United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(E.D. Pa.)
LocationJames A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.)
More locations
Appeals toThird Circuit
EstablishedApril 20, 1818
Judges22
Chief JudgeWendy Beetlestone
Officers of the court
U.S. AttorneyDavid Metcalf
U.S. MarshalEric S. Gartner
www.paed.uscourts.gov

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.

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 Wendy Beetlestone.

The United States attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania represents the people in the district. On June 24, 2025, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania appointed David Metcalf as the United States Attorney for the district;[1] this came 120 days after Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed Metcalf to serve as interim United States Attorney on March 10, 2025.[2]

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.[3][4] It was subdivided on April 20, 1818, by 3 Stat. 462,[3][4] into the Eastern and Western Districts to be headquartered in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, respectively.[3] Portions of these districts were subsequently subdivided into the Middle District on March 2, 1901, by 31 Stat. 880.[4] 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, 2026:

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
97 Chief Judge Wendy Beetlestone Philadelphia 1961 2014–present 2025–present — Obama
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
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[Note 1] — — 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
113 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
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
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
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
  1. ^ By virtue of her seniority of age, Judge Hodge holds seniority over Judge Murphy despite their identical commission dates.

Vacancies and pending nominations

Seat Prior judge's duty station Seat last held by Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Nominee Date of nomination
25 Philadelphia Mitchell S. Goldberg Retirement September 19, 2025 – –

