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 is a court created under Article IV of the U.S. Constitution, rather than Article III under which the other district courts in the Circuit were created.
The court is composed of 14 active judges and is based at the James A. Byrne Courthouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . The court also conducts sittings in other venues, including the U.S. Virgin Islands .[ 1] It is one of thirteen United States courts of appeals . Due to the court's appellate jurisdiction over Delaware (where more than half of publicly traded companies in the United States incorporate), the court handles a significant number of influential commercial cases in the United States.
Current composition of the court [ edit ]
As of July 1, 2015, the judges on the court are as follows:[ 2] [ 3]
#
Title
Judge
Duty station
Born
Term of service
Appointed by
Active
Chief
Senior
50
Chief Judge
Theodore A. McKee
Philadelphia, PA
1947
1994–present
2010–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
Newark, NJ
1962
2006–present
—
—
G.W. Bush
61
Circuit Judge
Kent A. Jordan
Wilmington, DE
1957
2006–present
—
—
G.W. Bush
62
Circuit Judge
Thomas M. Hardiman
Pittsburgh, PA
1965
2007–present
—
—
G.W. Bush
63
Circuit Judge
Joseph A. Greenaway
Newark, NJ
1957
2010–present
—
—
Obama
64
Circuit Judge
Thomas I. Vanaskie
Scranton, PA
1953
2010–present
—
—
Obama
65
Circuit Judge
Patty Shwartz
Newark, NJ
1961
2013–present
—
—
Obama
66
Circuit Judge
Cheryl Ann Krause
Philadelphia, PA
1968
2014–present
—
—
Obama
67
Circuit Judge
vacant
—
—
—
—
—
—
68
Circuit Judge
vacant
—
—
—
—
—
—
36
Senior Circuit Judge
Leonard I. Garth
Newark, NJ
1921
1973–1986
—
1986–present
Nixon
38
Senior Circuit Judge
Dolores Korman Sloviter
Philadelphia, PA
1932
1979–2013
1991–1998
2013–present
Carter
41
Senior Circuit Judge
Walter King Stapleton
Wilmington, DE
1934
1985–1999
—
1999–present
Reagan
42
Senior Circuit Judge
Morton Ira Greenberg
Trenton, NJ
1933
1987–2000
—
2000–present
Reagan
44
Senior Circuit Judge
Anthony Joseph Scirica
Philadelphia, PA
1940
1987–2013
2003–2010
2013–present
Reagan
45
Senior Circuit Judge
Robert E. Cowen
Trenton, NJ
1930
1987–1998
—
1998–present
Reagan
46
Senior Circuit Judge
Richard Lowell Nygaard
Erie, PA
1940
1988–2005
—
2005–present
Reagan
48
Senior Circuit Judge
Jane Richards Roth
Washington, DC
1935
1991–2006
—
2006–present
G.H.W. Bush
52
Senior Circuit Judge
Marjorie O. Rendell
Philadelphia, PA
1947
1997–2015
—
2015–present
Clinton
53
Senior Circuit Judge
Maryanne Trump Barry
Newark, NJ
1937
1999–2011
—
2011–present
Clinton
59
Senior Circuit Judge
Franklin Stuart Van Antwerpen
Easton, PA
1941
2004–2006
—
2006–present
G.W. Bush
Vacancies and pending nominations [ edit ]
List of former judges [ edit ]
#
Judge
State
Born/Died
Active service
Chief Judge
Senior status
Appointed by
Reason for
termination
1
Acheson, Marcus Wilson Marcus Wilson Acheson
PA
1828–1906
1891–1906[ Note 1]
—
—
Harrison, B. B. Harrison
death
2
Dallas, George M. George M. Dallas
PA
1839–1917
1892–1909
—
—
Harrison, B. B. Harrison
retirement
3
Gray, George George Gray
DE
1840–1925
1899–1914[ 4]
—
—
McKinley, McKinley
retirement
4
Buffington, Joseph Joseph Buffington
PA
1855–1947
1906–1938[ 4]
—
1938–1947
Roosevelt, T. T. Roosevelt
death
5
Lanning, William Mershon William Mershon Lanning
NJ
1849–1912
1909–1912
—
—
Taft, Taft
death
6
McPherson, John Bayard John Bayard McPherson
PA
1846–1919
1912–1919
—
—
Taft, Taft
death
7
Woolley, Victor Baynard Victor Baynard Woolley
DE
1867–1945
1914–1938
—
1938–1945
Wilson, Wilson
death
8
Haight, Thomas Griffith Thomas Griffith Haight
NJ
1879–1942
1919–1920[ 4]
—
—
Wilson, Wilson
resignation
9
Davis, John Warren John Warren Davis
NJ
1867–1945
1920–1939
—
1939–1941
Wilson, Wilson
resignation
10
Thompson, Joseph Whitaker Joseph Whitaker Thompson
PA
1861–1946
1931–1938
—
1938–1946
Hoover, Hoover
death
11
Biggs, Jr., John John Biggs, Jr.
