Michael Gans

Michael Gans is a 1977 graduate of Washington University School of Law and worked more than  forty years in Missouri and federal appellate courts, as a law clerk and administrative assistant to  the chief judges of the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District of Missouri and as chief deputy clerk and Clerk of Court for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. At the  time of his retirement as Eighth Circuit Clerk in April 2024, Gans had served nearly thirty-three years  in that position and was, at the time, the longest-serving federal appellate clerk. In his time at the  Eighth Circuit he served on numerous national judiciary committees, including serving as the chair  of the appellate clerk’s committee and as clerk liaison to the Federal Appellate Rules Committee.  Gans also served as an editor of the 8th Circuit Appellate Practice Manual through its first ten  editions. Following his retirement from the Eighth Circuit, Gans joined the St. Louis law firm of  Dowd Bennett, where he serves of counsel.

In 2001, Gans received the Director’s Award for Outstanding Leadership, which recognizes a court  employee who best exemplifies the Federal Judiciary’s commitment to exemplary performance,  innovation, and dedication to public service. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Eighth  Circuit Bar Association, the Executive Committee of the Eighth Circuit Historical Society, and the  Board of the Thomas F. Eagleton Judicial Learning Center.