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 John C. Gurganus (acting)
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 January 21,2025, the acting U.S. attorney is John C. Gurganus.

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. [1] [2] It was subdivided on April 20, 1818, by 3  Stat.   462, [1] [2] into the Eastern and Western Districts to be headquartered in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, respectively. [1] Portions of these districts were subsequently subdivided into the Middle District on March 2, 1901, by 31  Stat.   880. [2]

Current judges

As of January 17,2025:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
Active Chief Senior
24Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann Williamsport 19652012–present2021–present— Obama
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 19812025–present—— 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 Rambo PA 1936–20241979–20011992–19992001–2024 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
20 Christopher C. Conner PA 1957–present2002–20252013–2020— G.W. Bush retirement
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

References

  1. 1 2 3 Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 388.
  2. 1 2 3 U.S. District Courts of Pennsylvania, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center .
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Listing of U.S. Attorneys | USAO-MDPA | Department of Justice". justice.gov. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
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