico will continue to draw upon his diverse legal background when addressing the complex docket of the Tenth Circuit. His decisions are likely to be cited for their careful analysis of procedural safeguards, respect for defendants’ rights, and balanced consideration of governmental interests. As he accrues a body of written opinions, scholars and practitioners will assess how his prior roles shape his interpretive methods and influence the circuit’s legal landscape.

In sum, Richard Edward Neel Federico’s appointment to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit adds a jurist with substantial experience in both military and civilian criminal law. His education, spanning journalism, law, and advanced legal scholarship, complements a career marked by service to the nation and dedication to public defense. While his judicial legacy is still forming, the breadth of his professional life suggests a continued commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that appellate review remains grounded in both rigorous legal analysis and an appreciation for the practical realities faced by litigants across the federal system.