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 four Eastern District federal courtrooms in Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Allentown, Reading, and Easton.
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania | |
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(E.D. Pa.) | |
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Location | James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.) More locations
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Appeals to | Third Circuit |
Established | April 20, 1818 |
Judges | 22 |
Chief Judge | Mitchell S. Goldberg |
Officers of the court | |
U.S. Attorney | David Metcalf (acting) |
U.S. Marshal | Eric S. Gartner |
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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. 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 United States attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania represents the people in the district. As of June 21, 2022[update], the interim U.S. attorney is David Metcalf, appointed March 12, 2025, awaiting confirmation.
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. It was subdivided on April 20, 1818, by 3 Stat. 462, into the Eastern and Western Districts to be headquartered in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, respectively. Portions of these districts were subsequently subdivided into the Middle District on March 2, 1901, by 31 Stat. 880. At the time of its initial subdivision, presiding judge Richard Peters Jr. was reassigned to only the Eastern District.
Current judges
As of January 3, 2025[update]:
# | Title | Judge | Duty station | Born | Term of service | Appointed by | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Active | Chief | Senior | ||||||
91 | Chief Judge | Mitchell S. Goldberg | Philadelphia | 1959 | 2008–present | 2024–present | — | G.W. Bush |
86 | District Judge | Paul S. Diamond | Philadelphia | 1953 | 2004–present | — | — | G.W. Bush |
87 | District Judge | Juan Ramon Sánchez | Philadelphia | 1955 | 2004–present | 2018–2024 | — | G.W. Bush |
92 | District Judge | Nitza Quiñones Alejandro | Philadelphia | 1951 | 2013–present | — | — | Obama |
94 | District Judge | Jeffrey L. Schmehl | Reading Philadelphia | 1955 | 2013–present | — | — | Obama |
95 | District Judge | Gerald A. McHugh Jr. | Philadelphia | 1954 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
97 | District Judge | Wendy Beetlestone | Philadelphia | 1961 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
98 | District Judge | Mark A. Kearney | Philadelphia | 1962 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
99 | District Judge | Jerry Pappert | Philadelphia | 1963 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
100 | District Judge | Joseph F. Leeson Jr. | Allentown Philadelphia | 1955 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
101 | District Judge | Chad F. Kenney | Philadelphia | 1955 | 2018–present | — | — | Trump |
102 | District Judge | Joshua Wolson | Philadelphia | 1974 | 2019–present | — | — | Trump |
103 | District Judge | John Milton Younge | Philadelphia | 1955 | 2019–present | — | — | Trump |
104 | District Judge | Karen S. Marston | Philadelphia | 1968 | 2019–present | — | — | Trump |
105 | District Judge | John M. Gallagher | Allentown | 1966 | 2019–present | — | — | Trump |
106 | District Judge | Mia Roberts Perez | Philadelphia | 1981 | 2022–present | — | — | Biden |
107 | District Judge | Kelley B. Hodge | Philadelphia | 1971 | 2022–present | — | — | Biden |
108 | District Judge | John Frank Murphy | Philadelphia | 1977 | 2022–present | — | — | Biden |
109 | District Judge | Kai Scott | Philadelphia | 1970 | 2023–present | — | — | Biden |
110 | District Judge | Mary Kay Costello | Philadelphia | 1968 | 2024–present | — | — | Biden |
111 | District Judge | Catherine Henry | Easton Philadelphia | 1969 | 2024–present | — | — | Biden |
112 | District Judge | Gail A. Weilheimer | Philadelphia | 1970 | 2025–present | — | — | Biden |
58 | Senior Judge | Robert F. Kelly | inactive | 1935 | 1987–2001 | — | 2001–present | Reagan |
62 | Senior Judge | Jan E. DuBois | inactive | 1931 | 1988–2002 | — | 2002–present | Reagan |
65 | Senior Judge | Ronald L. Buckwalter | inactive | 1936 | 1990–2003 | — | 2003–present | G.H.W. Bush |
66 | Senior Judge | Harvey Bartle III | Philadelphia | 1941 | 1991–2011 | 2006–2011 | 2011–present | G.H.W. Bush |
68 | Senior Judge | William H. Yohn Jr. | inactive | 1935 | 1991–2003 | — | 2003–present | G.H.W. Bush |
69 | Senior Judge | John R. Padova | Philadelphia | 1935 | 1992–2008 | — | 2008–present | G.H.W. Bush |
72 | Senior Judge | Anita B. Brody | Philadelphia | 1935 | 1992–2009 | — | 2009–present | G.H.W. Bush |
76 | Senior Judge | Petrese B. Tucker | inactive | 1951 | 2000–2021 | 2013–2017 | 2021–present | Clinton |
77 | Senior Judge | Berle M. Schiller | inactive | 1944 | 2000–2012 | — | 2012–present | Clinton |
78 | Senior Judge | Richard Barclay Surrick | Philadelphia | 1937 | 2000–2011 | — | 2011–present | Clinton |
79 | Senior Judge | Legrome D. Davis | inactive | 1952 | 2002–2017 | — | 2017–present | G.W. Bush |
80 | Senior Judge | Cynthia M. Rufe | Philadelphia | 1948 | 2002–2021 | — | 2021–present | G.W. Bush |
81 | Senior Judge | Michael Baylson | Philadelphia | 1939 | 2002–2012 | — | 2012–present | G.W. Bush |
82 | Senior Judge | Timothy J. Savage | Philadelphia | 1946 | 2002–2021 | — | 2021–present | G.W. Bush |
89 | Senior Judge | Joel Harvey Slomsky | Philadelphia | 1946 | 2008–2018 | — | 2018–present | G.W. Bush |
90 | Senior Judge | C. Darnell Jones II | inactive | 1949 | 2008–2021 | — | 2021–present | G.W. Bush |
- By virtue of her seniority of age, Judge Hodge holds seniority over Judge Murphy despite their identical commission dates.
