Senior Judge Moody R. Tidwell III, of the United States Court of Federal Claims, died Thursday, April 2, 2026, at the age of 87.   Judge Tidwell was appointed to the United States Court of Federal Claims by President Ronald Reagan and joined the bench on June 1, 1983.  He took senior status in 1998.

Judge Tidwell was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1939.  He received his B.A. degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1961 and his J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law in 1965.   He served in the United States Coast Guard from 1962-1966.

Prior to his appointment to the court, Judge Tidwell was an attorney in the Office of General Counsel for the United States Government Accounting Office from 1965-1969.  He held several positions in the Department of the Interior from 1969-1977.  In 1974, Judge Tidwell received a Master of Laws degree from the George Washington University Law School.  Judge Tidwell was an associate solicitor for mine safety and health at the Department of Labor from 1977-1980.  From 1980-1983, he was the deputy solicitor and counselor to the Secretary of the Interior.