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United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third
Circuit (in case citations, 3d Cir.)
is a federal
court with appellate jurisdiction over the
district courts for the
following districts:
It also has appellate jurisdiction over the District Court of the
Virgin Islands which, in spite of the name, is a territorial court and
belongs to no federal judicial district.
The court is composed of 14 active judges and is based at the
U.S. Courthouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of
thirteen United
States courts of appeals.
Current composition of the
court
As of 2009, the judges on the court are:
| # |
Title |
Judge |
Duty station |
Born |
Term of service |
Appointed by |
| Active |
Chief |
Senior |
| 44 |
Chief Judge |
Anthony Joseph Scirica |
Philadelphia, PA |
1940 |
1987–present |
2003–present |
— |
Reagan |
| 38 |
Circuit Judge |
Dolores
Korman Sloviter |
Philadelphia, PA |
1932 |
1979–present |
1991–1998 |
— |
Carter |
| 50 |
Circuit Judge |
Theodore A. McKee |
Philadelphia, PA |
1947 |
1994–present |
— |
— |
Clinton |
| 52 |
Circuit Judge |
Marjorie O. Rendell |
Philadelphia, PA |
1947 |
1997–present |
— |
— |
Clinton |
| 53 |
Circuit Judge |
Maryanne Trump Barry |
Newark, NJ |
1937 |
1999–present |
— |
— |
Clinton |
| 54 |
Circuit Judge |
Thomas L.
Ambro |
Wilmington, DE |
1949 |
2000–present |
— |
— |
Clinton |
| 55 |
Circuit Judge |
Julio M.
Fuentes |
Newark, NJ |
1946 |
2000–present |
— |
— |
Clinton |
| 56 |
Circuit Judge |
D. Brooks
Smith |
Duncansville, PA |
1951 |
2002–present |
— |
— |
G.W.
Bush |
| 58 |
Circuit Judge |
D.
Michael Fisher |
Pittsburgh,
PA |
1944 |
2003–present |
— |
— |
G.W.
Bush |
| 60 |
Circuit Judge |
Michael
Chagares[1] |
Newark, NJ |
1962 |
2006–present |
— |
— |
G.W.
Bush |
| 61 |
Circuit Judge |
Kent A.
Jordan[2] |
Wilmington, DE |
1957 |
2006–present |
— |
— |
G.W.
Bush |
| 62 |
Circuit Judge |
Thomas M. Hardiman |
Pittsburgh,
PA |
1965 |
2007–present |
— |
— |
G.W.
Bush |
| — |
Circuit Judge |
(vacant - seat 4) |
(n/a) |
(n/a) |
(n/a) |
(n/a) |
(n/a) |
(n/a) |
| — |
Circuit Judge |
(vacant - seat 9) |
(n/a) |
(n/a) |
(n/a) |
(n/a) |
(n/a) |
(n/a) |
| 28 |
Senior Circuit Judge |
Ruggero J. Aldisert |
Santa Barbara, CA |
1919 |
1968–1986 |
1984–1986 |
1986–present |
L.
Johnson |
| 35 |
Senior Circuit Judge |
Joseph F. Weis Jr. |
Pittsburgh,
PA |
1923 |
1973–1988 |
(none) |
1988–present |
Nixon |
| 36 |
Senior Circuit Judge |
Leonard I.
Garth |
Newark, NJ |
1921 |
1973–1986 |
(none) |
1986–present |
Nixon |
| 41 |
Senior Circuit Judge |
Walter King Stapleton |
Wilmington, DE |
1934 |
1985–1999 |
(none) |
1999–present |
Reagan |
| 42 |
Senior Circuit Judge |
Morton Ira Greenberg |
Trenton, NJ |
1933 |
1987–2000 |
(none) |
2000–present |
Reagan |
| 45 |
Senior Circuit Judge |
Robert E.
Cowen |
Trenton, NJ |
1930 |
1987–1998 |
(none) |
1998–present |
Reagan |
| 46 |
Senior Circuit Judge |
Richard Lowell Nygaard |
Erie,
PA |
1940 |
1988–2005 |
(none) |
2005–present |
Reagan |
| 48 |
Senior Circuit Judge |
Jane
Richards Roth |
Wilmington, DE |
1935 |
1991–2006 |
(none) |
2006–present |
G.H.W.
