United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
About This Court
Located in western Pennsylvania, this federal district court serves a geographically diverse region that includes the city of Pittsburgh, the surrounding Allegheny County metropolitan area, and a broad swath of western and north-central Pennsylvania. The district is part of the Third Circuit and handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters arising within its boundaries.
The court sits in Pittsburgh as its primary location and also holds court in Erie and Johnstown, reflecting the spread of population centers across the district. The Pittsburgh division handles the largest share of the docket, given the concentration of population and commercial activity in the southwestern portion of the state.
The Western District has a history of significant litigation in areas including labor law, environmental law, and securities matters, consistent with Pittsburgh's industrial and corporate history. The court also handles a substantial volume of criminal cases and civil rights litigation.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Pennsylvania.
Divisions
Pittsburgh Division (Pittsburgh), Erie Division (Erie), Johnstown Division (Johnstown)
Caseload
The court handles a significant volume of labor, employment, and environmental cases reflecting the region's industrial heritage, along with federal criminal prosecutions and civil rights matters. Pittsburgh's role as a regional financial and corporate center also contributes to complex commercial litigation on the docket.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, which generally requires membership in good standing with the Pennsylvania bar or another state bar and compliance with the court's local rules governing admission.
Clerk's Office
Joseph F. Weis, Jr. United States Courthouse, 700 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 208-7500
Active Judges 15
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donetta Ambrose | William J. Clinton | 1993 | Duquesne University School of Law |
| Susan Baxter | Donald J. Trump | 2018 | Temple University School of Law (now James E. Beasley School of Law) |
| Cathy Bissoon | Barack Obama | 2011 | Harvard Law School |
| David Cercone | George W. Bush | 2002 | Duquesne University School of Law |
| Robert Colville | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | Duquesne University School of Law |
| Joy Conti | George W. Bush | 2002 | Duquesne University School of Law |
| Nora Fischer | George W. Bush | 2007 | Notre Dame Law School |
| Stephanie Haines | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit College of Law |
| William Hardy | Donald J. Trump | 2020 | Notre Dame Law School |
| Marilyn Horan | Donald J. Trump | 2018 | University of Pittsburgh School of Law |
| Mark Hornak | Barack Obama | 2011 | University of Pittsburgh School of Law |
| J. Ranjan | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | University of Michigan Law School |
| Arthur Schwab | George W. Bush | 2002 | University of Virginia School of Law |
| William Stickman | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | Duquesne University School of Law |
| Christy Wiegand | Donald J. Trump | 2020 | Cornell Law School |
Local Rules
70 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.