Judge Michel was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit by President Reagan in 1988. In 2004 he assumed the duties of Chief Judge of the Circuit and a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the governing body of the Judicial Branch. Prior to joining the bench, Chief Judge Michel was Assistant U.S. Attorney in Philadelphia, PA (1967-71); Deputy Assistant Attorney for Investigations (1972-1974); Assistant Watergate Special Prosecutor (1974-75); assistant counsel to the Senate Intelligence Committee (1975-76); deputy chief of the Public Integrity Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice (1976-78); "Koreagate" prosecutor (1976-78); Associate Deputy Attorney General (1978- 81); and counsel and administrative assistant to Senator Arlen Specter (1981- 88). In 2008, Chief Judge Michel was awarded the first annual Lifetime Achievement Award by the Richard Linn American Inn of Court and The Sedona ConferenceŽ Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the development of intellectual property law.

Paul R. Michel is on the Advisory Board for The Sedona Conference.