Bush |
| 59 |
Senior Circuit Judge |
Franklin Stuart Van
Antwerpen |
Easton, PA |
1941 |
2004–2006 |
(none) |
2006–present |
G.W.
Bush |
Vacancies and pending
nominations
On June 19, 2009, Barack Obama nominated Federal District
Court Judge Joseph A. Greenaway, Jr. to
the 3rd Circuit seat left vacant by the elevation of Judge Samuel Alito to the
Supreme Court.[3]
On August 6, 2009, Barack Obama nominated Federal District
Court Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie to the 3rd
Circuit seat left vacant by the decision by Judge Franklin Stuart Van
Antwerpen to take senior status in 2006.[4]
List of
former judges
| # |
Judge |
State |
Born/Died |
Active service |
Term as Chief
Judge |
Senior
status |
Appointed by |
Reason for
termination |
| 1 |
Acheson, Marcus WilsonMarcus Wilson
Acheson |
PA |
1828–1906 |
1891–1906 |
(none) |
(none) |
[5] |
death |
| 2 |
Dallas, George M.George M.
Dallas |
PA |
1839–1917 |
1892–1909 |
(none) |
(none) |
Harrison, B.B.
Harrison |
retirement |
| 3 |
Gray, GeorgeGeorge Gray |
DE |
1840–1925 |
1899[6]–1914 |
(none) |
(none) |
McKinley, McKinley |
retirement |
| 4 |
Buffington, JosephJoseph Buffington |
PA |
1855–1947 |
1906[6]–1938 |
(none) |
1938–1947 |
Roosevelt, T.T.
Roosevelt |
death |
| 5 |
Lanning, William
MershonWilliam Mershon Lanning |
NJ |
1849–1912 |
1909–1912 |
(none) |
(none) |
Taft, Taft |
death |
| — |
Archbald, Robert W.Robert W.
Archbald |
PA |
1848–1926 |
1911–1913 |
(none) |
(none) |
[7] |
impeachment and conviction |
| 6 |
McPherson, John BayardJohn Bayard
McPherson |
PA |
1846–1919 |
1912–1919 |
(none) |
(none) |
Taft, Taft |
death |
| 7 |
Woolley, Victor BaynardVictor Baynard
Woolley |
DE |
1867–1945 |
1914–1938 |
(none) |
1938–1945 |
Wilson, Wilson |
death |
| 8 |
Haight, Thomas GriffithThomas Griffith
Haight |
NJ |
1879–1942 |
1919[6]–1920 |
(none) |
(none) |
Wilson, Wilson |
resignation |
| 9 |
Davis, John WarrenJohn Warren Davis |
NJ |
1867–1945 |
1920–1939 |
(none) |
1939–1941 |
Wilson, Wilson |
resignation |
| 10 |
Thompson, Joseph
WhitakerJoseph Whitaker
Thompson |
PA |
1861–1946 |
1931–1938 |
(none) |
1938–1946 |
Hoover, Hoover |
death |
| 11 |
Biggs, Jr., JohnJohn Biggs,
Jr. |
DE |
1895–1979 |
1937–1965 |
1948–1965 |
1965–1979 |
Roosevelt, F.F.
Roosevelt |
death |
| 12 |
Maris, Albert BransonAlbert Branson
Maris |
PA |
1893–1989 |
1938–1958 |
(none) |
1958–1989 |
Roosevelt, F.F.
Roosevelt |
death |
| 13 |
Clark, WilliamWilliam Clark |
NJ |
1891–1957 |
1938–1943 |
(none) |
(none) |
Roosevelt, F.F.
Roosevelt |
resignation |
| 14 |
Biddle, FrancisFrancis Biddle |
PA |
1886–1968 |
1939–1940 |
(none) |
(none) |
Roosevelt, F.F.
Roosevelt |
resignation |
| 15 |
Jones, Charles AlvinCharles Alvin
Jones |
PA |
1887–1966 |
1939–1944 |
(none) |
(none) |
Roosevelt, F.F.
