Joshua Dunlap

Joshua Dale Dunlap
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Assumed office
November 7, 2025
Appointed byDonald Trump
Preceded byWilliam J. Kayatta Jr.
Personal details
Born1983 (age 41–42)
EducationPensacola Christian College (BA)
University of Notre Dame (JD)

Joshua Dale Dunlap (born 1983) is an American lawyer who has served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit since 2025. He was a partner with the law firm of Pierce Atwood from 2009 to 2025.

Early life and education

Dunlap was born in 1983, in Waterville, Maine.[1] He received a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in 2005 from Pensacola Christian College. He received a Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, in 2008 from Notre Dame Law School, where he was note editor of the Notre Dame Law Review. Dunlap served as a law clerk for Judge Paul Joseph Kelly Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit from 2008 to 2009.[2][1]

Career

In 2009, Dunlap joined the law firm of Pierce Atwood in its Portland office as an associate.[1] In 2018, he was promoted to be a partner.[3][2] His focus was on appellate, intellectual property, product liability, and cybersecurity law.

Federal judicial service

On July 2, 2025, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Dunlap to a seat vacated by Judge William J. Kayatta Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.[3] A hearing on his nomination was held on July 30, 2025.[4] On September 11, 2025, his nomination was advanced to the United States Senate by a 12-10 vote.[5][1] On October 30, 2025, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 51-47 vote.[6] Dunlap was confirmed on November 4, 2025 by a 52-46 vote.[7] He received his judicial commission on November 7, 2025.[8]

Personal

Dunlap resides in Scarborough, Maine.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Dunlap, Joshua Dale (July 30, 2025). "Dunlap's Senate Judiciary Committee Questionnaire" (PDF). judiciary.senate.gov. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Joshua D. Dunlap | Pierce Atwood". www.pierceatwood.com.
  3. ^ a b Raymond, Nate; Martinez, Christian (July 2, 2025). "Trump names two new nominees to serve as appeals court judges". Reuters. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  4. ^ "Nominations". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. July 30, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  5. ^ "Results of the Committee Executive Business Meeting". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. September 11, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  6. ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Joshua D. Dunlap to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the First Circuit)". www.senate.gov. October 30, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  7. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Joshua D. Dunlap, of Maine, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the First Circuit)". www.senate.gov. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  8. ^ Joshua Dunlap at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.