| Paul Peter Rao | |
| Office: | Judge of the United States Court of International Trade |
| Term Start: | November 1, 1980 |
| Term End: | November 30, 1988 |
| Appointer: | operation of law |
| Predecessor: | Seat established by 94 Stat. 1727 |
| Successor: | Richard W. Goldberg |
| Office1: | Chief Judge of the United States Customs Court |
| Term Start1: | 1965 |
| Term End1: | 1971 |
| Predecessor1: | Webster Oliver |
| Successor1: | Nils Boe |
| Office2: | Judge of the United States Customs Court |
| Term Start2: | June 22, 1948 |
| Term End2: | November 1, 1980 |
| Appointer2: | Harry S. Truman |
| Predecessor2: | David Hayes Kincheloe |
| Successor2: | Seat abolished |
| Birth Name: | Paul Peter Rao |
| Birth Date: | 15 June 1899 |
| Birth Place: | Prizzi, Italy |
| Death Place: | New York City, New York |
| Education: | Fordham University School of Law (LLB) |
Paul Peter Rao (June 15, 1899 – November 30, 1988) was a judge of the United States Court of International Trade.
Born June 15, 1899, in Prizzi, Italy, Rao served in the United States Navy from 1917 to 1919. He received a Bachelor of Laws in 1923 from the Fordham University School of Law. He served as an Assistant District Attorney for New York County, New York from 1925 to 1927. He worked in private practice from 1927 to 1941. He was a candidate for Justice of the New York Supreme Court in 1941. He was the Assistant United States Attorney General in charge of customs from 1941 to 1948.
Rao received a recess appointment from President Harry S. Truman on June 22, 1948, to a seat on the United States Customs Court vacated by Judge David Hayes Kincheloe. He was nominated to the same position by President Truman on January 13, 1949. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 31, 1949, and received his commission on February 2, 1949. Rao was initially appointed as a Judge under Article I, but the court was raised to Article III status by operation of law on July 14, 1956, and Rao thereafter served as an Article III Judge. He served as Chief Judge from 1965 to 1971. Rao was reassigned by operation of law to the United States Court of International Trade on November 1, 1980, to a new seat authorized by 94 Stat. 1727. His service terminated on November 30, 1988, due to his death in New York City. He was succeeded by Judge Richard W. Goldberg.