United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Last updated
United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
(M.D. Pa.)
MD pa seal.jpg
Middle District of Pennsylvania (map).svg
Location Sylvia H. Rambo United States Courthouse
(Harrisburg)
More locations
Appeals to Third Circuit
EstablishedMarch 2, 1901
Judges6
Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann
Officers of the court
U.S. Attorney Gerard Karam
U.S. Marshal William M. Pugh
www.pamd.uscourts.gov

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (in case citations, M.D. Pa.) is a district level federal court with jurisdiction over approximately one half of Pennsylvania. The court was created in 1901 by subdividing the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The court is under the jurisdiction of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

Contents

Because Harrisburg, the state capital, is located within the district's jurisdiction, most federal suits against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are filed in the Middle District. Similarly, because York County Prison served as the largest Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) facility in the Northeast, the Middle District also adjudicated many immigration cases. The courts of appeal are now responsible for most judicial review of immigration decisions, bypassing the Middle District and other district courts.

Judge Matthew W. Brann is the chief judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; William M. Pugh is the United States marshal for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. As of June 21,2022, the U.S. attorney is Gerard Karam. [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]

Current judges

As of December 10,2024:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
Active Chief Senior
24Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann Williamsport 19652012–present2021–present— Obama
20District Judge Christopher C. Conner Harrisburg 19572002–present2013–2020— G.W. Bush
25District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson Harrisburg 19752019–present—— Trump
26District Judge Julia K. Munley Scranton 19652023–present—— Biden
27District Judge Karoline Mehalchick Scranton 19762024–present—— Biden
28District Judge Joseph F. Saporito Jr. Wilkes-Barre 19602024–present—— Biden
29District Judge Keli M. Neary Harrisburg 1981beg. 2025—— Biden
18Senior Judge Yvette Kane Harrisburg 19531998–20182006–20132018–present Clinton
22Senior Judge Robert D. Mariani Scranton 19502011–2022—2022–present Obama
23Senior Judge Malachy E. Mannion Scranton 19532012–2024—2024–present Obama

Former judges

#JudgeStateBorn–diedActive service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed byReason for
termination
1 Robert W. Archbald PA 1848–19261901–1911—— McKinley elevation to 3d Cir.
2 Charles B. Witmer PA 1862–19251911–1925—— Taft death
3 Albert Williams Johnson PA 1872–19571925–1945—— Coolidge resignation
4 Albert Leisenring Watson PA 1876–19601929–19551948–19551955–1960 Hoover death
5 John W. Murphy PA 1902–19621946–19621955–1962— Truman death
6 Frederick Voris Follmer PA 1885–19711946–1967 [Note 1] 19621967–1971 Truman death
7 Michael Henry Sheridan PA 1912–19761961–19761962–1976— Kennedy death
8 William Joseph Nealon Jr. PA 1923–20181962–1989 [Note 2] 1976–19891989–2018 Kennedy death
9 Robert Dixon Herman PA 1911–19901969–1981—1981–1990 Nixon death
10 Malcolm Muir PA 1914–20111970–1984—1984–2011 Nixon death
11 Richard Paul Conaboy PA 1925–20181979–19921989–19921992–2018 Carter death
12 Sylvia H. Rambo PA 1936–present1979–20011992–19992001–2024 Carter retirement
13 William W. Caldwell PA 1925–20191982–1994—1994–2019 Reagan death
14 Edwin Michael Kosik PA 1925–20191986–1996—1996–2019 Reagan death
15 James Focht McClure Jr. PA 1931–20101990–2001—2001–2010 G.H.W. Bush death
16 Thomas I. Vanaskie PA 1953–present1994–20101999–2006— Clinton elevation to 3d Cir.
17 A. Richard Caputo PA 1938–20201997–2009—2009–2020 Clinton death
19 James Martin Munley PA 1936–20201998–2009—2009–2020 Clinton death
21 John E. Jones III PA 1955–present2002–20212020–2021— G.W. Bush retirement
  1. ↑ From 1946 to 1955 Judge Follmer was jointly appointed to the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Pennsylvania
  2. ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 15, 1963, confirmed by the United States Senate on March 15, 1963, and received commission on March 27, 1963.

