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Judge Bruce Kasold (JD 79)
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
“Duty, honor, country”—it is the
famous motto of the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point. This motto still
guides Judge Bruce Kasold of the U.S.
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
more than 30 years after his West Point
graduation in 1973.
“Judges have a duty to their country,”
Kasold said. “A duty to apply the law.”
Kasold was a public servant from the
beginning and retired from the Army as
a lieutenant colonel after more than 20
years of service. Before the Army sent
him to law school, Kasold was an air
defense artillery officer. After graduating
from UF Law, Kasold served in the
JAG corps.
In 1994, he joined Holland & Knight
law firm and worked in commercial and
government contracts litigation.
A few years into private practice,
Kasold again heard the call of public
service, which led him to the position
of chief counsel for the U.S. Senate
Committee on Rules and Administration.
In that position, during the 1990s,
Kasold marshaled the Senateʼs largest
series of campaign finance hearings in a
decade and conducted an investigation
into allegations of election fraud for a
Senate seat. It was the first time since
the 1950s the U.S. Senate conducted a
full investigation into an election.
“The election-fraud investigation
created major turmoil in the Senate,”
Kasold said. “But the chairman of the
committee, Sen. John Warner, treated
all cordially and fairly throughout the
investigation, and I held frequent staff
meetings to ensure all parties understood
the scope, complications and progress
of the investigation. After it was over,
both sides were still talking to me
because, I believe, people perceived
my handling of the investigation as fair.
Thatʼs when I began thinking about
becoming a judge.”
In 1998 Kasold became chief counsel
for the secretary of the Senate and
sergeant at arms. In that non-partisan
position, he advised Senate leaders on
general legal matters and political issues.
He held that position until 2003, when
President George W. Bush appointed him
to the federal bench.
In part, it was encouragement from
Chesterfield Smith (JD 48) a few years
earlier that compelled Kasold to take steps
toward the judicial appointment process.
Smith was overseeing the expansion of
the Washington, D.C., branch of Holland
& Knight when Kasold was leaving
service and seeking to join the firm.
Smith conducted Kasoldʼs interview
and became a friend and mentor, and
eventually encouraged him to look
toward the judiciary.
Hearing roughly 3,000 cases each
year, the Veterans Appeals Court is
different from other U.S. appellate
courts, in that most cases are decided
by individual judges instead of panels.
Individually, Kasold hears roughly 275
cases annually.
“I enjoy serving on this court,”
Kasold said. “I appreciate our veterans.
Our court provides the procedural due
process they deserve.”
Not having practiced in the area of
veteransʼ benefits before joining the
court, Kasoldʼs adjustment to the bench
involved a few months of intensely
studying applicable law.
“The APA doesnʼt apply, but the
concepts are similar,” he said. “And
lessons from my old Constitutional
Law class at UF were also helpful—
actually, those lessons have been helpful
throughout my career.”
Another adjustment involved the
robe itself. “When I first sat down, it was
tight around my back and body, causing
me to rise and lift the robe,” Kasold said.
“It was obvious from the bench and
beyond, which compelled some laughter
in the court.”
Kasold finds nothing negative about
being a judge. He enjoys preparing
for cases and finds oral arguments
stimulating.
“Judges are very well prepared to hear
oral argument, but each judge in a panel
may view the issues from a different
angle,” he said. “It is quite interesting to
listen to the questions other judges have
and the answers provided by counsel.”
“In that non-partisan position, he
advised Senate leaders on general
legal matters and political issues.”
Like many judges, one thing troubles
Kasold: unprepared lawyers.
“It happens more than you might
think,” Kasold said. “Itʼs a waste of the
courtʼs time. What do you do with a 1,000-
page record that has no references, for
example Whether your client is pro bono
or paying a million dollars, a lawyerʼs
service should be professional. Period.”
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