United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Last updated

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(E.D. Pa.)
Seal of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.png
Eastern District of Pennsylvania (map).svg
Location James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse
More locations
Appeals to Third Circuit
EstablishedApril 20, 1818
Judges22
Chief Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg
Officers of the court
U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero
U.S. Marshal Eric S. Gartner
www.paed.uscourts.gov
The James A. Byrne United States Courthouse at 601 Market Street in Philadelphia US Eastern Pennsylvania District Court.jpg
The James A. Byrne United States Courthouse at 601 Market Street in Philadelphia

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (in case citations, E.D. Pa.) is one of the original 13 federal judiciary districts created by the Judiciary Act of 1789. It originally sat in Independence Hall in Philadelphia as the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania, and is now located at the James Byrne Courthouse at 601 Market Street in Philadelphia. There are five Eastern District federal courtrooms in Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Lancaster, Allentown, Reading, and Easton.

Contents

The Court's jurisdiction includes nine counties in eastern Pennsylvania: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, and Philadelphia counties. The district is a part of the Third Circuit, and appeals are taken to that Circuit, except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit.

The chief judge for the Eastern Pennsylvania District Court is Mitchell S. Goldberg.

The people in the district are represented by the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. As of June 21,2022, the U.S. attorney is Jacqueline C. Romero. [1]

History

The United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, 1  Stat.   73, on September 24, 1789. [2] [3] It was subdivided on April 20, 1818, by 3  Stat.   462, [2] [3] into the Eastern and Western Districts to be headquartered in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, respectively. [2] Portions of these districts were subsequently subdivided into the Middle District on March 2, 1901, by 31  Stat.   880. [3] At the time of its initial subdivision, presiding judge Richard Peters Jr. was reassigned to only the Eastern District.

Current judges

As of March 5,2024:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
Active Chief Senior
91Chief Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg Philadelphia 19592008–present2024–present G.W. Bush
84District Judge Gene E. K. Pratter Philadelphia 19492004–present G.W. Bush
86District Judge Paul S. Diamond Philadelphia 19532004–present G.W. Bush
87District Judge Juan Ramon Sánchez Philadelphia 19552004–present2018–2024 G.W. Bush
92District Judge Nitza Quiñones Alejandro Philadelphia 19512013–present Obama
94District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl Reading
Philadelphia
19552013–present Obama
95District Judge Gerald A. McHugh Jr. Philadelphia 19542014–present Obama
97District Judge Wendy Beetlestone Philadelphia 19612014–present Obama
98District Judge Mark A. Kearney Philadelphia 19622014–present Obama
99District Judge Jerry Pappert Philadelphia 19632014–present Obama
100District Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. Allentown
Philadelphia
19552014–present Obama
101District Judge Chad F. Kenney Philadelphia 19552018–present Trump
102District Judge Joshua Wolson Philadelphia 19742019–present Trump
103District Judge John Milton Younge Philadelphia 19552019–present Trump
104District Judge Karen S. Marston Philadelphia 19682019–present Trump
105District Judge John M. Gallagher Allentown 19662019–present Trump
106District Judge Mia Roberts Perez Philadelphia 19812022–present Biden
107District Judge Kelley B. Hodge Philadelphia 19712022–present [Note 1] Biden
108District Judge John Frank Murphy Philadelphia 19772022–present Biden
109District Judge Kai Scott Philadelphia 19702023–present Biden
110District Judgevacant
111District Judgevacant
58Senior Judge Robert F. Kelly inactive19351987–20012001–present Reagan
62Senior Judge Jan E. DuBois inactive19311988–20022002–present Reagan
65Senior Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter inactive19361990–20032003–present G.H.W. Bush
66Senior Judge Harvey Bartle III Philadelphia 19411991–20112006–20112011–present G.H.W. Bush
68Senior Judge William H. Yohn Jr. inactive19351991–20032003–present G.H.W. Bush
69Senior Judge John R. Padova Philadelphia 19351992–20082008–present G.H.W. Bush
72Senior Judge Anita B. Brody Philadelphia 19351992–20092009–present G.H.W. Bush
76Senior Judge Petrese B. Tucker inactive19512000–20212013–20172021–present Clinton
77Senior Judge Berle M. Schiller inactive19442000–20122012–present Clinton
78Senior Judge Richard Barclay Surrick Philadelphia 19372000–20112011–present Clinton
79Senior Judge Legrome D. Davis inactive19522002–20172017–present G.W. Bush
80Senior Judge Cynthia M. Rufe Philadelphia 19482002–20212021–present G.W. Bush
81Senior Judge Michael Baylson Philadelphia 19392002–20122012–present G.W. Bush
82Senior Judge Timothy J. Savage Philadelphia 19462002–20212021–present G.W. Bush
89Senior Judge Joel Harvey Slomsky Philadelphia 19462008–20182018–present G.W. Bush
90Senior Judge C. Darnell Jones II inactive19492008–20212021–present G.W. Bush
  1. By virtue of her seniority of age, Judge Hodge holds seniority over Judge Murphy despite their identical commission dates.