Former judges

# Judge Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Richard Peters 1744–1828 1818–1828[Note 1] — — Washington/Operation of law death
2 Joseph Hopkinson 1770–1842 1828–1842[Note 2] — — J.Q. Adams death
3 Archibald Randall 1797–1846 1842–1846 — — Tyler death
4 John K. Kane 1795–1858 1846–1858 — — Polk death
5 John Cadwalader 1805–1879 1858–1879 — — Buchanan death
6 William Butler 1822–1909 1879–1899 — — Hayes retirement
7 John Bayard McPherson 1846–1919 1899–1912 — — McKinley elevation
8 James Buchanan Holland 1857–1914 1904–1914 — — T. Roosevelt death
9 Joseph Whitaker Thompson 1861–1946 1912–1931 — — Taft elevation
10 Oliver Booth Dickinson 1857–1939 1914–1939 — — Wilson death
11 Charles Louis McKeehan 1876–1925 1923–1925 — — Harding death
12 William H. Kirkpatrick 1885–1970 1927–1958 1948–1958 1958–1970 Coolidge death
13 George Austin Welsh 1878–1970 1932–1957 — 1957–1970 Hoover death
14 Albert Branson Maris 1893–1989 1936–1938 — — F. Roosevelt elevation
15 Harry Ellis Kalodner 1896–1977 1938–1946[Note 3] — — F. Roosevelt elevation
16 Guy K. Bard 1895–1953 1939–1952[Note 4] — — F. Roosevelt resignation
17 James Cullen Ganey 1899–1972 1940–1961 1958–1961 — F. Roosevelt elevation
18 Frederick Voris Follmer 1885–1971 1946–1955[Note 5] — — Truman reassignment
19 James P. McGranery 1895–1962 1946–1952 — — Truman resignation
20 Thomas James Clary 1899–1977 1949–1969[Note 6] 1961–1969 1969–1977 Truman death
21 Allan Kuhn Grim 1904–1965 1949–1961[Note 7] — 1961–1965 Truman death
22 John W. Lord Jr. 1901–1972 1954–1971 1969–1971 1971–1972 Eisenhower death
23 Francis Lund Van Dusen 1912–1993 1955–1967 — — Eisenhower elevation
24 Charles William Kraft Jr. 1903–2002 1955–1970[Note 8] — 1970–2002 Eisenhower death
25 Thomas C. Egan 1894–1961 1957–1961 — — Eisenhower death
26 Harold Kenneth Wood 1906–1972 1959–1971 — 1971–1972 Eisenhower death
27 Joseph Simon Lord III 1912–1991 1961–1982 1971–1982 1982–1991 Kennedy death
28 Abraham Lincoln Freedman 1904–1971 1961–1964 — — Kennedy elevation
29 Alfred Leopold Luongo 1920–1986 1961–1986 1982–1986 — Kennedy death
30 Ralph C. Body 1903–1973 1962–1972 — 1972–1973 Kennedy death
31 A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. 1928–1998 1964–1977[Note 9] — — L. Johnson elevation
32 John Morgan Davis 1906–1984 1964–1974[Note 9] — 1974–1984 L. Johnson death
33 John P. Fullam 1921–2018 1966–1990 1986–1990 1990–2018 L. Johnson death
34 Charles R. Weiner 1922–2005 1967–1988 — 1988–2005 L. Johnson death
35 Thomas Ambrose Masterson 1927–2000 1967–1973 — — L. Johnson resignation
36 Emanuel Mac Troutman 1915–2004 1967–1982 — 1982–2004 L. Johnson death
37 John Berne Hannum 1915–2007 1969–1984 — 1984–2007 Nixon death
38 Edward R. Becker 1933–2006 1970–1982 — — Nixon elevation
39 John William Ditter Jr. 1921–2019 1970–1986 — 1986–2019 Nixon death
40 Daniel Henry Huyett III 1921–1998 1970–1988 — 1988–1998 Nixon death
41 Donald West VanArtsdalen 1919–2019 1970–1985 — 1985–2019 Nixon death
42 James Henry Gorbey 1920–1977 1970–1977 — — Nixon death
43 Raymond J. Broderick 1914–2000 1971–1984 — 1984–2000 Nixon death
44 Clarence Charles Newcomer 1923–2005 1971–1988 — 1988–2005 Nixon death
45 Clifford Scott Green 1923–2007 1971–1988 — 1988–2007 Nixon death
46 Louis Bechtle 1927–2024 1972–1993 1990–1993 1993–2001 Nixon retirement
47 Herbert Allan Fogel 1929–2002 1973–1978 — — Nixon resignation
48 Joseph Leo McGlynn Jr. 1925–1999 1974–1990 — 1990–1999 Nixon death
49 Edward N. Cahn 1933–present 1974–1998 1993–1998 — Ford retirement
50 Louis H. Pollak 1922–2012 1978–1991 — 1991–2012 Carter death
51 Norma Levy Shapiro 1928–2016 1978–1998 — 1998–2016 Carter death
52 James T. Giles 1943–present 1979–2008 1999–2005 2008–2008 Carter retirement
53 Thomas Newman O'Neill Jr. 1928–2018 1983–1996 — 1996–2018 Reagan death
54 Marvin Katz 1930–2010 1983–1997 — 1997–2010 Reagan death
55 James McGirr Kelly 1928–2005 1983–1996 — 1996–2005 Reagan death
56 Anthony Joseph Scirica 1940–present 1984–1987 — — Reagan elevation
57 Edmund V. Ludwig 1928–2016 1985–1997 — 1997–2016 Reagan death
59 Robert S. Gawthrop III 1942–1999 1987–1999 — — Reagan death
60 Franklin Van Antwerpen 1941–2016 1987–2004 — — Reagan elevation
61 Lowell A. Reed Jr. 1930–2020 1988–1999 — 1999–2020 Reagan death
63 Herbert J. Hutton 1937–2007 1988–2003 — 2003–2007 Reagan death
64 Jay Waldman 1944–2003 1988–2003 — — Reagan death
67 Stewart Dalzell 1943–2019 1991–2013 — 2013–2016 G.H.W. Bush retirement
68 William H. Yohn Jr. 1935–2026 1991–2003 — 2003–2026 G.H.W. Bush death
70 J. Curtis Joyner 1948–present 1992–2013 2011–2013 2013–2021 G.H.W. Bush retirement
71 Eduardo C. Robreno 1945–present 1992–2013 — 2013–2023 G.H.W. Bush retirement
73 Marjorie Rendell 1947–present 1994–1997 — — Clinton elevation
74 Bruce William Kauffman 1934–2021 1997–2008 — 2008–2009 Clinton retirement
75 Mary A. McLaughlin 1946–present 2000–2013 — 2013–2020 Clinton retirement
77 Berle M. Schiller 1944–2025 2000–2012 — 2012–2025 Clinton death
83 James Knoll Gardner 1940–2017 2002–2017 — 2017 G.W. Bush death
84 Gene E. K. Pratter 1949–2024 2004–2024 — — G.W. Bush death
85 Lawrence F. Stengel 1952–present 2004–2018 2017–2018 — G.W. Bush retirement
88 Thomas M. Golden 1947–2010 2006–2010 — — G.W. Bush death
91 Mitchell S. Goldberg 1959–present 2008–2025 2024–2025 — G.W. Bush retirement
93 L. Felipe Restrepo 1959–present 2013–2016 — — Obama elevation
96 Edward G. Smith 1961–2023 2014–2023 — — Obama death
  1. ^ Reassigned from the District of Pennsylvania.
  2. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 11, 1828, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 23, 1829, and received commission the same day.
  3. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1939, confirmed by the Senate on March 30, 1939, and received commission on May 4, 1939.
  4. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on April 4, 1940, confirmed by the Senate on April 24, 1940, and received commission on April 29, 1940.
  5. ^ Jointly appointed to the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Pennsylvania
  6. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1950, confirmed by the Senate on March 8, 1950, and received commission on March 9, 1950.
  7. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1950, confirmed by the Senate on April 4, 1950, and received commission on April 7, 1950.
  8. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 12, 1956, confirmed by the Senate on March 28, 1956, and received commission on March 29, 1956.
  9. ^ a b 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

List of U.S. attorneys

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "News & Announcements: 2025 | Eastern District of Pennsylvania | United States District Court". www.paed.uscourts.gov. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ a b c Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 388.
  4. ^ a b c U.S. District Courts of Pennsylvania, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "History of the Federal Judiciary". fjc.gov. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ a b "Michael Levy".
  9. ^ a b "Magid out as interim U.S. Attorney in eastern Pa". May 22, 2009.
  10. ^ "President Obama nominates Zane Memeger to replace Pat Meehan | lehighvalleylive.com". lehighvalleylive.com. April 15, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  11. ^ a b "United States Attorney McSwain Announces Resignation". United States Department of Justice. January 14, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
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