Patricia Ann McGowan Wald (/wɔːld/; September 16, 1928 – January 12, 2019) was an American lawyer and jurist who served as the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1986 until 1991.

After spending a year at the U.S. Department of Justice, Wald's tenure as a practicing lawyer included appointments on various presidential commissions and committees.

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Wald as a U.S. Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs.

Her father left the family when she was two years old, leaving Wald to be raised by her mother[6][7] with the company and support of extended relatives, most of whom were factory workers in Torrington and active union members.

Due to her involvement in the labor movement and union work, she was determined to go to law school to help protect underprivileged, working-class people.

[11][12] Along with the national fellowship, Wald also paid for law school by working as a waitress and taking research jobs with professors.

[14] After her graduation, she clerked for Judge Jerome Frank of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for a year.

She briefly entered private practice at the law firm of Arnold, Fortas & Porter for a year before she left to raise her five children.

She continued her consulting work for the President's Commission on Law Enforcement & Administration of Criminal Justice for a year.

[19] Wald was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on April 30, 1979, to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to a new seat created by 92 Stat.

[23] After retiring from the federal judiciary, Wald was the United States's representative to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia from 1999 to 2002.

The commission was co-chaired by Laurence Silberman, a fellow judge who worked with Wald on the bench of the District of Columbia Circuit Court.

Silberman had a great deal of respect for Wald despite their ideological differences and did not hesitate to recommend her appointment to the bi-partisan commission.

[26][27][28] In August 2012, Wald was confirmed by the Senate as a member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board after being nominated by President Barack Obama.

She was the recipient of the Margaret Brent Award of the American Bar Association for achieving professional excellence in her field and influencing other women to pursue legal careers.