Former judges
# | Judge | State | Born–died | Active service | Chief Judge | Senior status | Appointed by | Reason for termination |
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1 | Richard Peters | PA | 1744–1828 | 1818–1828 | — | — | Washington/Operation of law | death |
2 | Joseph Hopkinson | PA | 1770–1842 | 1828–1842 | — | — | J.Q. Adams | death |
3 | Archibald Randall | PA | 1797–1846 | 1842–1846 | — | — | Tyler | death |
4 | John K. Kane | PA | 1795–1858 | 1846–1858 | — | — | Polk | death |
5 | John Cadwalader | PA | 1805–1879 | 1858–1879 | — | — | Buchanan | death |
6 | William Butler | PA | 1822–1909 | 1879–1899 | — | — | Hayes | retirement |
7 | John Bayard McPherson | PA | 1846–1919 | 1899–1912 | — | — | McKinley | elevation to 3d Cir. |
8 | James Buchanan Holland | PA | 1857–1914 | 1904–1914 | — | — | T. Roosevelt | death |
9 | Joseph Whitaker Thompson | PA | 1861–1946 | 1912–1931 | — | — | Taft | elevation to 3d Cir. |
10 | Oliver Booth Dickinson | PA | 1857–1939 | 1914–1939 | — | — | Wilson | death |
11 | Charles Louis McKeehan | PA | 1876–1925 | 1923–1925 | — | — | Harding | death |
12 | William Huntington Kirkpatrick | PA | 1885–1970 | 1927–1958 | 1948–1958 | 1958–1970 | Coolidge | death |
13 | George Austin Welsh | PA | 1878–1970 | 1932–1957 | — | 1957–1970 | Hoover | death |
14 | Albert Branson Maris | PA | 1893–1989 | 1936–1938 | — | — | F. Roosevelt | elevation to 3d Cir. |
15 | Harry Ellis Kalodner | PA | 1896–1977 | 1938–1946 | — | — | F. Roosevelt | elevation to 3d Cir. |
16 | Guy K. Bard | PA | 1895–1953 | 1939–1952 | — | — | F. Roosevelt | resignation |
17 | James Cullen Ganey | PA | 1899–1972 | 1940–1961 | 1958–1961 | — | F. Roosevelt | elevation to 3d Cir. |
18 | Frederick Voris Follmer | PA | 1885–1971 | 1946–1955 | — | — | Truman | seat abolished |
19 | James P. McGranery | PA | 1895–1962 | 1946–1952 | — | — | Truman | resignation |
20 | Thomas James Clary | PA | 1899–1977 | 1949–1969 | 1961–1969 | 1969–1977 | Truman | death |
21 | Allan Kuhn Grim | PA | 1904–1965 | 1949–1961 | — | 1961–1965 | Truman | death |
22 | John W. Lord Jr. | PA | 1901–1972 | 1954–1971 | 1969–1971 | 1971–1972 | Eisenhower | death |
23 | Francis Lund Van Dusen | PA | 1912–1993 | 1955–1967 | — | — | Eisenhower | elevation to 3d Cir. |
24 | Charles William Kraft Jr. | PA | 1903–2002 | 1955–1970 | — | 1970–2002 | Eisenhower | death |
25 | Thomas C. Egan | PA | 1894–1961 | 1957–1961 | — | — | Eisenhower | death |
26 | Harold Kenneth Wood | PA | 1906–1972 | 1959–1971 | — | 1971–1972 | Eisenhower | death |
27 | Joseph Simon Lord III | PA | 1912–1991 | 1961–1982 | 1971–1982 | 1982–1991 | Kennedy | death |
28 | Abraham Lincoln Freedman | PA | 1904–1971 | 1961–1964 | — | — | Kennedy | elevation to 3d Cir. |
29 | Alfred Leopold Luongo | PA | 1920–1986 | 1961–1986 | 1982–1986 | — | Kennedy | death |
30 | Ralph C. Body | PA | 1903–1973 | 1962–1972 | — | 1972–1973 | Kennedy | death |
31 | A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. | PA | 1928–1998 | 1964–1977 | — | — | L. Johnson | elevation to 3d Cir. |
32 | John Morgan Davis | PA | 1906–1984 | 1964–1974 | — | 1974–1984 | L. Johnson | death |
33 | John P. Fullam | PA | 1921–2018 | 1966–1990 | 1986–1990 | 1990–2018 | L. Johnson | death |
34 | Charles R. Weiner | PA | 1922–2005 | 1967–1988 | — | 1988–2005 | L. Johnson | death |
35 | Thomas Ambrose Masterson | PA | 1927–2000 | 1967–1973 | — | — | L. Johnson | resignation |
36 | Emanuel Mac Troutman | PA | 1915–2004 | 1967–1982 | — | 1982–2004 | L. Johnson | death |
37 | John Berne Hannum | PA | 1915–2007 | 1969–1984 | — | 1984–2007 | Nixon | death |
38 | Edward R. Becker | PA | 1933–2006 | 1970–1982 | — | — | Nixon | elevation to 3d Cir. |
39 | John William Ditter Jr. | PA | 1921–2019 | 1970–1986 | — | 1986–2019 | Nixon | death |
40 | Daniel Henry Huyett III | PA | 1921–1998 | 1970–1988 | — | 1988–1998 | Nixon | death |
41 | Donald West VanArtsdalen | PA | 1919–2019 | 1970–1985 | — | 1985–2019 | Nixon | death |
