Eighth Circuit / Appointed 2001 / Served to 2023
William Jay Riley
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001 and confirmed by the Senate 97–0, William Jay Riley was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He earned a law degree from University of Nebraska College of Law in 1972. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, August 2, 2001
- Appointed by
- George W. Bush, 2001
- Confirmed
- 97–0
- Education
- University of Nebraska 1969 · University of Nebraska College of Law 1972
- Succeeded
- C[larence] Arlen Beam
- Succeeded by
- Leonard Steven Grasz
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Eighth Circuit · succeeded C[larence] Arlen Beam | Bush (R) | 97–0 |
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 Nebraska | B.A. | 1969 |
| University of Nebraska College of Law | J.D. | 1972 |
Sources
21 years on the Eighth Circuit. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).