Vacancies and pending nominations

SeatPrior judge's duty stationSeat last held byVacancy reasonDate of vacancyNomineeDate of nomination
22 Philadelphia Cynthia M. Rufe Senior status December 31, 2021
19 Easton
Philadelphia
Edward G. Smith DeathNovember 27, 2023

Former judges

#JudgeStateBorn–diedActive service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed byReason for
termination
1 Richard Peters PA 1744–18281818–1828 [Note 1] Washington/Operation of law death
2 Joseph Hopkinson PA 1770–18421828–1842 [Note 2] J.Q. Adams death
3 Archibald Randall PA 1797–18461842–1846 Tyler death
4 John K. Kane PA 1795–18581846–1858 Polk death
5 John Cadwalader PA 1805–18791858–1879 Buchanan death
6 William Butler PA 1822–19091879–1899 Hayes retirement
7 John Bayard McPherson PA 1846–19191899–1912 McKinley elevation to 3d Cir.
8 James Buchanan Holland PA 1857–19141904–1914 T. Roosevelt death
9 Joseph Whitaker Thompson PA 1861–19461912–1931 Taft elevation to 3d Cir.
10 Oliver Booth Dickinson PA 1857–19391914–1939 Wilson death
11 Charles Louis McKeehan PA 1876–19251923–1925 Harding death
12 William Huntington Kirkpatrick PA 1885–19701927–19581948–19581958–1970 Coolidge death
13 George Austin Welsh PA 1878–19701932–19571957–1970 Hoover death
14 Albert Branson Maris PA 1893–19891936–1938 F. Roosevelt elevation to 3d Cir.
15 Harry Ellis Kalodner PA 1896–19771938–1946 [Note 3] F. Roosevelt elevation to 3d Cir.
16 Guy K. Bard PA 1895–19531939–1952 [Note 4] F. Roosevelt resignation
17 James Cullen Ganey PA 1899–19721940–19611958–1961 F. Roosevelt elevation to 3d Cir.
18 Frederick Voris Follmer PA 1885–19711946–1955 [Note 5] Truman seat abolished
19 James P. McGranery PA 1895–19621946–1952 Truman resignation
20 Thomas James Clary PA 1899–19771949–1969 [Note 6] 1961–19691969–1977 Truman death
21 Allan Kuhn Grim PA 1904–19651949–1961 [Note 7] 1961–1965 Truman death
22 John W. Lord Jr. PA 1901–19721954–19711969–19711971–1972 Eisenhower death
23 Francis Lund Van Dusen PA 1912–19931955–1967 Eisenhower elevation to 3d Cir.
24 Charles William Kraft Jr. PA 1903–20021955–1970 [Note 8] 1970–2002 Eisenhower death
25 Thomas C. Egan PA 1894–19611957–1961 Eisenhower death
26 Harold Kenneth Wood PA 1906–19721959–19711971–1972 Eisenhower death
27 Joseph Simon Lord III PA 1912–19911961–19821971–19821982–1991 Kennedy death
28 Abraham Lincoln Freedman PA 1904–19711961–1964 Kennedy elevation to 3d Cir.
29 Alfred Leopold Luongo PA 1920–19861961–19861982–1986 Kennedy death
30 Ralph C. Body PA 1903–19731962–19721972–1973 Kennedy death
31 A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. PA 1928–19981964–1977 [Note 9] L. Johnson elevation to 3d Cir.
32 John Morgan Davis PA 1906–19841964–1974 [Note 9] 1974–1984 L. Johnson death
33 John P. Fullam PA 1921–20181966–19901986–19901990–2018 L. Johnson death
34 Charles R. Weiner PA 1922–20051967–19881988–2005 L. Johnson death
35 Thomas Ambrose Masterson PA 1927–20001967–1973 L. Johnson resignation
36 Emanuel Mac Troutman PA 1915–20041967–19821982–2004 L. Johnson death
37 John Berne Hannum PA 1915–20071969–19841984–2007 Nixon death
38 Edward Roy Becker PA 1933–20061970–1982 Nixon elevation to 3d Cir.
39 John William Ditter Jr. PA 1921–20191970–19861986–2019 Nixon death
40 Daniel Henry Huyett III PA 1921–19981970–19881988–1998 Nixon death
41 Donald West VanArtsdalen PA 1919–20191970–19851985–2019 Nixon death
42 James Henry Gorbey PA 1920–19771970–1977 Nixon death
43 Raymond J. Broderick PA 1914–20001971–19841984–2000 Nixon death
44 Clarence Charles Newcomer PA 1923–20051971–19881988–2005 Nixon death
45 Clifford Scott Green PA 1923–20071971–19881988–2007 Nixon death
46 Louis Bechtle PA 1927–present1972–19931990–19931993–2001 Nixon retirement
47 Herbert Allan Fogel PA 1929–20021973–1978 Nixon resignation
48 Joseph Leo McGlynn Jr. PA 1925–19991974–19901990–1999 Nixon death
49 Edward N. Cahn PA 1933–present1974–19981993–1998 Ford retirement
50 Louis H. Pollak PA 1922–20121978–19911991–2012 Carter death
51 Norma Levy Shapiro PA 1928–20161978–19981998–2016 Carter death
52 James T. Giles PA 1943–present1979–20081999–20052008–2008 Carter retirement