42 | James Henry Gorbey | PA | 1920–1977 | 1970–1977 | — | — | Nixon | death |
43 | Raymond J. Broderick | PA | 1914–2000 | 1971–1984 | — | 1984–2000 | Nixon | death |
44 | Clarence Charles Newcomer | PA | 1923–2005 | 1971–1988 | — | 1988–2005 | Nixon | death |
45 | Clifford Scott Green | PA | 1923–2007 | 1971–1988 | — | 1988–2007 | Nixon | death |
46 | Louis Bechtle | PA | 1927–2024 | 1972–1993 | 1990–1993 | 1993–2001 | Nixon | retirement |
47 | Herbert Allan Fogel | PA | 1929–2002 | 1973–1978 | — | — | Nixon | resignation |
48 | Joseph Leo McGlynn Jr. | PA | 1925–1999 | 1974–1990 | — | 1990–1999 | Nixon | death |
49 | Edward N. Cahn | PA | 1933–present | 1974–1998 | 1993–1998 | — | Ford | retirement |
50 | Louis H. Pollak | PA | 1922–2012 | 1978–1991 | — | 1991–2012 | Carter | death |
51 | Norma Levy Shapiro | PA | 1928–2016 | 1978–1998 | — | 1998–2016 | Carter | death |
52 | James T. Giles | PA | 1943–present | 1979–2008 | 1999–2005 | 2008–2008 | Carter | retirement |
53 | Thomas Newman O'Neill Jr. | PA | 1928–2018 | 1983–1996 | — | 1996–2018 | Reagan | death |
54 | Marvin Katz | PA | 1930–2010 | 1983–1997 | — | 1997–2010 | Reagan | death |
55 | James McGirr Kelly | PA | 1928–2005 | 1983–1996 | — | 1996–2005 | Reagan | death |
56 | Anthony Joseph Scirica | PA | 1940–present | 1984–1987 | — | — | Reagan | elevation to 3d Cir. |
57 | Edmund V. Ludwig | PA | 1928–2016 | 1985–1997 | — | 1997–2016 | Reagan | death |
59 | Robert S. Gawthrop III | PA | 1942–1999 | 1987–1999 | — | — | Reagan | death |
60 | Franklin Van Antwerpen | PA | 1941–2016 | 1987–2004 | — | — | Reagan | elevation to 3d Cir. |
61 | Lowell A. Reed Jr. | PA | 1930–2020 | 1988–1999 | — | 1999–2020 | Reagan | death |
63 | Herbert J. Hutton | PA | 1937–2007 | 1988–2003 | — | 2003–2007 | Reagan | death |
64 | Jay Waldman | PA | 1944–2003 | 1988–2003 | — | — | Reagan | death |
67 | Stewart Dalzell | PA | 1943–2019 | 1991–2013 | — | 2013–2016 | G.H.W. Bush | retirement |
70 | J. Curtis Joyner | PA | 1948–present | 1992–2013 | 2011–2013 | 2013–2021 | G.H.W. Bush | retirement |
71 | Eduardo C. Robreno | PA | 1945–present | 1992–2013 | — | 2013–2023 | G.H.W. Bush | retirement |
73 | Marjorie Rendell | PA | 1947–present | 1994–1997 | — | — | Clinton | elevation to 3d Cir. |
74 | Bruce William Kauffman | PA | 1934–2021 | 1997–2008 | — | 2008–2009 | Clinton | retirement |
75 | Mary A. McLaughlin | PA | 1946–present | 2000–2020 | — | 2013–2020 | Clinton | retirement |
83 | James Knoll Gardner | PA | 1940–2017 | 2002–2017 | — | 2017 | G.W. Bush | death |
84 | Gene E. K. Pratter | PA | 1949–2024 | 2004–2024 | — | — | G.W. Bush | death |
85 | Lawrence F. Stengel | PA | 1952–present | 2004–2018 | 2017–2018 | — | G.W. Bush | retirement |
88 | Thomas M. Golden | PA | 1947–2010 | 2006–2010 | — | — | G.W. Bush | death |
93 | L. Felipe Restrepo | PA | 1959–present | 2013–2016 | — | — | Obama | elevation to 3d Cir. |
96 | Edward G. Smith | PA | 1961–2023 | 2014–2023 | — | — | Obama | death |
- Reassigned from the District of Pennsylvania.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 11, 1828, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 23, 1829, and received commission the same day.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1939, confirmed by the Senate on March 30, 1939, and received commission on May 4, 1939.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on April 4, 1940, confirmed by the Senate on April 24, 1940, and received commission on April 29, 1940.
- Jointly appointed to the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Pennsylvania
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1950, confirmed by the Senate on March 8, 1950, and received commission on March 9, 1950.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1950, confirmed by the Senate on April 4, 1950, and received commission on April 7, 1950.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 12, 1956, confirmed by the Senate on March 28, 1956, and received commission on March 29, 1956.
