Remembering George Hutchinson:
First Clerk of Court for the Federal Circuit and Founding Executive Director of the FCBA
George Hutchinson, the first Clerk of Court at the Federal Circuit, and the Founding Executive Director of the Federal Circuit Bar Association, passed away on June 14, 2026, at the age of 102.
George was a wonderful person, and he had an amazing career. He worked at the U.S. Supreme Court from 1938 until 1962, except when he left to serve to in Europe during World War II. George started at the Supreme Court as a page, and later became an Assistant Marshal. He also was the last person at the High Court to have the title of “Court Crier.”
George served as marshal and later clerk of the U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, and he served as the first Clerk of Court at the Federal Circuit. When the Federal Circuit Bar Association was formed in 1985, he became our first executive director and served in that position until 2003. He also was a long-time attorney with Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner.
Through his service in the Judicial Branch, George gained extensive insight into the practice and procedure at the federal appellate level. He served as president of the Federal Court Clerks Association, a nationwide organization of Federal Clerks and Deputy Clerks. He played an active role in developing rules and practice for both the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals and the Federal Circuit. For many years, he was the manager of the annual Judicial Conference for both of these courts.
George was a true mensch, and remained a wonderful friend to our bar, this association, and our greater community. He epitomized civility and professionalism, and he will be missed.