United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

The United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, {{USStat|1|73}}, on September 24, 1789.Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 388.[https://www.fjc.gov/history/courts/u.s.-district-courts-districts-pennsylvania-legislative-history U.S. District Courts of Pennsylvania, Legislative history], Federal Judicial Center. It was subdivided on April 20, 1818, by {{USStat|3|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 {{USStat|31|880}}.

{{As of|2025|1|17|df=US}}:

{{start U.S. judgeship Current}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current|

index=24|

title=Chief Judge|

name=Matthew W. Brann|

duty station=Williamsport|

born=1965|

term=2012–present|

chief term=2021–present|

senior term=—|

appointer=Obama|

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 25

| title = District Judge

| name = Jennifer P. Wilson

| duty station = Harrisburg

| born = 1975

| term = 2019–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Trump

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 26

| title = District Judge

| name = Julia K. Munley

| duty station = Scranton

| born = 1965

| term = 2023–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Biden

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 27

| title = District Judge

| name = Karoline Mehalchick

| duty station = Scranton

| born = 1976

| term = 2024–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Biden

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 28

| title = District Judge

| name = Joseph F. Saporito Jr.

| duty station = Wilkes-Barre

| born = 1960

| term = 2024–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Biden

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current

| index = 29

| title = District Judge

| name = Keli M. Neary

| duty station = Harrisburg

| born = 1981

| term = 2025–present

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = Biden

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current|

index=18|

title=Senior Judge|

name=Yvette Kane|

duty station=Harrisburg|

born=1953|

term=1998–2018|

chief term=2006–2013|

senior term= 2018–present|

appointer=Clinton|

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current|

index=22|

title=Senior Judge|

name=Robert D. Mariani|

duty station=Scranton|

born=1950|

term=2011–2022|

chief term=—|

senior term=2022–present|

appointer=Obama|

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Current|

index=23|

title=Senior Judge|

name=Malachy E. Mannion|

duty station=Scranton|

born=1953|

term=2012–2024|

chief term=—|

senior term=2024–present|

appointer=Obama|

}}

{{end U.S. judgeship Current}}

{{start U.S. judgeship Former}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 1

| name = {{sortname|Robert W.|Archbald}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1848–1926

| term = 1901–1911

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||McKinley|List of federal judges appointed by William McKinley}}

| termination = elevation to 3d Cir.

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 2

| name = {{sortname|Charles B.|Witmer}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1862–1925

| term = 1911–1925

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Taft|List of federal judges appointed by William Howard Taft}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 3

| name = {{sortname|Albert Williams|Johnson}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1872–1957

| term = 1925–1945

| chief term = —

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Coolidge|List of federal judges appointed by Calvin Coolidge}}

| termination = resignation

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 4

| name = {{sortname|Albert Leisenring|Watson}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1876–1960

| term = 1929–1955

| chief term = 1948–1955

| senior term = 1955–1960

| appointer = {{sortname||Hoover|List of federal judges appointed by Herbert Hoover}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 5

| name = {{sortname|John W.|Murphy|John W. Murphy (Pennsylvania politician)}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1902–1962

| term = 1946–1962

| chief term = 1955–1962

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 6

| name = {{sortname|Frederick Voris|Follmer}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1885–1971

| term = 1946–1967From 1946 to 1955 Judge Follmer was jointly appointed to the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Pennsylvania

| chief term = 1962

| senior term = 1967–1971

| appointer = {{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 7

| name = {{sortname|Michael Henry|Sheridan}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1912–1976

| term = 1961–1976

| chief term = 1962–1976

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Kennedy|List of federal judges appointed by John F. Kennedy}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 8

| name = {{sortname|William Joseph|Nealon Jr.}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1923–2018

| term = 1962–1989Recess 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 term = 1976–1989

| senior term = 1989–2018

| appointer = {{sortname||Kennedy|List of federal judges appointed by John F. Kennedy}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 9

| name = {{sortname|Robert Dixon|Herman}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1911–1990

| term = 1969–1981

| chief term = —

| senior term = 1981–1990

| appointer = {{sortname||Nixon|List of federal judges appointed by Richard Nixon}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 10

| name = {{sortname|Malcolm|Muir|dab=judge}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1914–2011

| term = 1970–1984

| chief term = —

| senior term = 1984–2011

| appointer = {{sortname||Nixon|List of federal judges appointed by Richard Nixon}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 11

| name = {{sortname|Richard Paul|Conaboy}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1925–2018

| term = 1979–1992

| chief term = 1989–1992

| senior term = 1992–2018

| appointer = {{sortname||Carter|List of federal judges appointed by Jimmy Carter}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 12