DE
1895–1979
1937–1965
1948–1965
1965–1979
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
12
Maris, Albert Branson Albert Branson Maris
PA
1893–1989
1938–1958
—
1958–1989
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
13
Clark, William William Clark
NJ
1891–1957
1938–1943
—
—
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
resignation
14
Biddle, Francis Francis Biddle
PA
1886–1968
1939–1940
—
—
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
resignation
15
Jones, Charles Alvin Charles Alvin Jones
PA
1887–1966
1939–1944
—
—
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
resignation
16
Goodrich, Herbert Funk Herbert Funk Goodrich
PA
1889–1962
1940–1962
—
—
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
17
McLaughlin, Gerald Gerald McLaughlin
NJ
1893–1977
1943–1968
—
1968–1977
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
18
O'Connell, John Joseph John Joseph O'Connell
PA
1894–1949
1945–1949
—
—
Truman, Truman
death
19
Kalodner, Harry Ellis Harry Ellis Kalodner
PA
1896–1977
1946–1969
1965–1966
1969–1977
Truman, Truman
death
20
Hastie, William Henry William Henry Hastie
VI
1904–1976
1949–1971[ 4]
1968–1971
1971–1976
Truman, Truman
death
21
Staley, Austin Leander Austin Leander Staley
PA
1902–1978
1950–1967
1966–1967
1967–1978
Truman, Truman
death
22
Forman, Phillip Phillip Forman
NJ
1895–1978
1959–1961
—
1961–1978
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
death
23
Ganey, James Cullen James Cullen Ganey
PA
1899–1972
1961–1966
—
1966–1972
Kennedy, Kennedy
death
24
Smith, William Francis William Francis Smith
NJ
1903–1968
1961–1968
—
—
Kennedy, Kennedy
death
25
Freedman, Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln Freedman
PA
1904–1971
1964–1971
—
—
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
26
Seitz, Collins Jacques Collins Jacques Seitz
DE
1914–1998
1966–1989
1971–1984
1989–1998
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
27
Van Dusen, Francis Lund Francis Lund Van Dusen
PA
1912–1993
1967–1977
—
1977–1993
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
28
Aldisert, Ruggero Ruggero Aldisert
PA
1919–2014
1968–1986
1984-1986
1986–2014
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
29
Stahl, David Henry David Henry Stahl
PA
1920–1970
1968–1970
—
—
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
30
Adams, Arlin M. Arlin M. Adams
PA
1921–present
1969–1987
—
—
Nixon, Nixon
retirement
31
Gibbons, John Joseph John Joseph Gibbons
NJ
1924–present
1969–1990
1987–1990
—
Nixon, Nixon
retirement
32
Rosenn, Max Max Rosenn
PA
1910–2006
1970–1981
—
1981–2006
Nixon, Nixon
death
33
Rosen, James James Rosen
NJ
1909–1972
1971–1972
—
—
Nixon, Nixon
death
34
Hunter III, James James Hunter III
NJ
1916–1989
1971–1986
—
1986–1989
Nixon, Nixon
death
35
Weis, Jr., Joseph F. Joseph F. Weis, Jr.
PA
1923–2014
1973–1988
—
1988–2014
Nixon
death
37
Higginbotham, Jr., Aloyisus Leon Aloyisus Leon Higginbotham, Jr.
PA
1928–1998
1977–1991
1990–1991
1991–1993
Carter, Carter
retirement
39
Becker, Edward Roy Edward Roy Becker
PA
1933–2006[ Note 2]
1981–2003
1998–2003
2003–2006
Reagan, Reagan
death
40
Mansmann, Carol Los Carol Los Mansmann
PA
1942–2002
1985–2002
—
—
Reagan, Reagan
death
43
Hutchinson, William D. William D. Hutchinson
PA
1932–1995
1987–1995
—
—
Reagan, Reagan
death
47
Alito, Jr., Samuel A. Samuel A. Alito, Jr.
NJ
1950–present
1990–2006
—
—
Bush, G.H.W. G.H.W. Bush
elevated to SCOTUS
49
Lewis, Timothy K. Timothy K. Lewis
PA
1954–present
1992–1999
—
—
Bush, G.H.W. G.H.W. Bush
resignation
51
Sarokin, H. Lee H. Lee Sarokin
NJ
1928–present
1994–1996
—
—
Clinton, Clinton
retirement
57
Chertoff, Michael Michael Chertoff
NJ
1953–present
2003–2005
—
—
Bush, G.W. G.W. Bush
resignation
Chief judges [ edit ]
Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their circuits, and preside over any panel on which they serve unless the circuit justice (i.e., the Supreme Court justice responsible for the circuit) is also on the panel. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the circuit 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 chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.
Succession of seats [ edit ]
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
1997–2015
vacant
PA
2015–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
Greenaway
NJ
2010–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
1968–1986
Scirica
PA
1987–2013
vacant
PA
2013–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
Vanaskie
PA
2010–present
Seat 10
Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Sloviter
PA
1979–2013
Krause
PA
2014–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
1999–2011
Shwartz
NJ
2013–present
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
External links [ edit ]