Molly Rebecca Silfen[1] (born 1980)[2] is an American lawyer who serves as a judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims.

Molly Silfen
Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims
Assumed office
June 13, 2023
Appointed byJoe Biden
Preceded bySusan G. Braden
Personal details
Born1980 (age 43–44)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationYale University (BS)
Harvard University (JD)

Education

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Silfen received a Bachelor of Science from Yale University in 2002 and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 2006.[1][3][4] She taught a class on the practice of law before the Federal Circuit at George Mason Law School.[3]

Career

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She served as a law clerk to Judge Alan David Lourie of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit from 2008 to 2010. From 2006 to 2008 and again from 2010 to 2013, she was an associate at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP in Washington, D.C. She previously served as an appellate attorney in the appellate section of the Civil Division at the United States Department of Justice from 2015 to 2016. From 2013 to 2023, she served as an associate solicitor in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. From 2021 to January 2023, she was detailed to serve as a counsel on the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property.[4] Silfen serves as Chair of the PTO committee for the Federal Circuit Bar Association.[3]

Claims court service

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On February 22, 2023, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Silfen to serve as a judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims.[4][5] On February 27, 2023, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Silfen to the seat vacated by Judge Susan G. Braden, who assumed senior status on July 13, 2018.[6] On March 22, 2023, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[7] On May 4, 2023, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 14–7 vote.[8] On June 8, 2023, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 55–41 vote.[9] Later that day, her nomination was confirmed by a 55–39 vote.[10] She received her judicial commission on June 13, 2023.[11] She took the oath of office on June 15, 2023.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ms. Molly Rebecca Silfen Profile". www.martindale.com. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Molly Silfen". jnc.dc.gov. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "President Biden Names Thirtieth Round of Judicial Nominees" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ Casuga, Jay-Anne B. (February 22, 2023). "Biden Taps PTO Associate Solicitor for Court of Federal Claims". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  6. ^ "Nominations Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. February 27, 2023.
  7. ^ "Nominations". Washington, D.C.: United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. March 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "Results of Executive Business Meeting – May 4, 2023" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  9. ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Molly R. Silfen to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims)". United States Senate. June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  10. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Molly R. Silfen, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims)". United States Senate. June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  11. ^ Molly Silfen at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  12. ^ "Molly R. Silfen took the oath of office on June 15, 2023, as a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims". uscfc.uscourts.gov. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
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Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims
2023–present
Incumbent