James Leo Ryan
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 ↓
- Born
- 1932 · age 94
- 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 vote |
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
| University of Detroit Law School (now University of Detroit Mercy School of Law) | LL.B. | 1956 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | B.A. | 1992 |
Questions & answers
- Who appointed James Leo Ryan?
- President Ronald Reagan appointed James Leo Ryan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in 1985.
- Was James Leo Ryan appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?
- James Leo Ryan was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, a Republican. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.
- What was James Leo Ryan's confirmation vote?
- James Leo Ryan was confirmed by voice vote on October 16, 1985. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.
- Which court is James Leo Ryan on?
- James Leo Ryan is a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Sources
Each fact on this page traces to a primary public record.
- FJC Biographical Directory
- Wikidata
- Portrait: United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
How we source & reconcile data → Data & Sources
See something wrong? Report an error. Fixes are logged in the corrections log.
40 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Data as of 2026-08-10. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).