Thomas George Nelson (November 14, 1936 – May 4, 2011) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1990 to 2004.

[1] He was in the Idaho Air National Guard from 1962 to 1965 and the United States Army Reserve from 1965 to 1968.

[1] In 1990, Nelson was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit by President George H. W. Bush on July 18 for the seat vacated by the death of J. Blaine Anderson in 1988.

[1] He was on the bench for thirteen years when he assumed senior status on July 14, 2004.

[1] Nelson died at age 74 on May 4, 2011,[1][5] and is buried at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise.