John Deacon Bates (John D. Bates) is a Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The FJC directory and the court’s chambers page identify the same person. This page is identity only.
Identity
About John D. Bates
This site is case-file commentary on official acts by a public figure. Titles and dates come from the Federal Judicial Center, the District of Columbia chambers page, Congress.gov, the FISC judges list, and the Senate roll-call. Identity confidence: high. Canonical domain: judgejohnbates.com (there is no plain johnbates.com in this network). Episodes live on the home case file.
Documented roles
- Training. B.A., Wesleyan University, 1968; J.D., University of Maryland School of Law, 1976. Clerk to Judge Roszel C. Thomsen, D. Md., 1976–1977. FJC; DCD bio.
- 1977–1980; 1998–2001. Private practice, Washington, D.C. (Steptoe & Johnson; later Miller & Chevalier). FJC; DCD bio.
- 1980–1997. Assistant United States Attorney, District of Columbia; Chief, Civil Division, 1987–1997. FJC; DCD bio.
- 1995–mid-1997. Deputy Independent Counsel, Whitewater investigation (detail). FJC; DCD bio.
- December 14, 2001. Commissioned United States District Judge, District of Columbia. Nominated by George W. Bush; Senate confirmed Dec 11, 2001, 97–0 (PN906). FJC; Congress.gov.
- February 22, 2006–February 21, 2013. Judge, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court; Presiding Judge from May 19, 2009. Appointed to FISC by Chief Justice Roberts. FISC judges list.
- 2013–January 1, 2015. Director, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (Chief Justice appointment). FJC; DCD bio.
- October 12, 2014–present (as of 2026-09-09). Senior Judge, D.D.C. FJC.
What this site is not
Not a court. Not affiliated with Judge Bates or the District of Columbia. Not a conviction page. FISC service ended February 2013 — do not write that he signed the 2016–2017 Carter Page applications. See the disclaimer.