| name = {{sortname|Sylvia|Rambo}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1936–2024

| term = 1979–2001

| chief term = 1992–1999

| senior term = 2001–2024

| appointer = {{sortname||Carter|List of federal judges appointed by Jimmy Carter}}

| termination = retirement

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former|

| index = 13

| name = {{sortname|William W.|Caldwell}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1925–2019

| term = 1982–1994

| chief term = —

| senior term = 1994–2019

| appointer = {{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former|

| index = 14

| name = {{sortname|Edwin Michael|Kosik}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1925–2019

| term = 1986–1996

| chief term = —

| senior term = 1996–2019

| appointer = {{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 15

| name = {{sortname|James Focht|McClure Jr.}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1931–2010

| term = 1990–2001

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2001–2010

| appointer = {{sortname|G.H.W.|Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George H. W. Bush}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 16

| name = {{sortname|Thomas I.|Vanaskie}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1953–present

| term = 1994–2010

| chief term = 1999–2006

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||Clinton|List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton}}

| termination = elevation to 3d Cir.

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 17

| name = {{sortname|A. Richard|Caputo}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1938–2020

| term = 1997–2009

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2009–2020

| appointer = {{sortname||Clinton|List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 19

| name = {{sortname|James Martin|Munley}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1936–2020

| term = 1998–2009

| chief term = —

| senior term = 2009–2020

| appointer = {{sortname||Clinton|List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton}}

| termination = death

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 20

| name = {{sortname|Christopher C.|Conner}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1957–present

| term = 2002–2025

| chief term = 2013–2020

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||G.W. Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush}}

| termination = retirement

}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former

| index = 21

| name = {{sortname|John E.|Jones III}}

| state = PA

| borndied = 1955–present

| term = 2002–2021

| chief term = 2020–2021

| senior term = —

| appointer = {{sortname||G.W. Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush}}

| termination = retirement

}}

{{end U.S. judgeship Former}}

{{Reflist|group=Note}}

{{ChiefJudgeDC}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-break}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 1

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on March 2, 1901 by 31 Stat. 880

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Archbald

| term = 1901–1911

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Witmer

| term = 1911–1925

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Johnson

| term = 1925–1945

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Murphy

| term = 1946–1962

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Nealon, Jr.

| term = 1963–1989

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = McClure, Jr.

| term = 1990–2001

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Jones III

| term = 2002–2021

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Mehalchick

| term = 2024–present

}}

{{end U.S. judge succession}}

{{Col-break}}

{{U.S. judge succession inactive

| seat title = Seat 2

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat established on February 28, 1929 by 45 Stat. 1344

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Watson

| term = 1929–1955

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat abolished on May 31, 1955 pursuant to 68 Stat. 8

}}

{{end U.S. judge succession}}

{{Col-break}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 3

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on July 24, 1946 by 60 Stat. 654 (temporary) (concurrent with Eastern and Western districts)

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 2 on May 31, 1955

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat reassigned solely to the Middle District on June 1, 1955

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Follmer

| term = 1946–1967

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Herman

| term = 1969–1981

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Caldwell II

| term = 1982–1994

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = J.M. Munley

| term = 1998–2009

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Mariani

| term = 2011–2022

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = J.K. Munley

| term = 2023–present

}}

{{end U.S. judge succession}}

{{Col-break}}

{{U.S. judge succession inactive

| seat title = Seat 4

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Sheridan

| term = 1961–1976

}}

{{U.S. judge succession 3 note

| text = Seat abolished on August 23, 1976 (temporary judgeship expired)

}}

{{end U.S. judge succession}}

{{Col-break}}

{{Col-end}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-break}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 5

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294 (temporary)

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 4 on August 23, 1976

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Muir

| term = 1970–1984

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Kosik

| term = 1986–1996

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Kane

| term = 1998–2018

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Wilson

| term = 2019–present

}}

{{end U.S. judge succession}}

{{Col-break}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 6

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Conaboy

| term = 1979–1992

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Caputo

| term = 1997–2009

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Mannion

| term = 2012–2024

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Saporito Jr.