- 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
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List of U.S. attorneys
- William Lewis (1789–1791)
- William Rawle (1791–1799)
- Jared Ingersoll (1800–1801)
- Alexander Dallas (1801–1814)
- Charles Jared Ingersoll (1815–1829)
- George M. Dallas (1829–1831)
- Henry D. Gilpin (1831–1837)
- John M. Read (1837–1841)
- William M. Meredith (1841–1842)
- Henry M. Watts (1842–1845)
- Thomas M. Pettit (1845–1849)
- John W. Ashmead (1849–1854)
- James C. Van Dyke (1854–1857)
- George M. Wharton (1857–1860)
- George A. Coffey (1861–1864)
- Charles Gilpin (1864–1868)
- John P. O'Neil (1868–1869)
- Aubrey H. Smith (1869–1873)
- William McMichael (1873–1875)
- John K. Valentine (1875–1888)
- John R. Read (1888–1892)
- Ellery P. Ingham (1892–1896)
- James M. Beck (1896–1900)
- James Buchanan Holland (1900–1904)
- Joseph Whitaker Thompson (1904–1912)
- John C. Smartley (1912–1913)
- Francis F. Kane (1913–1919)
- Charles D. McAvoy (1920–1921)
- George W. Coles (1921–1929)
- Calvin S. Boyer (1929–1930)
- Howard B. Lewis (Acting) (1931)
- Edward W. Wells (1931–1933)
- Charles D. McAvoy (Second Time) (1933–1937)
- Guy K. Bard (Acting) (1937)
- James Cullen Ganey (1937–1940)
- Edward A. Kallick (Acting) (1940)
- Gerald A. Gleeson (1940–1953)
- Joseph G. Hildenberger (Acting) (1953)
- W. Wilson White (1953–1957)
- G. Clinton Fogwell, Jr. (Acting) (1957)
- Harold Kenneth Wood (1957–1959)
- Joseph Leo McGlynn, Jr. (Acting) (1959)
- Walter E. Alessandroni (1959–1961)
- Joseph Simon Lord III (1961)
- Drew J. T. O'Keefe (1961–1969)
- Louis C. Bechtle (1969–1972)
- Carl Joseph Melone (Acting) (1972)
- Robert E. J. Curran (1972–1976)
- Jonas Clayton Undercofler III (Acting) (1976)
- (1976–1978)
- Robert N. DeLuca (Acting) (1978)
- Peter F. Vaira, Jr. (1978–1983)
- Edward S. G. Dennis, Jr. (1983–1988)
- Michael M. Baylson (1988–1993)
- Michael J. Rotko (Acting) (1993)
- Michael R. Stiles (1993–2001)
- Michael L. Levy (Acting) (2001)
- Pat Meehan (2001–2008)
- Laurie Magid (Acting) (2008–2009)
- Michael L. Levy (Acting, Second Time) (2009–2010)
- Zane David Memeger (2010–2016)
- Louis D. Lappen (Acting) (2016–2018)
- William M. McSwain (2018–2021)
- Jennifer Arbittier Williams (Acting) (2021–2022)
- Jacqueline C. Romero (2022–2025)
- David Metcalf
See also
- Courts of Pennsylvania
- List of current United States district judges
- List of United States federal courthouses in Pennsylvania
Notes
- "David Metcalf Appointed United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania" (Press release). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. March 13, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
- Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 388.
- U.S. District Courts of Pennsylvania, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
- "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". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
- "History of the Federal Judiciary". fjc.gov. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
- "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". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
- "Michael Levy".
- "Magid out as interim U.S. Attorney in eastern Pa". May 22, 2009.
- "President Obama nominates Zane Memeger to replace Pat Meehan | lehighvalleylive.com". lehighvalleylive.com. April 15, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
- "United States Attorney McSwain Announces Resignation". United States Department of Justice. January 14, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
External links
- Official site
- Works by United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania at Project Gutenberg
- Works by or about United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania at the Internet Archive
Author: www.NiNa.Az
Publication date:
wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library, article, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games, mobile, phone, android, ios, apple, mobile phone, samsung, iphone, xiomi, xiaomi, redmi, honor, oppo, nokia, sonya, mi, pc, web, computer