Roosevelt |
resignation |
| 16 |
Goodrich, Herbert FunkHerbert Funk
Goodrich |
PA |
1889–1962 |
1940–1962 |
(none) |
(none) |
Roosevelt, F.F.
Roosevelt |
death |
| 17 |
McLaughlin, GeraldGerald McLaughlin |
NJ |
1893–1977 |
1943–1968 |
(none) |
1968–1977 |
Roosevelt, F.F.
Roosevelt |
death |
| 18 |
O'Connell, John JosephJohn Joseph
O'Connell |
PA |
1894–1949 |
1945–1949 |
(none) |
(none) |
Truman, Truman |
death |
| 19 |
Kalodner, Harry EllisHarry Ellis
Kalodner |
PA |
1896–1977 |
1946–1969 |
1965–1966 |
1969–1977 |
Truman, Truman |
death |
| 20 |
Hastie, William HenryWilliam Henry
Hastie |
VI |
1904–1976 |
1949[6]–1971 |
1968–1971 |
1971–1976 |
Truman, Truman |
death |
| 21 |
Staley, Austin LeanderAustin Leander
Staley |
PA |
1902–1978 |
1950–1967 |
1966–1967 |
1967–1978 |
Truman, Truman |
death |
| 22 |
Forman, PhillipPhillip Forman |
NJ |
1895–1978 |
1959–1961 |
(none) |
1961–1978 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
| 23 |
Ganey, James CullenJames Cullen
Ganey |
PA |
1899–1972 |
1961–1966 |
(none) |
1966–1972 |
Kennedy, Kennedy |
death |
| 24 |
Smith, William FrancisWilliam Francis
Smith |
NJ |
1903–1968 |
1961–1968 |
(none) |
(none) |
Kennedy, Kennedy |
death |
| 25 |
Freedman, Abraham
LincolnAbraham Lincoln
Freedman |
PA |
1904–1971 |
1964–1971 |
(none) |
(none) |
Johnson, L.L.
Johnson |
death |
| 26 |
Seitz, Collins JacquesCollins Jacques
Seitz |
DE |
1914–1998 |
1966–1989 |
1971–1984 |
1989–1998 |
Johnson, L.L.
Johnson |
death |
| 27 |
Van Dusen, Francis LundFrancis Lund Van
Dusen |
PA |
1912–1993 |
1967–1977 |
(none) |
1977–1993 |
Johnson, L.L.
Johnson |
death |
| 29 |
Stahl, David HenryDavid Henry Stahl |
PA |
1920–1970 |
1968–1970 |
(none) |
(none) |
Johnson, L.L.
Johnson |
death |
| 30 |
Adams, Arlin M.Arlin M. Adams |
PA |
1921–present |
1969–1987 |
(none) |
(none) |
Nixon, Nixon |
retirement |
| 31 |
Gibbons, John JosephJohn Joseph
Gibbons |
NJ |
1924–present |
1969–1990 |
1987–1990 |
(none) |
Nixon, Nixon |
retirement |
| 32 |
Rosenn, MaxMax Rosenn |
PA |
1910-2006[8] |
1970–1981 |
(none) |
1981–2006 |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
| 33 |
Rosen, JamesJames Rosen |
NJ |
1909–1972 |
1971–1972 |
(none) |
(none) |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
| 34 |
Hunter III, JamesJames Hunter III |
NJ |
1916–1989 |
1971–1986 |
(none) |
1986–1989 |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
| 37 |
Higginbotham, Jr., Aloyisus
LeonAloyisus Leon Higginbotham,
Jr. |
PA |
1928–1998 |
1977–1991 |
1990–1991 |
1991–1993 |
Carter, Carter |
retirement |
| 39 |
Becker, Edward RoyEdward Roy Becker[9] |
PA |
1933–2006 |
1981–2003 |
1998–2003 |
2003–2006 |
Reagan, Reagan |
death |
| 40 |
Mansmann, Carol LosCarol Los
Mansmann |
PA |
1942–2002 |
1985–2002 |
(none) |
(none) |
Reagan, Reagan |
death |
| 43 |
Hutchinson, William D.William D.
