United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (W.D. Pa.) | |
Appeals to | Third Circuit |
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Established | April 20, 1818 |
Judges assigned | 10 |
Chief judge | Joy Flowers Conti |
Official site |
The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (in case citations, W.D. Pa.) sits in Pittsburgh, Erie, and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is composed of ten judges as authorized by federal law. Steven Richard Frank is currently the nominee of President Barack Obama (as of June 2011) to be the United States Marshal for the Western Pennsylvania District Court. Appeals from this court are heard by 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).
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] The court began its first session on December 7, 1818 at the Old County Courthouse in Pittsburgh. Portions of these districts were subsequently subdivided into the Middle District on March 2, 1901, by 31 Stat. 880.[2] At the time of its initial subdivision, presiding judge Richard Peters, Jr. was reassigned to only the Eastern District. This made it possible for President James Monroe to appoint Jonathan Hoge Walker as the first judge of the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The Erie courthouse and division was split from Pittsburgh for initial actions in January 1867, with the Johnstown courthouse and division being split from Pittsburgh for initial actions in 1989.
Current judges
- As of April 24, 2013, a vacancy exists due to the death of Judge Gary L. Lancaster. No replacement nomination is pending.
- As of August 16, 2013, a second vacancy exists due to the resignation of Judge Sean J. McLaughlin. No replacement nomination is pending.
- As of September 30, a third vacancy exists due to Terrence F. McVerry assuming senior status.[3] No replacement nomination is pending.
# | Title | Judge | Duty station | Born | Term of service | Appointed by | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Active | Chief | Senior | ||||||
49 | Chief Judge | Joy Flowers Conti | Pittsburgh | 1948 | 2002–present | 2013–present | — | G.W. Bush |
50 | District Judge | David S. Cercone | Pittsburgh | 1952 | 2002–present | — | — | G.W. Bush |
52 | District Judge | Arthur J. Schwab | Pittsburgh | 1946 | 2002–present | — | — | G.W. Bush |
53 | District Judge | Kim R. Gibson | Johnstown | 1948 | 2003–present | — | — | G.W. Bush |
55 | District Judge | Nora Barry Fischer | Pittsburgh | 1951 | 2007–present | — | — | G.W. Bush |
56 | District Judge | Cathy Bissoon | Pittsburgh | 1968 | 2011–present | — | — | Obama |
57 | District Judge | Mark R. Hornak | Pittsburgh | 1956 | 2011–present | — | — | Obama |
58 | District Judge | vacant | — | — | — | — | — | — |
59 | District Judge | vacant | — | — | — | — | — | — |
60 | District Judge | vacant | — | — | — | — | — | — |
34 | Senior District Judge | Maurice Blanchard Cohill Jr. | Erie / Pittsburgh | 1929 | 1976–1994 | 1985–1992 | 1994–present | Ford |
35 | Senior District Judge | Paul Allen Simmons | inactive | 1921 | 1978–1990 | — | 1990–present | Carter |
36 | Senior District Judge | Gustave Diamond | Pittsburgh | 1928 | 1978–1994 | 1992–1994 | 1994–present | Carter |
38 | Senior District Judge | Alan Neil Bloch | Pittsburgh | 1932 | 1979–1997 | — | 1997–present | Carter |
41 | Senior District Judge | William Lloyd Standish | Pittsburgh | 1930 | 1987–2002 | — | 2002–2012 | Reagan |
45 | Senior District Judge | Donetta W. Ambrose | Pittsburgh | 1945 | 1993–2010 | 2002–2009 | 2010–present | Clinton |
51 | Senior District Judge | Terrence F. McVerry | Pittsburgh | 1943 | 2002–2013 | — | 2013–present | G.W. Bush |
Former judges
# | Judge | State | Born/Died | Active service | Chief Judge | Senior status | Appointed by | Reason for termination |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Walker, Jonathan HogeJonathan Hoge Walker | PA | 1754–1824 | 1818–1824 | — | — | Monroe, Monroe | death |
2 | Wilkins, WilliamWilliam Wilkins | PA | 1779–1865 | 1824–1831 | — | — | Monroe, Monroe | resignation |
