WASHINGTON, D.C., July 19, 2021 – The Senate voted today 63–33 to confirm Tiffany Cunningham to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which has nationwide jurisdiction over range of subjects, including international trade, government contracts, and veterans’ benefits, as well as patents and trademarks. An experienced intellectual property litigator, Cunningham will become the first Black judge to sit on the Federal Circuit since its creation in 1982. She is the third of President Biden’s circuit court judges to be confirmed, all of whom have been Black women.
For 20 years, Cunningham has worked in patent litigation, representing both individuals and corporations at both the trial and appellate level. She also previously clerked for Judge Timothy Dyk on the Federal Circuit itself. With a background in chemical engineering in addition to her legal training, Cunningham brings an expertise that has allowed her to navigate complex patent litigation focused on biotechnology, computer science, chemical and mechanical engineering, and pharmaceuticals litigation. The American Bar Association unanimously rated her “well qualified” for this judgeship.
Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron issued the following statement:
“We applaud the Senate for the historic confirmation of Tiffany Cunningham to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals today — a position that she is eminently qualified for. As an experienced patent attorney, Tiffany Cunningham brings both technical and legal expertise to the Federal Circuit, which significantly affects how much of the U.S. economy is run, and for whom. The ways that our intellectual property and patent laws are applied can have tremendous implications for workers, consumers and small businesses, and we applaud President Biden for appointing and the Senate for confirming such an outstanding lawyer to the bench.”