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 four Eastern District federal courtrooms in Pennsylvania Philadelphia Allentown Reading and Easton United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania E D Pa LocationJames A Byrne U S Courthouse Philadelphia Pennsylvania U S More locationsAllentownReadingEastonAppeals toThird CircuitEstablishedApril 20 1818Judges22Chief JudgeMitchell S GoldbergOfficers of the courtU S AttorneyDavid Metcalf acting U S MarshalEric S Gartnerwww wbr paed wbr uscourts wbr gov The James A Byrne United States Courthouse at 601 Market Street in Philadelphia 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 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 United States attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania represents the people in the district As of June 21 2022 update the interim U S attorney is David Metcalf appointed March 12 2025 awaiting confirmation HistoryThe 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 It was subdivided on April 20 1818 by 3 Stat 462 into the Eastern and Western Districts to be headquartered in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh respectively Portions of these districts were subsequently subdivided into the Middle District on March 2 1901 by 31 Stat 880 At the time of its initial subdivision presiding judge Richard Peters Jr was reassigned to only the Eastern District Current judgesAs of January 3 2025 update Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by Active Chief Senior 91 Chief Judge Mitchell S Goldberg Philadelphia 1959 2008 present 2024 present G W Bush 86 District Judge Paul S Diamond Philadelphia 1953 2004 present G W Bush 87 District Judge Juan Ramon Sanchez Philadelphia 1955 2004 present 2018 2024 G W Bush 92 District Judge Nitza Quinones Alejandro Philadelphia 1951 2013 present Obama 94 District Judge Jeffrey L Schmehl Reading Philadelphia 1955 2013 present Obama 95 District Judge Gerald A McHugh Jr Philadelphia 1954 2014 present Obama 97 District Judge Wendy Beetlestone Philadelphia 1961 2014 present Obama 98 District Judge Mark A Kearney Philadelphia 1962 2014 present Obama 99 District Judge Jerry Pappert Philadelphia 1963 2014 present Obama 100 District Judge Joseph F Leeson Jr Allentown Philadelphia 1955 2014 present Obama 101 District Judge Chad F Kenney Philadelphia 1955 2018 present Trump 102 District Judge Joshua Wolson Philadelphia 1974 2019 present Trump 103 District Judge John Milton Younge Philadelphia 1955 2019 present Trump 104 District Judge Karen S Marston Philadelphia 1968 2019 present Trump 105 District Judge John M Gallagher Allentown 1966 2019 present Trump 106 District Judge Mia Roberts Perez Philadelphia 1981 2022 present Biden 107 District Judge Kelley B Hodge Philadelphia 1971 2022 present Biden 108 District Judge John Frank Murphy Philadelphia 1977 2022 present Biden 109 District Judge Kai Scott Philadelphia 1970 2023 present Biden 110 District Judge Mary Kay Costello Philadelphia 1968 2024 present Biden 111 District Judge Catherine Henry Easton Philadelphia 1969 2024 present Biden 112 District Judge Gail A Weilheimer Philadelphia 1970 2025 present Biden 58 Senior Judge Robert F Kelly inactive 1935 1987 2001 2001 present Reagan 62 Senior Judge Jan E DuBois inactive 1931 1988 2002 2002 present Reagan 65 Senior Judge Ronald L Buckwalter inactive 1936 1990 2003 2003 present G H W Bush 66 Senior Judge Harvey Bartle III Philadelphia 1941 1991 2011 2006 2011 2011 present G H W Bush 68 Senior Judge William H Yohn Jr inactive 1935 1991 2003 2003 present G H W Bush 69 Senior Judge John R Padova Philadelphia 1935 1992 2008 2008 present G H W Bush 72 Senior Judge Anita B Brody Philadelphia 1935 1992 2009 2009 present G H W Bush 76 Senior Judge Petrese B Tucker inactive 1951 2000 2021 2013 2017 2021 present Clinton 77 Senior Judge Berle M Schiller inactive 1944 2000 2012 2012 present Clinton 78 Senior Judge Richard Barclay Surrick Philadelphia 1937 2000 2011 2011 present Clinton 79 Senior Judge Legrome D Davis inactive 1952 2002 2017 2017 present G W Bush 80 Senior Judge Cynthia M Rufe Philadelphia 1948 2002 2021 2021 present G W Bush 81 Senior Judge Michael Baylson Philadelphia 1939 2002 2012 2012 present G W Bush 82 Senior Judge Timothy J Savage Philadelphia 1946 2002 2021 2021 present G W Bush 89 Senior Judge Joel Harvey Slomsky Philadelphia 1946 2008 2018 2018 present G W Bush 90 Senior Judge C Darnell Jones II inactive 1949 2008 2021 2021 present G W Bush By virtue of her seniority of age Judge Hodge holds seniority over Judge Murphy despite their identical commission dates Former judges Judge State Born died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for termination 1 Richard Peters PA 1744 1828 1818 1828 Washington Operation of law death 2 Joseph Hopkinson PA 1770 1842 1828 1842 J Q Adams death 3 Archibald Randall PA 1797 1846 1842 1846 Tyler death 4 John K Kane PA 1795 1858 1846 1858 Polk death 5 John Cadwalader PA 1805 1879 1858 1879 Buchanan death 6 William Butler PA 1822 1909 1879 1899 Hayes retirement 7 John Bayard McPherson PA 1846 1919 1899 1912 McKinley elevation to 3d Cir 8 James Buchanan Holland