Black Judge Chosen for Last Appeals Court That’s Never Had One

President Joe Biden intends to nominate Tiffany P. Cunningham to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she would be the first Black jurist to serve on the nation’s top patent court.

Cunningham is a partner at Perkins Coie LLP. She previously worked at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and clerked for Federal Circuit Judge Timothy B. Dyk.

The Federal Circuit has jurisdiction over appeals in patent litigation. It also reviews decisions made by U.S. Patent and Trademark tribunals. The Federal Circuit also has jurisdiction over international trade and government contract cases. It is the only federal appeals court that didn’t have any judicial vacancies during President Donald Trump’s presidency.

Cunningham’s clients have included Microsoft Corp., Intel Corp., Amazon.com, Blackberry Corp., and General Motors Corp., according to Bloomberg Law litigation analytics.

 “This trailblazing slate of nominees draws from the very best and brightest minds of the American legal profession,” Biden said in a statement, adding “together they represent the broad diversity of background, experience, and perspective that makes our nation strong.”

Cunningham would fill the first seat on the Federal Circuit that’s opened up in the last six years. Judge Evan J. Wallach will take senior status at the end of May.