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 "excerpt": "David M. Ebel, born 1940, is an American jurist serving as a senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit since 2006.",
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 "markdown": "# David M. Ebel\n\nDavid M. Ebel (born 1940) is an American jurist serving as a senior judge of the [United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-court-of-appeals-for-the-tenth-circuit) since 2006.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup> He was appointed to the court by President Ronald Reagan, receiving his commission in 1988.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup> He assumed senior status (semi-retired judge with reduced caseload) on January 16, 2006.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | Ronald Reagan<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | April 19, 1988, by voice vote<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup> |\n| Senior status | January 16, 2006<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup> |\n| Born | 1940, Wichita, Kansas<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup> |\n| Education | B.A., Northwestern University, 1962; J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 1965<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nEbel was born in 1940 in Wichita, Kansas.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup> He received his [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) degree from [Northwestern University](https://www.edgepedia.org/northwestern-university) in 1962 and his [Juris Doctor](https://www.edgepedia.org/juris-doctor) from the University of Michigan Law School in 1965.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nAfter law school, Ebel served as a law clerk to Justice Byron White of the [Supreme Court of the United States](https://www.edgepedia.org/supreme-court-of-the-united-states) from 1965 to 1966.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup> He then entered private practice in Denver, Colorado, where he worked from 1966 to 1988.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup> During that period, he also served as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Denver Law School from 1987 to 1989.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup> Later, he was a senior lecturing fellow at Duke University Law School from 1992 to 1994.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident [Ronald Reagan](https://www.edgepedia.org/ronald-reagan) nominated Ebel on December 18, 1987, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit vacated by William Edward Doyle.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup> The Senate confirmed him on April 19, 1988, by voice vote, and his commission issued on April 20, 1988.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup> He served as a judge of the Tenth Circuit until he assumed senior status on January 16, 2006, on which court he continues to serve.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)</sup>\n\n## Notable cases\n\nIn DeFranco v. Storage Technology Corp., No. 08-1095 (10th Cir. Oct. 20, 2010), a contract dispute in which the plaintiff claimed breach of contract and promissory estoppel, the district court had granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants. Ebel wrote for a panel of the Tenth Circuit that affirmed the judgment, with the court holding jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1291.<sup>[2](https://ezel.ai/judges/ca10/david-m-ebel)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Judges: Ebel, David M.](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ebel-david-m)\n2. [David M. Ebel — Rulings & How They Decide](https://ezel.ai/judges/ca10/david-m-ebel)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States courts of appeals judges › Surnames D to J*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"David M. Ebel\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/david-m-ebel. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
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 "speakable": "David M. Ebel, born 1940, is an American jurist serving as a senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit since 2006."
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