PA 1857 1914 1904 1914 T Roosevelt death 9 Joseph Whitaker Thompson PA 1861 1946 1912 1931 Taft elevation to 3d Cir 10 Oliver Booth Dickinson PA 1857 1939 1914 1939 Wilson death 11 Charles Louis McKeehan PA 1876 1925 1923 1925 Harding death 12 William Huntington Kirkpatrick PA 1885 1970 1927 1958 1948 1958 1958 1970 Coolidge death 13 George Austin Welsh PA 1878 1970 1932 1957 1957 1970 Hoover death 14 Albert Branson Maris PA 1893 1989 1936 1938 F Roosevelt elevation to 3d Cir 15 Harry Ellis Kalodner PA 1896 1977 1938 1946 F Roosevelt elevation to 3d Cir 16 Guy K Bard PA 1895 1953 1939 1952 F Roosevelt resignation 17 James Cullen Ganey PA 1899 1972 1940 1961 1958 1961 F Roosevelt elevation to 3d Cir 18 Frederick Voris Follmer PA 1885 1971 1946 1955 Truman seat abolished 19 James P McGranery PA 1895 1962 1946 1952 Truman resignation 20 Thomas James Clary PA 1899 1977 1949 1969 1961 1969 1969 1977 Truman death 21 Allan Kuhn Grim PA 1904 1965 1949 1961 1961 1965 Truman death 22 John W Lord Jr PA 1901 1972 1954 1971 1969 1971 1971 1972 Eisenhower death 23 Francis Lund Van Dusen PA 1912 1993 1955 1967 Eisenhower elevation to 3d Cir 24 Charles William Kraft Jr PA 1903 2002 1955 1970 1970 2002 Eisenhower death 25 Thomas C Egan PA 1894 1961 1957 1961 Eisenhower death 26 Harold Kenneth Wood PA 1906 1972 1959 1971 1971 1972 Eisenhower death 27 Joseph Simon Lord III PA 1912 1991 1961 1982 1971 1982 1982 1991 Kennedy death 28 Abraham Lincoln Freedman PA 1904 1971 1961 1964 Kennedy elevation to 3d Cir 29 Alfred Leopold Luongo PA 1920 1986 1961 1986 1982 1986 Kennedy death 30 Ralph C Body PA 1903 1973 1962 1972 1972 1973 Kennedy death 31 A Leon Higginbotham Jr PA 1928 1998 1964 1977 L Johnson elevation to 3d Cir 32 John Morgan Davis PA 1906 1984 1964 1974 1974 1984 L Johnson death 33 John P Fullam PA 1921 2018 1966 1990 1986 1990 1990 2018 L Johnson death 34 Charles R Weiner PA 1922 2005 1967 1988 1988 2005 L Johnson death 35 Thomas Ambrose Masterson PA 1927 2000 1967 1973 L Johnson resignation 36 Emanuel Mac Troutman PA 1915 2004 1967 1982 1982 2004 L Johnson death 37 John Berne Hannum PA 1915 2007 1969 1984 1984 2007 Nixon death 38 Edward R Becker PA 1933 2006 1970 1982 Nixon elevation to 3d Cir 39 John William Ditter Jr PA 1921 2019 1970 1986 1986 2019 Nixon death 40 Daniel Henry Huyett III PA 1921 1998 1970 1988 1988 1998 Nixon death 41 Donald West VanArtsdalen PA 1919 2019 1970 1985 1985 2019 Nixon death 42 James Henry Gorbey PA 1920 1977 1970 1977 Nixon death 43 Raymond J Broderick PA 1914 2000 1971 1984 1984 2000 Nixon death 44 Clarence Charles Newcomer PA 1923 2005 1971 1988 1988 2005 Nixon death 45 Clifford Scott Green PA 1923 2007 1971 1988 1988 2007 Nixon death 46 Louis Bechtle PA 1927 2024 1972 1993 1990 1993 1993 2001 Nixon retirement 47 Herbert Allan Fogel PA 1929 2002 1973 1978 Nixon resignation 48 Joseph Leo McGlynn Jr PA 1925 1999 1974 1990 1990 1999 Nixon death 49 Edward N Cahn PA 1933 present 1974 1998 1993 1998 Ford retirement 50 Louis H Pollak PA 1922 2012 1978 1991 1991 2012 Carter death 51 Norma Levy Shapiro PA 1928 2016 1978 1998 1998 2016 Carter death 52 James T Giles PA 1943 present 1979 2008 1999 2005 2008 2008 Carter retirement 53 Thomas Newman O Neill Jr PA 1928 2018 1983 1996 1996 2018 Reagan death 54 Marvin Katz PA 1930 2010 1983 1997 1997 2010 Reagan death 55 James McGirr Kelly PA 1928 2005 1983 1996 1996 2005 Reagan death 56 Anthony Joseph Scirica PA 1940 present 1984 1987 Reagan elevation to 3d Cir 57 Edmund V Ludwig PA 1928 2016 1985 1997 1997 2016 Reagan death 59 Robert S Gawthrop III PA 1942 1999 1987 1999 Reagan death 60 Franklin Van Antwerpen PA 1941 2016 1987 2004 Reagan elevation to 3d Cir 61 Lowell A Reed Jr PA 1930 2020 1988 1999 1999 2020 Reagan death 63 Herbert J Hutton PA 1937 2007 1988 2003 2003 2007 Reagan death 64 Jay Waldman PA 1944 2003 1988 2003 Reagan death 67 Stewart Dalzell PA 1943 2019 1991 2013 2013 2016 G H W Bush retirement 70 J Curtis Joyner PA 1948 present 1992 2013 2011 2013 2013 2021 G H W Bush retirement 71 Eduardo C Robreno PA 1945 present 1992 2013 2013 2023 G H W Bush retirement 73 Marjorie Rendell PA 1947 present 1994 1997 Clinton elevation to 3d Cir 74 Bruce William Kauffman PA 1934 2021 1997 2008 2008 2009 Clinton retirement 75 Mary A McLaughlin PA 1946 present 2000 2020 2013 2020 Clinton retirement 83 James Knoll Gardner PA 1940 2017 2002 2017 2017 G W Bush death 84 Gene E K Pratter PA 1949 2024 2004 2024 G W Bush death 85 Lawrence F Stengel PA 1952 present 2004 2018 2017 2018 G W Bush retirement 88 Thomas M Golden PA 1947 2010 2006 2010 G W Bush death 93 L Felipe Restrepo PA 1959 present 2013 2016 Obama