3 | Irwin, ThomasThomas Irwin | PA | 1785–1870 | 1831–1859[4] | — | — | Jackson, Jackson | resignation |
4 | McCandless, WilsonWilson McCandless | PA | 1810–1882 | 1859–1876 | — | — | Buchanan, Buchanan | retirement |
5 | Ketcham, Winthrop WellesWinthrop Welles Ketcham | PA | 1820–1879 | 1876–1879 | — | — | Grant, Grant | death |
6 | Acheson, Marcus WilsonMarcus Wilson Acheson | PA | 1828–1906 | 1880–1891 | — | — | Hayes, Hayes | reappointment |
7 | Reed, James HayJames Hay Reed | PA | 1853–1927 | 1891–1892 | — | — | Harrison, B.B. Harrison | resignation |
8 | Buffington, JosephJoseph Buffington | PA | 1855–1947 | 1892–1906 | — | — | Harrison, B.B. Harrison | reappointment |
9 | Ewing, NathanielNathaniel Ewing | PA | 1848–1914 | 1906–1908[5] | — | — | Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt | resignation |
10 | Young, James ScottJames Scott Young | PA | 1848–1914 | 1908–1914 | — | — | Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt | death |
11 | Orr, Charles PrentissCharles Prentiss Orr | PA | 1858–1922 | 1909–1922 | — | — | Taft, Taft | death |
12 | Thomson, W. H. SewardW. H. Seward Thomson | PA | 1856–1932 | 1914–1928 | — | 1928–1932 | Wilson, Wilson | death |
13 | Gibson, Robert MurrayRobert Murray Gibson | PA | 1869–1949 | 1922–1949 | 1948–1949 | 1949–1949 | Harding, Harding | death |
14 | Schoonmaker, Frederic PalenFrederic Palen Schoonmaker | PA | 1870–1945 | 1922–1945 | — | — | Harding, Harding | death |
15 | McVicar, NelsonNelson McVicar | PA | 1871–1960 | 1928–1951[6] | 1949–1951 | 1951–1960 | Coolidge, Coolidge | death |
16 | Gourley, Wallace SamuelWallace Samuel Gourley | PA | 1904–1976 | 1945–1969 | 1951–1969 | 1969–1976 | Truman, Truman | death |
17 | Follmer, Frederick VorisFrederick Voris Follmer | PA | 1885–1971 | 1946–1955 | — | — | Truman, Truman | reassignment |
18 | Burns, Owen McIntoshOwen McIntosh Burns | PA | 1892–1952 | 1949–1952[7] | — | — | Truman, Truman | death |
19 | Marsh, Jr., Rabe FergusonRabe Ferguson Marsh, Jr. | PA | 1905–1993 | 1950–1977 | 1969–1975 | 1977–1993 | Truman, Truman | death |
20 | Stewart, William AlvahWilliam Alvah Stewart | PA | 1903–1953 | 1951–1953 | — | — | Truman, Truman | death |
21 | Willson, Joseph PutnamJoseph Putnam Willson | PA | 1902–1998 | 1953–1968 | — | 1968–1998 | Eisenhower, Eisenhower | death |
22 | Miller, John LesterJohn Lester Miller | PA | 1901–1978 | 1954–1971 | — | 1971–1978 | Eisenhower, Eisenhower | death |
23 | McIlvaine, John WilsonJohn Wilson McIlvaine | PA | 1907–1963 | 1955–1963 | — | — | Eisenhower, Eisenhower | death |
24 | Sorg, Herbert PeterHerbert Peter Sorg | PA | 1911–1979 | 1955–1976 | 1975–1976 | 1976–1979 | Eisenhower, Eisenhower | death |
25 | Dumbauld, EdwardEdward Dumbauld | PA | 1905–1997 | 1961–1976 | — | 1976–1997 | Kennedy, Kennedy | death |
26 | Rosenberg, LouisLouis Rosenberg | PA | 1898–1999 | 1961–1976[8] | — | 1976–1999 | Kennedy, Kennedy | death |
27 | Weber, Gerald JosephGerald Joseph Weber | PA | 1914–1989 | 1964–1988 | 1976–1982 | 1988–1989 | Johnson, L.L. Johnson | death |
28 | Weis Jr., Joseph FrancisJoseph Francis Weis Jr. | PA | 1923–present | 1970–1973 | — | — | Nixon, Nixon | reappointment |
29 | Knox, William W.William W. Knox | PA | 1911–1981 | 1970–1981 | — | — | Nixon, Nixon | death |
30 | Teitelbaum, Hubert IrvingHubert Irving Teitelbaum | PA | 1915–1995 | 1970–1985 | 1982–1985 | 1985–1995 | Nixon, Nixon | death |
31 | McCune, Barron PattersonBarron Patterson McCune | PA | 1915–2008 | 1970–1985 | — | 1985–2008 | Nixon, Nixon | death |
32 | Scalera, Ralph FrancisRalph Francis Scalera | PA | 1930–present | 1971–1976 | — | — | Nixon, Nixon | resignation |
33 | Snyder, Jr., Daniel JohnDaniel John Snyder, Jr. | PA | 1916–1980 | 1973–1980 | — | — | Nixon, Nixon | death |
37 | Ziegler, Donald EmilDonald Emil Ziegler | PA | 1936–present | 1978–2001 | 1994–2001 | 2001–2003 | Carter, Carter | retirement |
39 | Mansmann, Carol LosCarol Los Mansmann | PA | 1942–2002 | 1982–1985 | — | — | Reagan, Reagan | reappointment |
40 | Mencer, Glenn EverellGlenn Everell Mencer | PA | 1925–2007 | 1982–1994 | — | 1994–2007 | Reagan, Reagan | death |