53 Thomas Newman O'Neill Jr. PA 1928–20181983–19961996–2018 Reagan death
54 Marvin Katz PA 1930–20101983–19971997–2010 Reagan death
55 James McGirr Kelly PA 1928–20051983–19961996–2005 Reagan death
56 Anthony Joseph Scirica PA 1940–present1984–1987 Reagan elevation to 3d Cir.
57 Edmund V. Ludwig PA 1928–20161985–19971997–2016 Reagan death
59 Robert S. Gawthrop III PA 1942–19991987–1999 Reagan death
60 Franklin Van Antwerpen PA 1941–20161987–2004 Reagan elevation to 3d Cir.
61 Lowell A. Reed Jr. PA 1930–20201988–19991999–2020 Reagan death
63 Herbert J. Hutton PA 1937–20071988–20032003–2007 Reagan death
64 Jay Waldman PA 1944–20031988–2003 Reagan death
67 Stewart Dalzell PA 1943–20191991–20132013–2016 G.H.W. Bush retirement
70 J. Curtis Joyner PA 1948–present1992–20132011–20132013–2021 G.H.W. Bush retirement
71 Eduardo C. Robreno PA 1945–present1992–20132013–2023 G.H.W. Bush retirement
73 Marjorie Rendell PA 1947–present1994–1997 Clinton elevation to 3d Cir.
74 Bruce William Kauffman PA 1934–20211997–20082008–2009 Clinton retirement
75 Mary A. McLaughlin PA 1946–present2000–20202013–2020 Clinton retirement
83 James Knoll Gardner PA 1940–20172002–20172017 G.W. Bush death
85 Lawrence F. Stengel PA 1952–present2004–20182017–2018 G.W. Bush retirement
88 Thomas M. Golden PA 1947–20102006–2010 G.W. Bush death
93 L. Felipe Restrepo PA 1959–present2013–2016 Obama elevation to 3d Cir.
96 Edward G. Smith PA 1961–20232014–2023 Obama death
  1. Reassigned from the District of Pennsylvania.
  2. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 11, 1828, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 23, 1829, and received commission the same day.
  3. Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1939, confirmed by the Senate on March 30, 1939, and received commission on May 4, 1939.
  4. Recess appointment; formally nominated on April 4, 1940, confirmed by the Senate on April 24, 1940, and received commission on April 29, 1940.
  5. Jointly appointed to the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Pennsylvania
  6. Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1950, confirmed by the Senate on March 8, 1950, and received commission on March 9, 1950.
  7. Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1950, confirmed by the Senate on April 4, 1950, and received commission on April 7, 1950.
  8. Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 12, 1956, confirmed by the Senate on March 28, 1956, and received commission on March 29, 1956.
  9. 1 2 Recess appointment; formally nominated on February 3, 1964, confirmed by the Senate on March 14, 1964, and received commission on March 17, 1964.

Chief judges

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.

A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

List of U.S. attorneys

See also

Notes

  1. "Jacqueline C. Romero Sworn in as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania" (Press release). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 388.
  3. 1 2 3 U.S. District Courts of Pennsylvania, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center .
  4. "Former U.s. Attorney To Represent Preate Edward Dennis Jr. Was Named As Counsel In The Office Investigation. The Bill Goes To Taxpayers. - philly-archives". articles.philly.com. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  5. "History of the Federal Judiciary". fjc.gov. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  6. "Region's U.S. attorney will resign Michael R. Stiles has spent 8 years in the high-profile post. Delco's D.A. is viewed as a possible successor. - philly-archives". articles.philly.com. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Michael Levy".
  8. 1 2 "Magid out as interim U.S. Attorney in eastern Pa". May 22, 2009.
  9. "President Obama nominates Zane Memeger to replace Pat Meehan | lehighvalleylive.com". lehighvalleylive.com. April 15, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  10. 1 2 "United States Attorney McSwain Announces Resignation". United States Department of Justice. January 14, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.

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