elevation to 3d Cir 96 Edward G Smith PA 1961 2023 2014 2023 Obama death Reassigned from the District of Pennsylvania Recess appointment formally nominated on December 11 1828 confirmed by the United States Senate on February 23 1829 and received commission the same day Recess appointment formally nominated on January 5 1939 confirmed by the Senate on March 30 1939 and received commission on May 4 1939 Recess appointment formally nominated on April 4 1940 confirmed by the Senate on April 24 1940 and received commission on April 29 1940 Jointly appointed to the Eastern Middle and Western Districts of Pennsylvania Recess appointment formally nominated on January 5 1950 confirmed by the Senate on March 8 1950 and received commission on March 9 1950 Recess appointment formally nominated on January 5 1950 confirmed by the Senate on April 4 1950 and received commission on April 7 1950 Recess appointment formally nominated on January 12 1956 confirmed by the Senate on March 28 1956 and received commission on March 29 1956 Recess appointment formally nominated on February 3 1964 confirmed by the Senate on March 14 1964 and received commission on March 17 1964 Chief judgesChief 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 seatsSeat 1 Seat established on September 24 1789 by 1 Stat 73 for the District of Pennsylvania Seat reassigned to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on April 20 1818 by 3 Stat 462 Peters Jr 1818 1828 Hopkinson 1828 1842 Randall 1842 1846 Kane 1846 1858 Cadwalader 1858 1879 Butler 1879 1899 McPherson 1899 1912 Thompson 1912 1931 Welsh 1932 1957 Egan 1957 1961 J M Davis 1964 1974 Cahn 1974 1998 Savage 2002 2021 Perez 2022 present Seat 2 Seat established on April 1 1904 by 33 Stat 155 Holland 1904 1914 Seat abolished on April 24 1914 temporary judgeship expired Seat 3 Seat established on February 16 1914 by 38 Stat 283 temporary Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 2 on April 24 1914 Dickenson 1914 1939 Bard 1939 1952 Van Dusen 1955 1967 Hannum 1969 1984 Scirica 1984 1987 Reed Jr 1988 1999 Surrick 2000 2011 Quinones Alejandro 2013 present Seat 4 Seat established on September 14 1922 by 42 Stat 837 temporary McKeehan 1923 1925 Seat abolished on March 23 1925 temporary judgeship expired Seat 5 Seat established on March 3 1927 by 44 Stat 1347 Kirkpatrick 1927 1958 Wood 1959 1971 Green 1971 1988 DuBois 1988 2002 Gardner 2002 2017 Wolson 2019 present Seat 6 Seat established on June 16 1936 by 49 Stat 1523 temporary Seat made permanent on June 2 1938 by 52 Stat 780 Maris 1936 1938 Kalodner 1939 1946 McGranery 1946 1952 J W Lord Jr 1954 1971 Bechtle 1972 1993 Rendell 1994 1997 Seat abolished on November 20 1997 temporary judgeship expired Seat 7 Seat established on May 24 1940 by 54 Stat 219 temporary Seat made permanent on December 7 1944 by 58 Stat 796 Ganey 1940 1961 Higginbotham Jr 1964 1977 Pollak 1978 1991 Robreno 1992 2013 Leeson Jr 2014 present Seat 8 Seat established on July 24 1946 by 60 Stat 654 temporary concurrent with Middle and Western Districts Seat made permanent on February 10 1954 by 68 Stat 8 Follmer 1946 1955 Seat statutorily assigned solely to the Middle District on June 1 1955 Seat 9 Seat established on August 3 1949 by 63 Stat 493 Clary 1950 1969 Seat abolished on March 1 1969 temporary judgeship expired Seat 10 Seat established on August 3 1949 by 63 Stat 493 Grim 1949 1961 Body 1962 1972 Fogel 1973 1978 Giles 1979 2008 Slomsky 2008 2018 Gallagher 2019 present Seat 11 Seat established on February 10 1954 by 68 Stat 8 Kraft Jr 1956 1970 Newcomer 1971 1988 Hutton 1988 2003 Diamond 2004 present Seat 12 Seat established on May 19 1961 by 75 Stat 80 J S Lord III 1961 1982 Katz 1983 1997 McLaughlin 2000 2013 Younge 2019 present Seat 13 Seat established on May 19 1961 by 75 Stat 80 Freedman 1961 1964 Fullam 1966 1990 Yohn Jr 1991 2003 Pratter 2004 2024 Weilheimer 2025 present Seat 14 Seat established on May 19 1961 by 75 Stat 80 Luongo 1961 1986 Van Antwerpen 1987 2004 Golden 2006 2010 Schmehl 2013 present Seat 15 Seat established on March 18 1966 by 80 Stat 75 temporary Seat made permanent on June 2 1970 by 84 Stat 294 Weiner 1967 1988 Buckwalter 1990 2003 Stengel 2004 2018 Murphy 2022 present Seat 16 Seat established on March 18 1966 by 80 Stat 75 temporary Seat made permanent on June 2 1970 by 84 Stat 294 Masterson 1967 1973 McGlynn Jr 1974 1990 Bartle III 1991 2011 McHugh Jr 2014 present Seat 17 Seat established on March 18 1966 by 80 Stat 75 temporary Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 9 on March 1 1969 Troutman 1967 1982 J M Kelly 1983 1996 Kauffman 1997 2008 Jones II 2008 2021 Scott 