{ "id": "ep0z6jp6cd", "slug": "embry-j-kidd", "title": "Embry J. Kidd", "updated": "2026-10-15", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.law", "label": "Law and justice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law" }, { "id": "society.law.practice", "label": "Courts and legal practice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people", "label": "Legal biographies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us", "label": "United States judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal", "label": "US federal judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3", "label": "Article III judges (district and appellate)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges", "label": "United States courts of appeals judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-k-to-n", "label": "Surnames K to N", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-k-to-n" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-k-to-n", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Surnames K to N", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-k-to-n", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021", "label": "United States · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law", "label": "Law and justice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice", "label": "Courts and legal practice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people", "label": "Legal biographies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us", "label": "United States judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal", "label": "US federal judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges", "label": "United States courts of appeals judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-k-to-n", "label": "Surnames K to N", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-k-to-n" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Embry J. Kidd is an American jurist serving as a United States circuit judge on the Eleventh Circuit since 2025, after serving as a magistrate judge in Florida.", "snippet": "Embry J. Kidd is an American jurist serving as a United States circuit judge on the Eleventh Circuit since 2025, after serving as a magistrate judge in Florida.", "node": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-k-to-n", "markdown": "# Embry J. Kidd\n\nEmbry Jerode Kidd (born 1983) is an American jurist serving as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit since 2025.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891) He was nominated to the court by President Joseph R. Biden in 2024 and confirmed later that year.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891) Before joining the appeals court, he served as a [United States magistrate judge](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-magistrate-judge) of the Middle District of Florida.[2](https://woodruffscholars.emory.edu/about/advisory-bios/kidd-embry.html)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891) |\n| Appointed by | Joseph R. Biden[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891) |\n| Confirmed | November 18, 2024 (Senate voted 49 to 45)[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1180616) |\n| Born | 1983 in Birmingham, Alabama[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891) |\n| Education | B.A., Emory University, 2005; J.D., Yale Law School, 2008[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891) |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nKidd was born in 1983 in [Birmingham, Alabama](https://www.edgepedia.org/birmingham-alabama).[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891) He graduated from Emory College in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in political science, earning high honors as a Robert W. Woodruff Scholar.[2](https://woodruffscholars.emory.edu/about/advisory-bios/kidd-embry.html) He received his law degree from [Yale Law School](https://www.edgepedia.org/yale-law-school) in 2008.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891)\n\n## Legal career\n\nAfter law school, Kidd clerked for Judge Roger L. Gregory of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 2008 to 2009.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891) He then practiced law at Williams & Connolly LLP in Washington, D.C., until 2014.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891) • [2](https://woodruffscholars.emory.edu/about/advisory-bios/kidd-embry.html) From 2014 to 2019, Kidd served as an assistant United States attorney in the Middle District of Florida, assigned to the office's Orlando Division.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891) • [2](https://woodruffscholars.emory.edu/about/advisory-bios/kidd-embry.html) He was appointed a United States magistrate judge for the Orlando Division of the Middle District of Florida on July 25, 2019.[2](https://woodruffscholars.emory.edu/about/advisory-bios/kidd-embry.html) From 2022 to 2024, he was an adjunct professor at Florida A&M University College of Law.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891)\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident Joseph R. Biden nominated Kidd to the Eleventh Circuit on May 14, 2024.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891) The Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing on his nomination on June 5, 2024.[4](https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2026/06/25/11th-circuit-judge-kidd-talks-perception-of-dojs-independence-impact-on-judiciary/) During the confirmation process, Republican senators raised objections after it was reported that Kidd had initially omitted two cases from his Senate nominee questionnaire; the questionnaire was later updated to address the matter.[5](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/3051438/biden-judicial-nominee-failed-to-disclose-rulings/) The Senate confirmed his nomination on November 18, 2024, by a vote of 49 to 45.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1180616) He received his commission on January 2, 2025, and began service on the Eleventh Circuit on January 3, 2025.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891) • [2](https://woodruffscholars.emory.edu/about/advisory-bios/kidd-embry.html)\n\n## Public remarks\n\nSpeaking at the American Constitution Society's 2026 national convention, Kidd said that if the [United States Department of Justice](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-department-of-justice) and its investigations are perceived to have less independence from political actors, that heightens the responsibility of the judiciary to be perceived as independent.[4](https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2026/06/25/11th-circuit-judge-kidd-talks-perception-of-dojs-independence-impact-on-judiciary/)\n\n## Notable cases\n\nOn the Eleventh Circuit, Kidd has authored opinions in several published matters. In *George Martin v. Commissioner, Alabama Department of Corrections*, he wrote the panel's opinion.[6](https://benchlight.org/judges/embry-jerode-kidd) He also authored the opinion in *United States v. Rodney Leroy Brown* and in *John Wilson, Jr. v. Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections*.[6](https://benchlight.org/judges/embry-jerode-kidd) In *Ricardo Devengoechea v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela*, Kidd wrote the opinion addressing claims against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.[6](https://benchlight.org/judges/embry-jerode-kidd) He authored the opinion in *Mt. Hawley Insurance Company v. H&M Builders, LLC*, an insurance dispute.[6](https://benchlight.org/judges/embry-jerode-kidd) Kidd has also sat on panels in cases including *United States v. Joseph Olson*, *Jane Doe v. Carnival Corporation*, and *The Town of Pine Hill, Alabama v. 3M Company*.[6](https://benchlight.org/judges/embry-jerode-kidd)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory: Embry Jerode Kidd](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13761891)\n2. [Emory University Woodruff Scholars: Embry Kidd](https://woodruffscholars.emory.edu/about/advisory-bios/kidd-embry.html)\n3. [Senate Roll Call Vote, 118th Congress](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1180616)\n4. [Law.com: 11th Circuit Judge Kidd Talks Perception of DOJ's Independence, Impact on Judiciary](https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2026/06/25/11th-circuit-judge-kidd-talks-perception-of-dojs-independence-impact-on-judiciary/)\n5. [Washington Examiner: Biden judicial nominee failed to disclose rulings](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/3051438/biden-judicial-nominee-failed-to-disclose-rulings/)\n6. [Bench Light: Embry Jerode Kidd](https://benchlight.org/judges/embry-jerode-kidd)\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 K to N*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 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", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/embry-j-kidd", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/embry-j-kidd.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Embry J. Kidd\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/embry-j-kidd. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Embry J. Kidd](https://www.edgepedia.org/embry-j-kidd)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/embry-j-kidd](https://www.edgepedia.org/embry-j-kidd). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Embry J. Kidd\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/embry-j-kidd. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Embry J. Kidd is an American jurist serving as a United States circuit judge on the Eleventh Circuit since 2025, after serving as a magistrate judge in Florida." }