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 "excerpt": "Richard L. Young, born 1953, is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the Southern District of Indiana since 2023.",
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 "markdown": "# Richard L. Young\n\nRichard L. Young (born 1953) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana since 2023.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> He was appointed to the court by President William J. Clinton, receiving his commission in 1998.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> He served as chief judge of the district from 2009 to 2016 before assuming senior status on March 31, 2023.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | William J. Clinton<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | March 2, 1998 (Senate Roll Call 81/0)<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> |\n| Senior status | March 31, 2023<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> |\n| Born | 1953, Davenport, Iowa<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> |\n| Education | B.A., Drake University, 1975; J.D., George Mason University School of Law, 1980<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nYoung was born in 1953 in [Davenport, Iowa](https://www.edgepedia.org/davenport-iowa).<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> He graduated from [Drake University](https://www.edgepedia.org/drake-university) in [Des Moines, Iowa](https://www.edgepedia.org/des-moines-iowa), in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts, and from George Mason University School of Law in Fairfax, Virginia, in 1980 with a Juris Doctor.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nYoung entered private practice in [Evansville, Indiana](https://www.edgepedia.org/evansville-indiana), in 1980, remaining there until 1990.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> He was a partner in the law firm of Hayes & Young in Evansville during that period.<sup>[2](https://www.insd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-richard-l-young)</sup> While in private practice, he served part-time as a public defender for the Indiana Circuit Court, First Judicial Circuit, from 1983 to 1985, and as corporation counsel for the City of Evansville from 1985 to 1987.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup>\n\nIn 1990, Young became a judge of the Indiana Circuit Court, First Judicial Circuit, serving until 1998.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> During his state judicial service, he was active in the Indiana Judges Association, was a longtime member of the House of Delegates of the Indiana State Bar Association, and served as president of the Evansville Bar Association from 1994 to 1995.<sup>[2](https://www.insd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-richard-l-young)</sup> He also served on the Indiana Supreme Court Committee on the Rules of [Evidence](https://www.edgepedia.org/evidence-law) from 1994 to 1995.<sup>[2](https://www.insd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-richard-l-young)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident William J. Clinton nominated Young to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana on July 15, 1997.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> The Senate confirmed him on March 2, 1998, by a roll call vote of 81 to 0.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> He received his commission on March 6, 1998.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> He has chambers in Evansville and [Indianapolis](https://www.edgepedia.org/indianapolis) and presides over cases in both cities.<sup>[2](https://www.insd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-richard-l-young)</sup>\n\nYoung served as chief judge of the Southern District of Indiana from 2009 to 2016.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> From 2009 to 2012, he was a member of the [Judicial Conference of the United States](https://www.edgepedia.org/judicial-conference-of-the-united-states), serving as the Seventh Circuit's elected district judge representative on that policy-making body for the federal court system.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup> He also served on the Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of the Magistrate Judges System from 2003 to 2009, and served on the Judicial Conference Committee for Space and Facilities; he is not listed as a current member in the 2025–2026 Judicial Conference proceedings.<sup>[2](https://www.insd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-richard-l-young)</sup> He assumed senior status on March 31, 2023.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)</sup>\n\n## Notable cases\n\nIn 2015, Young's court approved a Uniform Protective Order on January 15 of that year, providing guidance to counsel on the court's procedures for issuing protective orders and for seeking to file documents under seal.<sup>[2](https://www.insd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-richard-l-young)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Richard L. Young](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390606)\n2. [Senior Judge Richard L. Young, Southern District of Indiana](https://www.insd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-richard-l-young)\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 district court judges › Surnames Wr to Z*\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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