April 7, 2025 Story by: Editor
Judge Robert L. Wilkins currently serves on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, a position he has held since January 15, 2014. His distinguished legal career spans public defense, private practice, and the federal bench, making him one of the most respected judges in the country.
A native of Muncie, Indiana, Wilkins earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 1986. He later pursued a law degree at Harvard Law School, graduating in 1989. After law school, he clerked for Judge Earl B. Gilliam of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
Wilkins began his legal career in earnest in 1990 at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. There, he served in both trial and appellate divisions before becoming Special Litigation Chief. His passion for civil rights became evident during this period, especially when he served as the lead plaintiff in Wilkins, et al. v. State of Maryland, a pivotal case that challenged the state’s police stop-and-search practices. The lawsuit spurred national reforms in how police conduct and report such encounters, ultimately influencing both legislative and executive policies on a wide scale.
In 2002, Wilkins transitioned to private practice, becoming a partner at Venable LLP. There, he specialized in white-collar defense, intellectual property law, and complex civil litigation.
Beyond his legal achievements, Judge Wilkins played a key role in the creation of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. As Chairman of the Site and Building Committee of the Presidential Commission responsible for the project, Wilkins helped secure the museum’s location on the National Mall and was instrumental in gaining Congressional authorization. The museum opened in September 2016 and stands as a testament to his dedication to preserving African American history.
Judge Wilkins has earned numerous accolades for his contributions to the legal field. In 2002, he was named one of the “40 under 40 most successful young litigators in America” by the National Law Journal, and in 2008, Legal Times recognized him as one of the “90 Greatest Washington Lawyers of the Last 30 Years.” More recently, in 2019, he received both the Harvard Law School Association Award and the Washington Bar Association’s Charles Hamilton Houston Medallion of Merit.
Before joining the D.C. Circuit Court, Wilkins was appointed a U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia on December 27, 2010, a role he held until his elevation to the appellate bench. Judge Robert Wilkins’s career reflects a deep commitment to justice, civil rights, and public service—qualities that continue to shape his work on one of the most influential courts in the United States.
Source: CADC
