Sixth Circuit / Appointed 1985 / Senior status
James Leo Ryan
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1985 and confirmed by voice vote, James Leo Ryan is a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He earned a law degree from University of Detroit Law School (now University of Detroit Mercy School of Law) in 1956. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, October 16, 1985
- Appointed by
- Ronald Reagan, 1985
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Education
- University of Detroit Mercy 1992 · University of Detroit Law School (now of Detroit Mercy Law) 1956
- Succeeded
- George Clifton Edwards Jr.
- Succeeded by
- Raymond M. Kethledge
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Sixth Circuit · succeeded George Clifton Edwards Jr. | Reagan (R) | voice |
A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
Education
| University of Detroit Law School (now University of Detroit Mercy School of Law) | LL.B. | 1956 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | B.A. | 1992 |
Sources
40 years on the Sixth Circuit. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).