View source for United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{short description|Current United States federal appellate court}}
{{Infobox U.S. federal court
| court_type        = circuit
| court_name        = United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
| abbreviation      = 3d Cir.
| seal              = Seal of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.svg
| seal_size         = 150
| map_image_name    = File:3rd Circuit map.svg
| map_image_width   =
| map_image_caption =
| courthouse        = [[James A. Byrne United States Courthouse|James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse]]
| location          = [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]
| appeals_from      = District of Delaware
| appeals_from1     = District of New Jersey
| appeals_from2     = Eastern District of Pennsylvania
| appeals_from3     = Middle District of Pennsylvania
| appeals_from4     = Western District of Pennsylvania
| appeals_from5     = District of the Virgin Islands
| established       = June 16, 1891
| judges_assigned   = 14
| circuit_justice   = [[Samuel Alito]]
| chief             = [[D. Brooks Smith]]
| official_site     = {{URL|https://www.ca3.uscourts.gov/}}
}}

The '''United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit''' (in [[case citation]]s, '''3d Cir.''') is a [[United States federal court|federal court]] with [[appellate jurisdiction]] over the [[United States district court|district courts]] for the following [[United States federal judicial district|districts]]:
* [[United States District Court for the District of Delaware|District of Delaware]]
* [[United States District Court for the District of New Jersey|District of New Jersey]]
* [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania|Eastern District of Pennsylvania]]
* [[United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania|Middle District of Pennsylvania]]
* [[United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania|Western District of Pennsylvania]]

Additionally, this circuit also hears appeals from the [[District Court of the Virgin Islands]], which is technically a territorial court and not a full district court under Article III of the Constitution.

The court is composed of 14 active judges and is based at the [[James A. Byrne United States Courthouse]] in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]. The court also conducts sittings in other venues, including the [[United States Virgin Islands]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ca3.uscourts.gov/Public%20Notices/Notice_April_2013.pdf |title=Notice for Sitting in Virgin Islands |work=Official website of the Third Circuit |access-date=March 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401083600/http://www.ca3.uscourts.gov/Public%20Notices/Notice_April_2013.pdf |archive-date=April 1, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is one of 13 [[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 ==
{{clear}}
<onlyinclude>
{{As of|2021|02|01|df=US}}:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/usca_03_frm?OpenFrameSet |title=U. S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit |work=Official website of the Federal Judicial Center |access-date = May 30, 2005 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050525102811/http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/usca_03_frm?OpenFrameSet <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = May 25, 2005}}</ref><ref name="dutystation3rd">{{cite web |url=http://www.ca3.uscourts.gov/judgelist/coa-jdgs.pdf |format=PDF |title=Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judges |work=Official website of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit |access-date=May 30, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050510152333/http://www.ca3.uscourts.gov/judgelist/coa-jdgs.pdf |archive-date=May 10, 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{start U.S. judgeship Current}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=56|
 title=Chief Judge|
 name=[[D. Brooks Smith]]|
 duty station=[[Duncansville, Pennsylvania|Duncansville, PA]]|
 born=1951|
 term=2002–present|
 chief term=2016–present|
 senior term=—|
 appointer={{sort|43|[[List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush|G.W. Bush]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=50|
 title=Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Theodore McKee]]|
 duty station=[[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, PA]]|
 born=1947|
 term=1994–present|
 chief term=2010–2016|
 senior term=—|
 appointer={{sort|42|[[List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton|Clinton]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=54|
 title=Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Thomas L. Ambro]]|
 duty station=[[Wilmington, Delaware|Wilmington, DE]]|
 born=1949|
 term=2000–present|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=—|
 appointer={{sort|42|[[List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton|Clinton]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=60|
 title=Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Michael Chagares]]|
 duty station=[[Newark, New Jersey|Newark, NJ]]|
 born=1962|
 term=2006–present|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=—|
 appointer={{sort|43|[[List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush|G.W. Bush]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=61|
 title=Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Kent A. Jordan]]|
 duty station=[[Wilmington, Delaware|Wilmington, DE]]|
 born=1957|
 term=2006–present|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=—|
 appointer={{sort|43|[[List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush|G.W. Bush]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=62|
 title=Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Thomas Hardiman]]|
 duty station=[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, PA]]|
 born=1965|
 term=2007–present|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=—|
 appointer={{sort|43|[[List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush|G.W. Bush]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=63|
 title=Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Joseph A. Greenaway Jr.]]|
 duty station=[[Newark, New Jersey|Newark, NJ]]|
 born=1957|
 term=2010–present|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=—|
 appointer={{sort|44|[[List of federal judges appointed by Barack Obama|Obama]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=65|
 title=Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Patty Shwartz]]|
 duty station=[[Newark, New Jersey|Newark, NJ]]|
 born=1961|
 term=2013–present|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=—|