2023 present Seat 18 Seat established on June 2 1970 by 84 Stat 294 Becker 1970 1982 O Neill Jr 1983 1996 Tucker 2000 2021 Hodge 2022 present Seat 19 Seat established on June 2 1970 by 84 Stat 294 Ditter Jr 1970 1986 Gawthrop III 1987 1999 Schiller 2000 2012 Smith 2014 2023 Henry 2024 present Seat 20 Seat established on June 2 1970 by 84 Stat 294 Huyett III 1970 1988 Waldman 1988 2003 Sanchez 2004 present Seat 21 Seat established on June 2 1970 by 84 Stat 294 VanArtsdalen 1970 1985 R F Kelly 1987 2001 Baylson 2002 2012 Beetlestone 2014 present Seat 22 Seat established on June 2 1970 by 84 Stat 294 Gorbey 1970 1977 Shapiro 1978 1998 Rufe 2002 2021 Costello 2024 present Seat 23 Seat established on June 2 1970 by 84 Stat 294 Broderick 1971 1984 Ludwig 1985 1997 L D Davis 2002 2017 Marston 2019 present Seat 24 Seat established on December 1 1990 by 104 Stat 5089 Dalzell 1991 2013 Pappert 2014 present Seat 25 Seat established on December 1 1990 by 104 Stat 5089 Padova 1992 2008 Goldberg 2008 present Seat 26 Seat established on December 1 1990 by 104 Stat 5089 Joyner 1992 2013 Kearney 2014 present Seat 27 Seat established on December 1 1990 by 104 Stat 5089 temporary Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 6 on November 20 1997 Brody 1992 2009 Restrepo 2013 2016 Kenney Sr 2018 presentList of U S attorneysWilliam Lewis 1789 1791 William Rawle 1791 1799 Jared Ingersoll 1800 1801 Alexander Dallas 1801 1814 Charles Jared Ingersoll 1815 1829 George M Dallas 1829 1831 Henry D Gilpin 1831 1837 John M Read 1837 1841 William M Meredith 1841 1842 Henry M Watts 1842 1845 Thomas M Pettit 1845 1849 John W Ashmead 1849 1854 James C Van Dyke 1854 1857 George M Wharton 1857 1860 George A Coffey 1861 1864 Charles Gilpin 1864 1868 John P O Neil 1868 1869 Aubrey H Smith 1869 1873 William McMichael 1873 1875 John K Valentine 1875 1888 John R Read 1888 1892 Ellery P Ingham 1892 1896 James M Beck 1896 1900 James Buchanan Holland 1900 1904 Joseph Whitaker Thompson 1904 1912 John C Smartley 1912 1913 Francis F Kane 1913 1919 Charles D McAvoy 1920 1921 George W Coles 1921 1929 Calvin S Boyer 1929 1930 Howard B Lewis Acting 1931 Edward W Wells 1931 1933 Charles D McAvoy Second Time 1933 1937 Guy K Bard Acting 1937 James Cullen Ganey 1937 1940 Edward A Kallick Acting 1940 Gerald A Gleeson 1940 1953 Joseph G Hildenberger Acting 1953 W Wilson White 1953 1957 G Clinton Fogwell Jr Acting 1957 Harold Kenneth Wood 1957 1959 Joseph Leo McGlynn Jr Acting 1959 Walter E Alessandroni 1959 1961 Joseph Simon Lord III 1961 Drew J T O Keefe 1961 1969 Louis C Bechtle 1969 1972 Carl Joseph Melone Acting 1972 Robert E J Curran 1972 1976 Jonas Clayton Undercofler III Acting 1976 1976 1978 Robert N DeLuca Acting 1978 Peter F Vaira Jr 1978 1983 Edward S G Dennis Jr 1983 1988 Michael M Baylson 1988 1993 Michael J Rotko Acting 1993 Michael R Stiles 1993 2001 Michael L Levy Acting 2001 Pat Meehan 2001 2008 Laurie Magid Acting 2008 2009 Michael L Levy Acting Second Time 2009 2010 Zane David Memeger 2010 2016 Louis D Lappen Acting 2016 2018 William M McSwain 2018 2021 Jennifer Arbittier Williams Acting 2021 2022 Jacqueline C Romero 2022 2025 David MetcalfSee alsoCourts of Pennsylvania List of current United States district judges List of United States federal courthouses in PennsylvaniaNotes David Metcalf Appointed United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Press release Philadelphia Pennsylvania U S Attorney s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania March 13 2025 Retrieved June 21 2022 Asbury Dickens A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America 1852 p 388 U S District Courts of Pennsylvania Legislative history Federal Judicial Center 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 The Philadelphia Inquirer Archived from the original on December 8 2015 Retrieved December 2 2015 History of the Federal Judiciary fjc gov Retrieved December 2 2015 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 The Philadelphia Inquirer Archived from the original on April 2 2015 Retrieved December 2 2015 Michael Levy Magid out as interim U S Attorney in eastern Pa May 22 2009 President Obama nominates Zane Memeger to replace Pat Meehan lehighvalleylive com lehighvalleylive com April 15 2010 Retrieved December 2 2015 United States Attorney McSwain Announces Resignation United States Department of Justice January 14 2021 Retrieved February 15 2021 External linksOfficial site Works by United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania at Project Gutenberg Works by or about United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania at the Internet Archive