Ralph R. Erickson

Ralph Robert Erickson (born April 28, 1959) is an American lawyer who serves as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Education and career
Born in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, Erickson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Jamestown College in 1980 and a Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1984. He was in private practice in West Fargo, North Dakota, from 1984 to 1994. He was a magistrate judge for the Cass County Court, North Dakota from 1993 to 1994. He was a county judge for the Traill, Steele, Nelson & Griggs Counties Court, North Dakota in 1994. He was a state district judge for the East Central Judicial District Court, North Dakota from 1995 to 2003.

District Court service
On January 7, 2003, Erickson was nominated by President George W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota vacated by Rodney Scott Webb. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 12, 2003, and received his commission on March 14, 2003. He served as chief judge from 2009 to 2016. His service on the district court terminated on October 13, 2017, upon elevation to the court of appeals.

Court of Appeals service
On June 7, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Erickson to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, to the seat vacated by Judge Kermit Edward Bye, who assumed senior status on April 22, 2015. A hearing on his nomination before the Senate Judiciary Committee took place on July 25, 2017. On September 14, 2017, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 20–0 vote. On September 28, 2017, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 95–1 vote. His nomination was confirmed that same day by a 95–1 vote. He received his judicial commission on October 12, 2017. He is the chairperson of the United States Judicial Conference Committee on Codes of Conduct.

Personal life
Erickson spoke about his personal struggle overcoming alcoholism during his hearing in front of the senate judiciary committee. Responding to a question by senator Al Franken asking "May I ask you how long you've been in recovery?", Erickson answered "It's over 26 years, Nov. 10, 1990, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, sir,".