 appointer={{sort|44|[[List of federal judges appointed by Barack Obama|Obama]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=66|
 title=Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Cheryl Ann Krause]]|
 duty station=[[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, PA]]|
 born=1968|
 term=2014–present|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=—|
 appointer={{sort|44|[[List of federal judges appointed by Barack Obama|Obama]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=67|
 title=Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Luis Felipe Restrepo]]|
 duty station=[[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, PA]]|
 born=1959|
 term=2016–present|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=—|
 appointer={{sort|44|[[List of federal judges appointed by Barack Obama|Obama]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current
 | index        = 68
 | title        = Circuit Judge
 | name         = [[Stephanos Bibas]]
 | duty station = [[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, PA]]
 | born         = 1969
 | term         = 2017–present
 | chief term   = —
 | senior term  = —
 | appointer    = {{sort|45|[[List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump|Trump]]}}
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current
 | index        = 69
 | title        = Circuit Judge
 | name         = [[David J. Porter (judge)|David J. Porter]]
 | duty station = [[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, PA]]
 | born         = 1966
 | term         = 2018–present
 | chief term   = —
 | senior term  = —
 | appointer    = {{sort|45|[[List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump|Trump]]}}
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current
 | index        = 70
 | title        = Circuit Judge
 | name         = [[Paul Matey]]
 | duty station = [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark, NJ]]
 | born         = 1971
 | term         = 2019–present
 | chief term   = —
 | senior term  = —
 | appointer    = {{sort|45|[[List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump|Trump]]}}
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current
 | index        = 71
 | title        = Circuit Judge
 | name         = [[Peter J. Phipps]]
 | duty station = [[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, PA]]
 | born         = 1973
 | term         = 2019–present
 | chief term   = —
 | senior term  = —
 | appointer    = {{sort|45|[[List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump|Trump]]}}
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=38|
 title=Senior Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Dolores Sloviter]]|
 duty station=''inactive''|
 born=1932|
 term=1979–2013|
 chief term=1991–1998|
 senior term=2013–present|
 appointer={{sort|39|[[List of federal judges appointed by Jimmy Carter|Carter]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=41|
 title=Senior Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Walter King Stapleton]]|
 duty station=[[Wilmington, Delaware|Wilmington, DE]]|
 born=1934|
 term=1985–1999|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=1999–present|
 appointer={{sort|40|[[List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan|Reagan]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=44|
 title=Senior Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Anthony Joseph Scirica]]|
 duty station=[[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, PA]]|
 born=1940|
 term=1987–2013|
 chief term=2003–2010|
 senior term=2013–present|
 appointer={{sort|40|[[List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan|Reagan]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=45|
 title=Senior Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Robert Cowen]]|
 duty station=[[Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton, NJ]]|
 born=1930|
 term=1987–1998|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=1998–present|
 appointer={{sort|40|[[List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan|Reagan]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=46|
 title=Senior Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Richard Lowell Nygaard]]|
 duty station=[[Erie, Pennsylvania|Erie, PA]]|
 born=1940|
 term=1988–2005|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=2005–present|
 appointer={{sort|40|[[List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan|Reagan]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=48|
 title=Senior Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Jane Richards Roth]]|
 duty station=[[Wilmington, DE]]|
 born=1935|
 term=1991–2006|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=2006–present|
 appointer={{sort|41|[[List of federal judges appointed by George H. W. Bush|G.H.W. Bush]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=52|
 title=Senior Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Midge Rendell]]|
 duty station=[[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, PA]]|
 born=1947|
 term=1997–2015|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=2015–present|
 appointer={{sort|42|[[List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton|Clinton]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=55|
 title=Senior Circuit Judge|
 name=[[Julio M. Fuentes]]|
 duty station=[[Newark, New Jersey|Newark, NJ]]|
 born=1946|
 term=2000–2016|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=2016–present|
 appointer={{sort|42|[[List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton|Clinton]]}}|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Current|
 index=58|
 title=Senior Circuit Judge|
 name=[[D. Michael Fisher]]|
 duty station=[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, PA]]|
 born=1944|
 term=2003–2017|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=2017–present|
 appointer={{sort|43|[[List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush|G.W. Bush]]}}|
}}
{{end U.S. judgeship Current}}
</onlyinclude>

== List of former judges ==

{{start U.S. judgeship Former}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=1|
  name={{sortname|Marcus Wilson|Acheson}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1828–1906|
  term=1891–1906<ref group="Note">Acheson was appointed as a [[United States circuit court|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.</ref>|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname|B.|Harrison|List of federal judges appointed by Benjamin Harrison}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=2|
  name={{sortname|George M.|Dallas|George M. Dallas (judge)}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1839–1917|
  term=1892–1909|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname|B.|Harrison|List of federal judges appointed by Benjamin Harrison}}|