Hutchinson |
PA |
1932–1995 |
1987–1995 |
(none) |
(none) |
Reagan, Reagan |
death |
| 47 |
Alito, Jr., Samuel A.Samuel A. Alito,
Jr. |
NJ |
1950–present |
1990–2006 |
(none) |
(none) |
Bush, G.H.W.G.H.W.
Bush |
elevation to Supreme Court |
| 49 |
Lewis, Timothy K.Timothy K. Lewis |
PA |
1954–present |
1992–1999 |
(none) |
(none) |
Bush, G.H.W.G.H.W.
Bush |
resignation |
| 51 |
Sarokin, H. LeeH. Lee Sarokin |
NJ |
1928–present |
1994–1996 |
(none) |
(none) |
Clinton, Clinton |
retirement |
| 57 |
Chertoff, MichaelMichael Chertoff |
NJ |
1953–present |
2003–2005 |
(none) |
(none) |
Bush, G.W.G.W.
Bush |
resignation to become United
States
Secretary of Homeland Security |
Chief
judges
| Chief Judge |
| Biggs |
1948–1965 |
| Kalodner |
1965–1966 |
| Hastie |
1968–1971 |
| Staley |
1966–1967 |
| Seitz |
1971–1984 |
| Aldisert |
1984–1986 |
| Gibbons |
1987–1990 |
| Higginbotham |
1990–1991 |
| Sloviter |
1991–1998 |
| Becker |
1998–2003 |
| Scirica |
2003–present |
|
In order to qualify for the office of Chief Judge, 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 in the office of Chief Judge 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. Unlike the Chief Justice of the
United States, a Chief Judge returns to active service after
the expiration of his or her term and does not create a vacancy on
the bench by the fact of his or her promotion. See
28 U.S.C. § 45.
The above rules have applied since October 1, 1982. The office
of Chief Judge was created in 1948 and until August 6, 1959 was
filled by 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. From then until 1982 it was filled by the senior such
judge who had not turned 70.
Succession
of seats
The court has fourteen seats for active judges, numbered in the
order in which they were filled. Judges who retire into senior status
remain on the bench but leave their seat vacant. That seat is
filled by the next circuit judge appointed by the President.
| Seat 1 |
|
Established on December 10, 1869 by the Judiciary Act of 1869 as a circuit judgeship for the
Third Circuit |
|
Reassigned on June 16, 1891 to the newly formed United States
Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit by the Judiciary Act of 1891 |
| Acheson |
PA |
1891–1906 |
| Buffington |
PA |
1906–1938 |
| Biddle |
PA |
1939–1940 |
| Goodrich |
PA |
1940–1962 |
| Freedman |
PA |
1964–1971 |
| Weis |
PA |
1973–1988 |
| Nygaard |
PA |
1988–2005 |
| Hardiman |
PA |
2007–present |
|
| Seat 2 |
|
Established on June 16, 1891 by the Judiciary Act of 1891 |
| Dallas |
PA |
1892–1909 |
| Lanning |
NJ |
1909–1912 |
| McPherson |
PA |
1912–1919 |
| Haight |
NJ |
1919–1920 |
| Davis |
NJ |
1920–1939 |
| Jones |
PA |
1939–1944 |
| Kalodner |
PA |
1946–1969 |
| Adams |
PA |
1969–1987 |
| Hutchinson |
PA |
1987–1995 |
| Rendell |
PA |
1997–present |
|
| Seat 3 |
|
Established on February 23, 1899 by 30 Stat. 846 |
| Gray |
DE |
1899–1914 |
| Woolley |
DE |
1914–1938 |
| Maris |
PA |
1938–1958 |
| Forman |
NJ |
1959–1961 |
| W. Smith |
NJ |
1961–1968 |
| Hunter |
NJ |
1971–1986 |
| Cowen |
NJ |
1987–1998 |
| Fuentes |
NJ |
2000–present |
|
| Seat 4 |
|
Established on June 10, 1930 by 46 Stat. 538 |
| Thompson |
PA |
1931–1938 |
| Clark |
NJ |
1938–1943 |
| McLaughlin |
NJ |
1943–1968 |
| Gibbons |
NJ |
1969–1990 |
| Alito |
NJ |
1990–2006 |
| (vacant) |
(n/a) |
2006–present |
|
| Seat 5 |
|
Established as a temporary judgeship on June 24, 1936 by
49 Stat. 1903 |
| Made
permanent on May 31, 1938 by 52 Stat. 584 |
| Biggs |
DE |
1937–1965 |
| Seitz |
DE |
1966–1989 |
| Roth |
DE |
1991–2006 |
| Jordan |
DE |
2006–present |
|
