Stephen Spangler Trott[1] (born December 12, 1939) is an inactive Senior United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Trott received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University in 1962.

As a freshman at Wesleyan, Trott was an early member of the folk music group The Highwaymen.

[3][4] Trott was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on August 7, 1987, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated by Judge Joseph Tyree Sneed III.

"He reportedly turned down the opportunity to be nominated for FBI director, preferring the Ninth Circuit vacancy instead.