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 "excerpt": "Leonard S. Grasz, also known as Leonard Steven Grasz, is an American jurist serving as a United States circuit judge on the Eighth Circuit since 2018.",
 "snippet": "Leonard S. Grasz, also known as Leonard Steven Grasz, is an American jurist serving as a United States circuit judge on the Eighth Circuit since 2018.",
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 "markdown": "# Leonard S. Grasz\n\nLeonard Steven Grasz (born 1961) is an American jurist serving as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit since 2018.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup> He was appointed to the court by President Donald J. Trump.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup> He was nominated in 2017, confirmed by a vote of 50 to 48, and commissioned in January 2018.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | Donald J. Trump<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | December 12, 2017, by a vote of 50 to 48<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1150313)</sup> |\n| Born | 1961 in Chappell, Nebraska<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup> |\n| Education | B.S., University of Nebraska, 1984; J.D., University of Nebraska College of Law, 1989<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nGrasz was born in 1961 in Chappell, Nebraska.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup> He received a [Bachelor of Science](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-science) degree from the University of Nebraska in 1984 and a [Juris Doctor](https://www.edgepedia.org/juris-doctor) from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1989.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nGrasz entered private practice in [Omaha, Nebraska](https://www.edgepedia.org/omaha-nebraska), from 1989 to 1991.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup> He then served as chief deputy attorney general of the [State of Nebraska](https://www.edgepedia.org/nebraska) from 1991 to 2002.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup> He returned to private practice in Omaha from 2002 to 2017.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident Donald J. Trump nominated Grasz to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on August 3, 2017.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup> The Senate confirmed the nomination on December 12, 2017, by a vote of 50 to 48.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1150313)</sup> He received his commission on January 3, 2018.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)</sup>\n\n## Notable cases\n\nGrasz authored the opinion in *United States v. Jeremy Burton* and in *Jon Holland v. Martin Simmerman*.<sup>[3](https://benchlight.org/judges/leonard-steven-grasz)</sup> He dissented in *Jim Daws Trucking, LLC v. Daws, Inc.*.<sup>[3](https://benchlight.org/judges/leonard-steven-grasz)</sup> Opinions and concurrences attributed to him include *Derrick Jones v. City of St. Louis, Missouri* and *Charles Kleinsteuber v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co.*.<sup>[3](https://benchlight.org/judges/leonard-steven-grasz)</sup> He has also sat on Eighth Circuit panels in cases including *WPX Energy Williston, LLC v. Honorable B.J. Jones*, *Michael Sack v. City of St. Louis*, and *United States v. Hector Benavidez*.<sup>[3](https://benchlight.org/judges/leonard-steven-grasz)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Leonard Steven Grasz](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4025236)\n2. [Senate Roll Call Vote, December 12, 2017](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1150313)\n3. [Leonard Steven Grasz, Eighth Circuit Opinions and Panels](https://benchlight.org/judges/leonard-steven-grasz)\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: 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",
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 "credit": "\"Leonard S. Grasz\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/leonard-s-grasz. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
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 "speakable": "Leonard S. Grasz, also known as Leonard Steven Grasz, is an American jurist serving as a United States circuit judge on the Eighth Circuit since 2018."
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