| Seat 6 |
|
Established on December 7, 1944 by 58 Stat. 796 |
| O'Connell |
PA |
1945–1949 |
| Staley |
PA |
1950–1967 |
| Aldisert |
PA |
1968–1986 |
| Scirica |
PA |
1987–present |
|
| Seat 7 |
|
Established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493 |
| Hastie |
VI |
1949–1971 |
| Rosen |
NJ |
1971–1972 |
| Garth |
NJ |
1973–1986 |
| Greenberg |
NJ |
1987–2000 |
| Chertoff |
NJ |
2003–2005 |
| Chagares |
NJ |
2006–present |
|
| Seat 8 |
|
Established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80 |
| Ganey |
PA |
1961–1966 |
| Van Dusen |
PA |
1967–1977 |
| Higginbotham |
PA |
1977–1991 |
| McKee |
PA |
1994–present |
|
| Seat 9 |
|
Established on June 18, 1968 by 82 Stat. 184 |
| Stahl |
PA |
1968–1970 |
| Rosenn |
PA |
1970–1981 |
| Becker |
PA |
1981–2003 |
| Van Antwerpen |
PA |
2004–2006 |
| (vacant) |
(n/a) |
2006–present |
|
| Seat 10 |
|
Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 |
| Sloviter |
PA |
1979–present |
|
| Seat 11 |
|
Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333 |
| Mansmann |
PA |
1985–2002 |
| Fisher |
PA |
2003–present |
|
| Seat 12 |
|
Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333 |
| Stapleton |
DE |
1985–1999 |
| Ambro |
DE |
2000–present |
|
| Seat 13 |
|
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 |
| Lewis |
PA |
1992–1999 |
| B. Smith |
PA |
2002–present |
|
| Seat 14 |
|
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 |
| Sarokin |
NJ |
1994–1996 |
| Barry |
NJ |
1999–present |
|
Trivia
Following the confirmation of Thomas Hardiman, the Third Circuit is
the only of the Federal Courts of Appeals to be split evenly
between Republican and Democratic-appointed judges.
See Federal judicial appointment
history.
See also
Notes
- ^
de la Cruz, Donna (April 4, 2006). "Senate confirms New Jersey
lawyer to 3rd U.S. Circuit". Newsday (Newsday,
Inc.). http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--3rdcircuit-newjud0404apr04,0,5658051.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey. Retrieved
2006-04-04.
- ^
Bennett, Elizabeth (December 11, 2006).
"Senate Confirms Jordan to 3rd
Circuit Replacing Senior Judge Jane Roth". http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1165582061647. Retrieved
2006-12-09.
- ^
White House Press Release -
Joseph Greenaway Nomination
- ^
White House Press Release -
Thomas Vanaskie Nomination
- ^
Acheson was appointed as a circuit judge for the Third
Circuit in 1891 by Benjamin Harrison. The Judiciary Act of 1891 reassigned
his seat to what is now the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third
Circuit.
- ^ a
b
c
d
Recess appointment, confirmed by the United
States Senate at a later date.
- ^
Archbald did not have a permanent seat on this court. Instead, he
was appointed to the ill-fated United States Commerce
Court in 1911 by William Howard Taft. Aside from
their duties on the Commerce Court, the judges of the Commerce
Court also acted as at-large appellate judges, able to be assigned
by the Chief Justice of the
United States to whichever circuit most needed help. Archbald
was assigned to the Third Circuit upon his commission.
- ^
"Judge Rosenn dies".
Wilkes-Barre Time-Leader. http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/13813764.htm. Retrieved
2006-02-07.
- ^
Weiner, Tim (2006-05-20). "Edward R. Becker, 73, Judge
on Federal Court of Appeals, Dies". The New York
Times (The New York Times
Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/20/us/20becker.html?_r=1&oref=slogin. Retrieved
2006-05-21.
References
External
links
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