  termination=retirement|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=3|
  name={{sortname|George|Gray|George Gray (senator)}}|
  state=[[Delaware|DE]]|
  borndied=1840–1925|
  term=1899–1914<ref name="recess">Recess appointment, confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] at a later date.</ref>|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname||McKinley|List of federal judges appointed by William McKinley}}|
  termination=retirement|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=4|
  name={{sortname|Joseph|Buffington}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1855–1947|
  term=1906–1938<ref name="recess" />|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=1938–1947|
  appointer={{sortname|T.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Theodore Roosevelt}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=5|
  name={{sortname|William M.|Lanning}}|
  state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
  borndied=1849–1912|
  term=1909–1912|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname||Taft|List of federal judges appointed by William Howard Taft}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former
| index       = —
| name        = {{sortname|Robert Wodrow|Archbald}}
| state       = [[Pennsylvania|PA]]
| borndied    = 1848–1926
| term        = 1911–1913
| chief term  = —
| senior term = —
| appointer   = <ref> Archbald did not have a permanent seat on this court. Instead, he was appointed to the ill-fated [[United States Commerce Court]] in 1910 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.</ref>
| termination = impeachment and conviction
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=6|
  name={{sortname|John Bayard|McPherson}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1846–1919|
  term=1912–1919|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname||Taft|List of federal judges appointed by William Howard Taft}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=7|
  name={{sortname|Victor Baynard|Woolley}}|
  state=[[Delaware|DE]]|
  borndied=1867–1945|
  term=1914–1938|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=1938–1945|
  appointer={{sortname||Wilson|List of federal judges appointed by Woodrow Wilson}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=8|
  name={{sortname|Thomas Griffith|Haight}}|
  state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
  borndied=1879–1942|
  term=1919–1920<ref name="recess" />|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname||Wilson|List of federal judges appointed by Woodrow Wilson}}|
  termination=resignation|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=9|
  name={{sortname|John Warren|Davis|dab=judge}}|
  state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
  borndied=1867–1945|
  term=1920–1939|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=1939–1941|
  appointer={{sortname||Wilson|List of federal judges appointed by Woodrow Wilson}}|
  termination=resignation|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=10|
  name={{sortname|Joseph Whitaker|Thompson}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1861–1946|
  term=1931–1938|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=1938–1946|
  appointer={{sortname||Hoover|List of federal judges appointed by Herbert Hoover}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=11|
  name={{sortname|John|Biggs Jr.}}|
  state=[[Delaware|DE]]|
  borndied=1895–1979|
  term=1937–1965|
  chief term=1948–1965|
  senior term=1965–1979|
  appointer={{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=12|
  name={{sortname|Albert Branson|Maris}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1893–1989|
  term=1938–1958|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=1958–1989|
  appointer={{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=13|
  name={{sortname|William|Clark|William Clark (judge)}}|
  state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
  borndied=1891–1957|
  term=1938–1943|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}}|
  termination=resignation|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=14|
  name={{sortname|Francis|Biddle}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1886–1968|
  term=1939–1940|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}}|
  termination=resignation|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=15|
  name={{sortname|Charles Alvin|Jones}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1887–1966|
  term=1939–1944|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}}|
  termination=resignation|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=16|
  name={{sortname|Herbert Funk|Goodrich}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1889–1962|
  term=1940–1962|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=17|
  name={{sortname|Gerald|McLaughlin}}|
  state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
  borndied=1893–1977|
  term=1943–1968|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=1968–1977|
  appointer={{sortname|F.|Roosevelt|List of federal judges appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=18|
  name={{sortname|John Joseph|O'Connell}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1894–1949|
  term=1945–1949|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=19|
  name={{sortname|Harry Ellis|Kalodner}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1896–1977|
  term=1946–1969|
  chief term=1965–1966|
  senior term=1969–1977|
  appointer={{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=20|
  name={{sortname|William H.|Hastie}}|
  state=[[United States Virgin Islands|VI]]|
  borndied=1904–1976|
  term=1949–1971<ref name="recess" />|
  chief term=1968–1971|
  senior term=1971–1976|
  appointer={{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=21|
  name={{sortname|Austin Leander|Staley}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1902–1978|
  term=1950–1967|
  chief term=1966–1967|
  senior term=1967–1978|
  appointer={{sortname||Truman|List of federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=22|
  name={{sortname|Phillip|Forman}}|
  state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
  borndied=1895–1978|
  term=1959–1961|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=1961–1978|
  appointer={{sortname||Eisenhower|List of federal judges appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=23|
  name={{sortname|James Cullen|Ganey}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1899–1972|
  term=1961–1966|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=1966–1972|
  appointer={{sortname||Kennedy|List of federal judges appointed by John F. Kennedy}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=24|
  name={{sortname|William Francis|Smith}}|
  state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
