{ "id": "eps5m691zn", "slug": "todd-m-hughes", "title": "Todd M. Hughes", "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-d-to-j", "label": "Surnames D to J", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-d-to-j" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-d-to-j", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Surnames D to J", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-d-to-j", "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-d-to-j", "label": "Surnames D to J", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-d-to-j" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Todd M. Hughes, born Todd Michael Hughes in 1966, is a US federal appellate judge on the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit since 2013.", "snippet": "Todd M. Hughes, born Todd Michael Hughes in 1966, is a US federal appellate judge on the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit since 2013.", "node": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-d-to-j", "markdown": "# Todd M. Hughes\n\nTodd Michael Hughes (born 1966) is an American jurist serving as a judge of the [United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-court-of-appeals-for-the-federal-circuit) since 2013.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394276) He was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate in a 98-to-0 vote on September 24, 2013.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394276) His confirmation made him the first openly gay person to serve as a federal appellate judge, according to the [Human Rights Campaign](https://www.edgepedia.org/human-rights-campaign).[2](https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/senate-confirms-nations-first-openly-gay-federal-appellate-judge)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394276) |\n| Appointed by | Barack Obama[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394276) |\n| Confirmed | September 24, 2013, Senate vote 98 to 0[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394276) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1130204) |\n| Born | 1966 in Delaware, Ohio[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394276) |\n| Education | A.B., Harvard College, 1989; M.A., Duke University, 1992; J.D., Duke University School of Law, 1992[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394276) |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nHughes was born in 1966 in Delaware, Ohio.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394276) He received his A.B. from [Harvard College](https://www.edgepedia.org/harvard-college) in 1989 and completed a joint degree program with [Duke University](https://www.edgepedia.org/duke-university), earning both his J.D. with honors and his M.A. in English in 1992.[4](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/07/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-us-court-appeals-federal-circuit) While at Duke, he served as an instructor for the university's writing program.[4](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/07/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-us-court-appeals-federal-circuit)\n\n## Legal career\n\nAfter graduating from law school, Hughes clerked for Judge Robert B. Krupansky of the [United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-court-of-appeals-for-the-sixth-circuit) from 1992 to 1994.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394276) During the Spring 1994 semester, he was an adjunct lecturer in law at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.[5](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDIR-2022-10-26/pdf/CDIR-2022-10-26-JUDICIARY-4.pdf)\n\nIn 1994, Hughes joined the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Civil Division of the [United States Department of Justice](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-department-of-justice) as a trial attorney.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394276) He was appointed Assistant Director for Commercial Litigation in 1999, a role he held until assuming the title of Deputy Director in 2007, and served as Deputy Director until 2013.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394276) Throughout his career with the Department of Justice, his practice was devoted to matters of federal personnel law, veterans' benefits, international trade, government contracts, and jurisdictional issues regarding the [United States Court of Federal Claims](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-court-of-federal-claims).[4](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/07/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-us-court-appeals-federal-circuit) He argued more than 50 cases before the Federal Circuit, including appearances before the en banc court, and received special commendations from the Department of Justice and a special contribution award from the Department of Veterans Affairs.[4](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/07/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-us-court-appeals-federal-circuit) • [2](https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/senate-confirms-nations-first-openly-gay-federal-appellate-judge)\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident Obama nominated Hughes to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on February 7, 2013, together with [Raymond T. Chen](https://www.edgepedia.org/raymond-t-chen).[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394276) • [4](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/07/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-us-court-appeals-federal-circuit) The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination in July 2013 by voice vote.[2](https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/senate-confirms-nations-first-openly-gay-federal-appellate-judge) The Senate confirmed him on September 24, 2013, by a vote of 98 to 0, and he received his commission the same day.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394276) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1130204) He assumed the duties of his office on September 30, 2013.[5](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDIR-2022-10-26/pdf/CDIR-2022-10-26-JUDICIARY-4.pdf)\n\nThe Human Rights Campaign, which had urged Obama to nominate Hughes and supported his confirmation, reported that the vote made him the first openly gay person to serve as a federal appellate judge and the eighth openly gay federal judge with a lifetime appointment.[2](https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/senate-confirms-nations-first-openly-gay-federal-appellate-judge)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Todd Michael Hughes](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394276)\n2. [Senate Confirms Nation's First Openly Gay Federal Appellate Judge](https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/senate-confirms-nations-first-openly-gay-federal-appellate-judge)\n3. [Senate Roll Call Vote, September 24, 2013](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1130204)\n4. [President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/07/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-us-court-appeals-federal-circuit)\n5. [Congressional Directory: Judiciary](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDIR-2022-10-26/pdf/CDIR-2022-10-26-JUDICIARY-4.pdf)\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", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/todd-m-hughes", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/todd-m-hughes.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": "\"Todd M. Hughes\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/todd-m-hughes. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Todd M. Hughes](https://www.edgepedia.org/todd-m-hughes)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/todd-m-hughes](https://www.edgepedia.org/todd-m-hughes). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Todd M. Hughes\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/todd-m-hughes. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Todd M. Hughes, born Todd Michael Hughes in 1966, is a US federal appellate judge on the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit since 2013." }