Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

This is a testing site for the U.S. Tax Court and not intended for public use. To learn more about starting a case, visit the U.S. Tax Court website.

Judge Cary Douglas Pugh

Chambers Telephone Number: (202) 521-0824

Biography

Judge. Born in Virginia. B.A., in Political Science and Russian, magna cum laude, Duke University, 1987; M.A., in Russian and East European Studies, Stanford University, 1988; J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 1994; Order of the Coif, Virginia Law Review Executive Editor. Admitted to Virginia State Bar, 1994, District of Columbia Bar, 1995, United States Supreme Court Bar, 1997. Served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Jackson L. Kiser, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia, 1994-1995. Practiced law as an Associate, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Washington, DC, 1995-1999. Served as Minority Tax Counsel and Majority Tax Counsel, Committee on Finance, United States Senate, 1999-2002. Served as Special Counsel to the Chief Counsel, 2002-2005. Recipient of the Chief Counsel’s Award 2003. Practiced law as Counsel, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 2005-2014. Member of American Bar Association, Section of Taxation; named John S. Nolan Tax Law Fellow, 2001-2002; served as Chair, Tax Shelter Committee and Government Relations Committee and as Council Director. Fellow, American College of Tax Counsel. Former Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M. Taxation Program. Appointed by President Obama as Judge of the United States Tax Court; sworn in on December 16, 2014 for a term ending December 15, 2029.

Additional Information or Requirements for Law Clerk Applicants:

Candidate must possess excellent writing and research skills; ability to work in a small team environment; ability to work carefully through facts and law. Candidate should not fear tax and will be exposed to Duke basketball but need not love Duke basketball.

Application material required: Cover letter, resume, unofficial transcripts, three recommendations, and writing sample

Last updated: March 31, 2025.