42 | Smith, D. BrooksD. Brooks Smith | PA | 1951–present | 1988–2002 | 2001–2002 | — | Reagan, Reagan | reappointment |
43 | Lee, Donald J.Donald J. Lee | PA | 1927–2011 | 1990–2000 | — | 2000–2011 | Bush, G.H.W.G.H.W. Bush | death |
44 | Lewis, Timothy K.Timothy K. Lewis | PA | 1954–present | 1991–1993 | — | — | Bush, G.H.W.G.H.W. Bush | reappointment |
46 | Lancaster, Gary L.Gary L. Lancaster | PA | 1949–2013 | 1993–2013 | 2009–2013 | — | Clinton, Clinton | death |
47 | Cindrich, Robert J.Robert J. Cindrich | PA | 1954–present | 1994–2004 | — | — | Clinton, Clinton | resignation |
48 | McLaughlin, Sean J.Sean J. McLaughlin | PA | 1955–present | 1994–2013 | 2013–2013 | — | Clinton, Clinton | resignation |
54 | Hardiman, ThomasThomas Hardiman | PA | 1965–present | 2003–2007 | — | — | Bush, G.W.G.W. Bush | reappointment |
Succession of seats
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United States Attorneys
- James Hamilton March 11, 1801
- Andrew Stewart April 20, 1818
- Alexander Brackenridge March 3, 1821
- George W. Buchanan October 22, 1830
- Benjamin Patton, Jr. October 22, 1832
- John P. Anderson June 12, 1839
- Cornelius Darragh March 25, 1841
- William O'Hara Robinson March 29, 1844
- John L. Dawson July 22, 1845
- J. Bowman Sweitzer August 27, 1850
- Charles Shaler April 19, 1853
- Richard Biddle Roberts April 21, 1857
- Robert B. Carnahan April 12, 1861
- Henry B. Swope January 24, 1870
- David Reed March 24, 1874
- Henry H. McCormick June 29, 1876
- William A. Stone July 6, 1880
- George A. Allen December 4, 1886
- Walter Lyon June 21, 1889
- Stephen C. McCandless April 26, 1893
- Harry Alvan Hall June 8, 1893
- B. Heiner September 14, 1897
- James S. Young February 10, 1902
- John W. Dunkle March 17, 1905
- John H. Jordan April 15, 1909
- Edwin Lowry Humes September 10, 1913
- R. Lindsay Crawford September 2, 1918
- Edwin Lowry Humes August 20, 1919
- Robert J. Dodds June 1, 1920
- D. J. Driscoll August 19, 1920
- Walter Lyon March 11, 1921
- John D. Meyer July 18, 1925
- Louise Edward Graham October 31, 1929
- Horatio S. Dumbauld August 17, 1933
- Charles F. Uhl May 12, 1941
- Owen McIntosh Burns May 16, 1947
- Edward C. Boyle November 3, 1949
- John W. McIlvaine July 16, 1953
- D. Malcolm Anderson, Jr. August 19, 1955
- Hubert I. Teitelbaum March 17, 1958
- Joseph S. Ammerman June 5, 1961
- Gustave Diamond February 2, 1963
- Richard L. Thornburgh June 4, 1969
- Blair A. Griffith July 7, 1975
- Robert J. Cindrich September 29, 1978
- J. Alan Johnson July 31, 1981
- Charles D. Sheehy January 15, 1989
- Thomas W. Corbett November 30, 1989
- Frederick W. Thieman August 16, 1993
- Linda L. Kelly August 1, 1997
- Harry Litman October 22, 1998
- Linda L. Kelly April 28, 2001
- Mary Beth Buchanan - September 18, 2001
- Robert S. Cessar - November 17, 2009
- David J. Hickton - August 12, 2010
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 388.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 U.S. District Courts of Pennsylvania, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
- ↑ http://www.uscourts.gov/JudgesAndJudgeships/JudicialVacancies/CurrentJudicialVacancies.aspx
- ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 7, 1831, confirmed by the United States Senate on March 21, 1832, and received commission on March 21, 1832.
- ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 3, 1906, confirmed by the United States Senate on December 11, 1906, and received commission on December 11, 1906.
- ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 6, 1928, confirmed by the United States Senate on December 17, 1928, and received commission on December 17, 1928.
- ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1950, confirmed by the United States Senate on March 8, 1950, and received commission on March 9, 1950.
- ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 15, 1962, confirmed by the United States Senate on July 10, 1962, and received commission on July 12, 1962.
External links
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