William J. Riley
William Jay Riley is an inactive Senior United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.Education and background
Riley received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska and earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Law. Following graduation, he was a law clerk to Eighth Circuit Judge Donald Lay, and then he was in private practice until his appointment to the Eighth Circuit. He has also taught as an adjunct professor at the Creighton University School of Law, and at University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Law since 2006.Federal judicial service
He was nominated by President George W. Bush on May 23, 2001 to a seat vacated by Judge Clarence Arlen Beam. He was swiftly confirmed by the United States Senate just over two months later on August 2, 2001. He was the first Bush circuit judge nominee confirmed. He assumed senior status on June 30, 2017.
