Jeffrey R. Howard

For those of a similar name, see Geoffrey Howard (disambiguation).

Jeffrey Robert Howard (born November 4, 1955) is an American lawyer who serves as a senior United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Jeffrey R. Howard
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Incumbent
Assumed office March 31, 2022
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
In office June 16, 2015 – March 31, 2022
Preceded by	Sandra Lynch
Succeeded by	David J. Barron
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
In office May 3, 2002 – March 31, 2022
Appointed by	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Norman H. Stahl
Succeeded by	Seth Aframe
25th Attorney General of New Hampshire
In office February 25, 1993 – August 21, 1997
Governor	Steve Merrill
Preceded by	John P. Arnold
Succeeded by	Philip T. McLaughlin
United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire
In office 1989–1992
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Peter E. Papps
Succeeded by	Peter E. Papps
Personal details
Born	Jeffrey Robert Howard (1955-11-04) November 4, 1955 (age 69) Claremont, New Hampshire, U.S.
Education	Plymouth State University (BA) Georgetown University (JD)

Biography

Howard graduated from Plymouth State College (now Plymouth State University) in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and he received a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1981. After law school, Howard was an attorney in the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, rising to become Deputy Attorney General.

Political career

In 1989, he was appointed by President George H. W. Bush to become the United States attorney for the District of New Hampshire. In 1993, he left that position to become the New Hampshire Attorney General, nominated by Governor Steve Merrill.^[1] He served as Attorney General until 1997, when he stepped down, allowing Democratic Governor Jeanne Shaheen to nominate Philip McLaughlin. After serving as attorney general, Howard went back to private practice.

Federal judicial service

In September 2001, Howard was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit by President George W. Bush. The United States Senate confirmed him on April 23, 2002 by a 99–0 vote.^[2] He received his commission on May 3, 2002.^[3] He served as chief judge from 2015 to 2022. He assumed senior status on March 31, 2022.^[3]