Who appointed Richard Lowell Nygaard?

President Ronald Reagan appointed Richard Lowell Nygaard to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in 1988.

Was Richard Lowell Nygaard appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?

Richard Lowell Nygaard was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, a Republican. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.

What was Richard Lowell Nygaard's confirmation vote?

Richard Lowell Nygaard was confirmed by voice vote on October 14, 1988. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.

Third Circuit / Appointed 1988 / Senior status since 2005

Richard Lowell Nygaard

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

Appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 and confirmed by voice vote, Richard Lowell Nygaard is a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He earned a law degree from University of Michigan Law School in 1971. Sources ↓

Born: 1940 · age 86
Appointed by: Ronald Reagan, 1988
Confirmed: by voice vote
Education: University of Southern California 1969 · University of Michigan Law School 1971
Succeeded: Joseph Francis Weis Jr.
Succeeded by: Thomas Michael Hardiman

Federal judicial service

Year	Court	Appointed by	Vote
1988	Third Circuit succeeded Joseph Francis Weis 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 Southern California	B.S.	1969
University of Michigan Law School	J.D.	1971

Questions & answers

Who appointed Richard Lowell Nygaard?: President Ronald Reagan appointed Richard Lowell Nygaard to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in 1988.
Was Richard Lowell Nygaard appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?: Richard Lowell Nygaard was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, a Republican. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.
What was Richard Lowell Nygaard's confirmation vote?: Richard Lowell Nygaard was confirmed by voice vote on October 14, 1988. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.
Which court is Richard Lowell Nygaard on?: Richard Lowell Nygaard is a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Sources

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