Ninth Circuit Senior Judge Kleinfeld, 80, Dies

Thursday, December 4, 2025

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Ninth Circuit Senior Judge Kleinfeld, 80, Dies

By a MetNews Staff Writer

ANDREW JAY KLEINFELD

1945-2025

Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Senior Judge Andrew Jay Kleinfeld, 80, has died.

Kleinfeld was nominated by President George H.W. Bush on May 23, 1991, and confirmed by the Senate on Sept. 12, 1991. He assumed senior status on June 12, 2010.

He was, at the time of his elevation to that court, a District Court judge for the District of Alaska, a post he had held since 1986.

The jurist died Friday in Alaska following a long illness.

Murguia Comments

Chief Judge Mary H. Murguia remarked:

“He was a respected and beloved colleague, and we will miss his reliable solstice reports, gentle reminders of the unique perspective he brought from Alaska, our northernmost state.”

Senior Circuit Judge Sandra S. Ikuta said:

“From my first days on the court, Judge Kleinfeld was a great friend and mentor. He was a superb judge. His curiosity, skepticism, and exceptional intelligence led him to delve deeply into the record of each case to ensure he reached the right result. He crafted each opinion with the greatest care and precision. I will always remember him for his unparalleled friendliness and humor.”

Large Pistol

Senior Circuit Judge Carlos T. Bea recounted:

“Years ago, the Kleinfelds invited us to their home for a meal. They lived in a house that resembled a log cabin, in the midst of a forest outside Fairbanks. Near the back door was a shelf with a large pistol on it. It may have been a .44 Magnum. I asked Andy why he had such a piece. ‘Out here, when you go for a walk, you may meet a hungry Grizzly bear. I don’t want to be his snack.’ This was typical no-nonsense Andy Kleinfeld.”

Circuit Judge Johnnie B. Rawlinson recalled a visit with Kleinfeld to Las Vegas’s “Mob Museum,” saying:

“Judge Kleinfeld showed up dressed in a pinstriped suit and matching fedora. We will always remember that day with a smile and a nod to Judge Kleinfeld’s joyful adoption of the spirit of the museum.”

Must Be Impartial

In a March 28, 2015 interview for the Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society Oral History Project, Kleinfeld expressed this view:

“[W]hat you need to be a judge is the ability to be impartial….think you really need that quality—to be impartial and intellectually honest. For some people it’s really hard. They really feel like, ‘But I have to do what my feelings say is that right thing to do.’ Well, I don’t—often have feelings of what I oughta do and they’re contrary to what the law is and—the law; that’s my job.”

The interview was conducted by Ninth Circuit Judge Morgan Christen. She recounted that a Ninth Circuit colleague, Dorothy Nelson, now on senior status, had recommended that judges retain their papers so they could be placed in court archives.

Kleinfeld said:

“I did give some thought to that and my own inclination was not to. My impression is that the history profession now is so politicized, I don’t think I wanna trust historians with my papers. So I use the shredder.”