| term = 2024–present

}}

{{end U.S. judge succession}}

{{Col-break}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 7

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Rambo

| term = 1979–2001

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Conner

| term = 2002–2025

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Neary

| term = 2025–present

}}

{{end U.S. judge succession}}

{{Col-break}}

{{start U.S. judge succession

| seat title = Seat 8

}}

{{U.S. judge succession note

| text = Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Vanaskie

| term = 1994–2010

}}

{{U.S. judge succession row

| name = Brann

| term = 2012–present

}}

{{end U.S. judge succession}}

{{Col-break}}

{{Col-end}}

• [https://www.pamd.uscourts.gov/donald-j-trump-president-v-boockvar-et-al-420-cv-02078 Donald J. Trump for President v. Boockvar, et al.], 502 F. Supp. 3d 899 (M.D. Pa. 2020) (affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in a non-precedential opinion, No. 20-3371 (November 2020)).
• Irvis v. Scott, 318 F. Supp. 1246 (M.D. Pa. 1970) (affirmed by the US Supreme court in 1972 as Moose Lodge No. 107 v. Irvis'', 407 U.S. 163 (1972))
• Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District
• Lozano et al. v. City of Hazleton, M.D. Pa. No. 3:06-cv-01586-JMM (2006) (affirmed in part by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, No. 07-3531 (September 9, 2010)).
• Whitewood v. Wolf This case struck down Pennsylvania's statutory ban on same-sex marriage on May 20, 2014. This was not appealed to the Third Circuit.

The people in the district are represented by the United States attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

• Samuel McCarrell (1901–1908)
• Charles B. Witmer (1908–1911)
• Andrew B. Dunsmore (1911–1914)
• Rogers L. Burnett (1914–1921)
• Andrew B. Dunsmore (1921–1934)
• Frank J. McDonnell (1934–1935)
• Frederick V. Follmer (1935–1946)
• Arthur A. Maguire (1946–1953)
• Joseph C. Kreder (1953)
• Julius Levy (1953–1957)
• Robert J. Hourigan (1957–1958)
• Daniel Jenkins (1958–1961)
• Bernard J. Brown (1961–1969)
• John Cottone (1969–1979)
• Carlon M. O'Malley Jr. (1979–1982)
• David Dart Queen (1982–1985)
• James J. West (1985–1993)
• Wayne P. Samuelson (1993)
• David Barasch (1993–2001)
• Martin Carlson (2001–2002)
• Tom Marino (2002–2007)
• Martin Carlson (2007–2009)
• Dennis Pfannenschmidt (2009–2010)
• Peter J. Smith (2010–2016){{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/pam/usaos_historical.htm|title=Listing of U.S. Attorneys | USAO-MDPA | Department of Justice|date=9 April 2015 |publisher=justice.gov|access-date=2015-12-02}}
• Bruce D. Brandler (2016–2017)
• David Freed (2017–2020)
• Bruce D. Brandler (2021–2022)
• Gerard Karam (2022–present)

Within the Middle District, federal courthouses are located in:

• Harrisburg – [https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/gsa-regions/region-3-midatlantic/buildings-and-facilities/pennsylvania/sylvia-h-rambo-us-courthouse Sylvia H. Rambo United States Courthouse]
• Scranton – William J. Nealon Federal Building and United States Courthouse
• Williamsport – Herman T. Schneebeli Federal Building and Courthouse
• Wilkes-Barre – Max Rosenn U.S. Courthouse

File:Rambo USCH.jpg|The Sylvia H. Rambo United States Courthouse in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA

File:Williamsport PA Federal Courthouse.JPG|The Herman T. Schneebeli Federal Building and Courthouse in Williamsport, Lycoming County, PA

The Court's jurisdiction includes the following counties:

{{div col|colwidth=180px}}

• Adams County
• Bradford County
• Cameron County
• Carbon County
• Centre County
• Clinton County
• Columbia County
• Cumberland County
• Dauphin County
• Franklin County
• Fulton County
• Huntingdon County
• Juniata County
• Lackawanna County
• Lebanon County
• Luzerne County
• Lycoming County
• Mifflin County
• Monroe County
• Montour County
• Northumberland County
• Perry County
• Pike County
• Potter County
• Schuylkill County
• Snyder County
• Sullivan County
• Susquehanna County
• Tioga County
• Union County
• Wayne County
• Wyoming County
• York County

{{div col end}}

• Courts of Pennsylvania
• List of current United States district judges
• List of United States federal courthouses in Pennsylvania

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.pamd.uscourts.gov/}}

{{United States 3rd Circuit district judges}}

{{United States 3rd Circuit senior district judges}}

{{USDistCourts}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania}}

Category:1901 establishments in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania, Middle District

Category:Pennsylvania law

Category:Government of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Category:Scranton, Pennsylvania

Category:Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Category:Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Category:Government of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

Category:Government of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

Category:Government of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania

Category:Government of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

Category:Courthouses in Pennsylvania

Category:Courts and tribunals established in 1901

*