Federal Circuit / Appointed 1982 / Served to 1996

Helen Wilson Nies

Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 and confirmed by voice vote, Helen Wilson Nies was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She earned a law degree from University of Michigan Law School in 1948. She previously served on the U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals. Sources ↓

Lived
1925–1996
Appointed by
Jimmy Carter, 1980
Confirmed
by voice vote
Education
University of Michigan 1946 · University of Michigan Law School 1948
Succeeded by
Arthur J. Gajarsa

Federal judicial service

YearCourtAppointed byVote
1980U.S. Court of Customs and Patent AppealsCarter (D)Voice vote
1982Federal CircuitReassigned

Party letters show the appointing president’s party, not the judge’s own. A voice vote means the chamber approved aloud. No senator-by-senator tally is recorded.

Confirmation vote

Voice vote

The Senate approved this confirmation aloud, with no senator-by-senator tally recorded. Recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989.

Education

Questions & answers

Who appointed Helen Wilson Nies?
President Jimmy Carter appointed Helen Wilson Nies to the U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals in 1980.
Was Helen Wilson Nies appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?
Helen Wilson Nies was appointed by President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.
What was Helen Wilson Nies's confirmation vote?
Helen Wilson Nies was confirmed by voice vote on June 18, 1980. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.
Which court was Helen Wilson Nies on?
Helen Wilson Nies was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Sources

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13 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Data as of 2026-08-10. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).