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

Notable cases

List of U.S. attorneys

The people in the district are represented by the United States attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Courthouses

Within the Middle District, federal courthouses are located in:

Counties of jurisdiction

The Court's jurisdiction includes the following counties:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania</span> United States federal district court in Pennsylvania

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Central District of California</span> U.S. federal district court in California

The United States District Court for the Central District of California is a federal trial court that serves over 19 million people in Southern and Central California, making it the most populous federal judicial district. The district was created on September 18, 1966. Cases from the Central District are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Along with the Central District of Illinois, the court is the only district court referred to by the name "Central" – all other courts with similar geographical names instead use the term "Middle."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York</span> United States federal district court in New York (U.S. state)

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York is the federal district court whose territorial jurisdiction spans five counties in New York State: the four Long Island counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Kings (Brooklyn), and Queens, as well as Richmond, the latter three being among New York City's five boroughs. The court also has concurrent jurisdiction with the Southern District of New York over the waters of New York (Manhattan) and Bronx Counties. Its courthouses are located in Brooklyn and Central Islip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee</span> United States federal district court in Tennessee

The United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee is the federal district court covering the western part of the state of Tennessee. Appeals from the Western District of Tennessee are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the District of Oregon</span> United States federal district court of Oregon (U.S. state)

The United States District Court for the District of Oregon is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union. Appellate jurisdiction belongs to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Matthew P. Deady served as its first judge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois</span> United States federal district court in Illinois

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois is a federal district court covering approximately the southern third of the state of Illinois.

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia is a United States district court which serves the residents of forty-six counties. These are divided up into four divisions.

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia is a United States district court which serves the residents of seventy counties from five divisions from its headquarters in Macon, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois</span> United States federal district court in Illinois

The United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois serves the residents of forty-six counties, which are divided into four divisions. The counties are: Adams, Brown, Bureau, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Coles, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Fulton, Greene, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Kankakee, Knox, Livingston, Logan, McDonough, McLean, Macoupin, Macon, Marshall, Mason, Menard, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Piatt, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Tazewell, Vermilion, Warren, and Woodford counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio</span> United States federal district court in Ohio

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio is one of two United States district courts in Ohio and includes forty-eight of the state's eighty-eight counties—everything from the Columbus area southward. Appeals from the court are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit at Cincinnati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan</span> United States federal district court in Michigan

The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan is the federal district court with jurisdiction over the western portion of the state of Michigan, including the entire Upper Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula from Lansing westward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida</span> United States federal district court in Florida

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida is a federal court in the Eleventh Circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania</span> United States federal district court in Pennsylvania

The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania is a federal trial court that sits in Pittsburgh, Erie, and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is composed of ten judges as authorized by federal law. Appeals from this court are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri</span> United States trial level federal district court based in St. Louis, Missouri

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri is a trial level federal district court based in St. Louis, Missouri, with jurisdiction over fifty counties in the eastern half of Missouri. The court is one of ninety-four district-level courts which make up the first tier of the U.S. federal judicial system. Judges of this court preside over civil and criminal trials on federal matters that originate within the borders of its jurisdiction. It is organized into three divisions, with court held in St. Louis, Hannibal, and Cape Girardeau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee</span> United States federal district court in Tennessee

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee is the federal trial court for most of Middle Tennessee. Based at the Estes Kefauver Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Nashville, it was created in 1839 when Congress added a third district to the state. Tennessee—along with Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan—is located within the area covered by United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and appeals are taken to that court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri</span> United States federal district court in Missouri

The United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri is the federal judicial district encompassing 66 counties in the western half of the State of Missouri. The Court is based in the Charles Evans Whittaker Courthouse in Kansas City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana</span> United States federal district court in Louisiana

The United States Court for the Middle District of Louisiana comprises the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana. Court is held at the Russell B. Long United States Courthouse in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It falls under the jurisdiction of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee</span> United States federal district court in Tennessee

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee is the federal court in the Sixth Circuit whose jurisdiction covers most of East Tennessee and a portion of Middle Tennessee. The court has jurisdiction over 41 counties, which are divided among four divisions. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, it maintains branch facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Greeneville, Tennessee; and Winchester, Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky</span> United States federal district court in Kentucky

The United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky is the federal district court for the western part of the state of Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew W. Brann</span> American judge (born 1965)

Matthew William Brann is the chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

References

  1. ↑ "Gerard M. Karam Sworn In As U.S. Attorney For The Middle District Of Pennsylvania" (Press release). Scranton, Pennsylvania: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle 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. 1 2 3 4 "Listing of U.S. Attorneys | USAO-MDPA | Department of Justice". justice.gov. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.