On September 15, 2011, President Obama nominated Buch to serve as a Judge of the United States Tax Court, to the seat vacated by Judge David Laro, whose term had expired. His nomination received a hearing before the United States Senate Committee on Finance on December 11, 2012 and was reported favorably on December 21, 2012. His nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 1, 2013. He received his commission on January 14, 2013. His commission will expire on January 13, 2028, at which time his fifteen-year term will end.

Buch served as a consultant at KPMG LLP’s Washington National Tax office as a consultant from 1995 to 1997. He served at the Internal Revenue Service as an attorney advisor from 1997 to 2000 and as senior legal counsel from 2000 to 2001. During his service with the IRS, he represented the IRS in cases before the United States Tax Court. He served at McKee Nelson LLP as an associate from 2001 to 2005 and as a partner from 2005 to 2009. He served as a partner at Bingham McCutchen LLP from its acquisition of his former firm in 2009 until 2013. His focus in private practice was tax controversy matters. During his time in private practice, he also served as an adjunct law professor at Georgetown University Law Center, teaching classes related to tax law.

Ronald Lee Buch (born September 20, 1965) is a Judge of the United States Tax Court.

Buch was born on September 20, 1965 in Flint, Michigan. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1987, from Northwood University. He received his Juris Doctorate in 1993, from the Michigan State University College of Law. He received a Master of Laws degree in 1994, from the Capital University Law School. Both of his law degrees were earned with a concentration in taxation. He served as research editor of the Detroit College of Law Review from 1992 to 1993. He was an Ohio Tax Review Fellow from 1993 to 1994.