Frank Q. Nebeker

Frank Quill Nebeker (born April 23, 1930) is a former judge of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

Frank Q. Nebeker
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
In office 16 December 2004 – 20 December 2021
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Veterans Appeals
In office 20 January 1989 – 10 November 2004
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Ken Kramer
Judge of the United States Court of Veterans Appeals
In office 20 January 1989 – 16 December 2004
Appointed by	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Alan G. Lance Sr.
Director of the United States Office of Government Ethics
In office 23 July 1987 – 20 January 1989
President	Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	David H. Martin
Succeeded by	Stephen D. Potts
Senior Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals
In office 1 October 1987 – December 2021
Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals
In office 20 January 1969 – October 1, 1987
Nominated by	Richard Nixon
Succeeded by	Frank E. Schwelb
Personal details
Born	Frank Quill Nebeker[1] (1930-04-23) April 23, 1930 Salt Lake City, Utah
Spouse	Louanna Visintainer Nebeker
Children	Quill Nebeker, W. Mark Nebeker
Alma mater	Weber College (A.A.) University of Utah B.A. American University (J.D.)

Born in Utah, Nebeker received an associate degree in history from Weber College, a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Utah, and a Juris Doctor from American University. During his law school years, Nebeker worked as a correspondence secretary in the White House. He began his legal career in 1956 as a trial attorney in the Internal Security Division of the Department of Justice. Two years later, he became an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, serving from 1962 to 1969 as the Chief of the Appellate Division. His reputation as an appellate counsel led to his appointment in 1969 as an Associate Judge on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, where he had a reputation as a judicial conservative.[2] He led several of his colleagues in opposition to Chief Judge Theodore R. Newman Jr., the first black chief judge of the court.[3] He retired from the D.C. Court of Appeals in 1987, and served as a senior judge of that court until December 2021.[4]

Nebeker's retirement was short. He served as Director of the Office of Government Ethics, responsible for developing and monitoring the rules which govern the conduct of those in the Executive Branch. When Congress provided for judicial review of veterans benefits decisions and created the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals (now the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims), President George H. W. Bush appointed Nebeker, with the consent of the Senate, to be its first Chief Judge.

In November 2004, he retired from the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and served in recall status until December 20, 2021.[5] Nebeker has been active for many years in the organization and presentation of education programs for attorneys and appellate judges throughout the country.