  borndied=1903–1968|
  term=1961–1968|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname||Kennedy|List of federal judges appointed by John F. Kennedy}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=25|
  name={{sortname|Abraham Lincoln|Freedman}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1904–1971|
  term=1964–1971|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname|L.|Johnson|List of federal judges appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=26|
  name={{sortname|Collins J.|Seitz}}|
  state=[[Delaware|DE]]|
  borndied=1914–1998|
  term=1966–1989|
  chief term=1971–1984|
  senior term=1989–1998|
  appointer={{sortname|L.|Johnson|List of federal judges appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=27|
  name={{sortname|Francis Lund|Van Dusen}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1912–1993|
  term=1967–1977|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=1977–1993|
  appointer={{sortname|L.|Johnson|List of federal judges appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=28|
  name={{sortname|Ruggero J.| Aldisert}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1919–2014|
  term=1968–1986|
  chief term=1984–1986|
  senior term=1986–2014|
  appointer={{sortname|L.|Johnson|List of federal judges appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=29|
  name={{sortname|David Henry|Stahl}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1920–1970|
  term=1968–1970|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname|L.|Johnson|List of federal judges appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=30|
  name={{sortname|Arlin M.|Adams}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1921–2015|
  term=1969–1987|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname||Nixon|List of federal judges appointed by Richard Nixon}}|
  termination=retirement|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=31|
  name={{sortname|John Joseph|Gibbons}}|
  state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
  borndied=1924–2018|
  term=1969–1990|
  chief term=1987–1990|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname||Nixon|List of federal judges appointed by Richard Nixon}}|
  termination=retirement|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=32|
  name={{sortname|Max|Rosenn}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1910–2006|
  term=1970–1981|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=1981–2006|
  appointer={{sortname||Nixon|List of federal judges appointed by Richard Nixon}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=33|
  name={{sortname|James|Rosen|James Rosen (jurist)}}|
  state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
  borndied=1909–1972|
  term=1971–1972|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname||Nixon|List of federal judges appointed by Richard Nixon}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=34|
  name={{sortname|James|Hunter III}}|
  state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
  borndied=1916–1989|
  term=1971–1986|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=1986–1989|
  appointer={{sortname||Nixon|List of federal judges appointed by Richard Nixon}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=35|
  name={{sortname|Joseph F.|Weis Jr.}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1923–2014|
  term=1973–1988|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=1988–2014|
  appointer={{sortname||Nixon|List of federal judges appointed by Richard Nixon}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
 index=36|
 name=[[Leonard I. Garth]]|
 state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
 borndied=1921–2016|
 term=1973–1986|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=1986–2016|
 appointer={{sortname||Nixon|List of federal judges appointed by Richard Nixon}}|
 termination=death|
}}

{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=37|
  name={{sortname|A. Leon|Higginbotham Jr.}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1928–1998|
  term=1977–1991|
  chief term=1990–1991|
  senior term=1991–1993|
  appointer={{sortname||Carter|List of federal judges appointed by Jimmy Carter}}|
  termination=retirement|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=39|
  name={{sortname|Edward Roy|Becker}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1933–2006|
  term=1981–2003|
  chief term=1998–2003|
  senior term=2003–2006|
  appointer={{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=40|
  name={{sortname|Carol Los|Mansmann}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1942–2002|
  term=1985–2002|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=42|
  name={{Sortname|Morton Ira|Greenberg}}|
  state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
  borndied=1933–2021|
  term=1987–2000|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=2000–2021|
  appointer={{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=43|
  name={{sortname|William D.|Hutchinson}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1932–1995|
  term=1987–1995|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname||Reagan|List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan}}|
  termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=47|
  name={{sortname|Samuel|Alito}}|
  state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
  borndied=1950–present|
  term=1990–2006|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname|G.H.W.|Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George H. W. Bush}}|
  termination=elevation to [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=49|
  name={{sortname|Timothy K.|Lewis}}|
  state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
  borndied=1954–present|
  term=1992–1999|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname|G.H.W.|Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George H. W. Bush}}|
  termination=resignation|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=51|
  name={{sortname|H. Lee|Sarokin}}|
  state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
  borndied=1928–present|
  term=1994–1996|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname||Clinton|List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton}}|
  termination=retirement|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
 index=53|
 name={{sortname|Maryanne Trump|Barry}}|
 state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
 borndied=1937–present|
 term=1999–2011|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=2011–2019|
  appointer={{sortname||Clinton|List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton}}|
  termination=retirement|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
  index=57|
  name={{sortname|Michael|Chertoff}}|
  state=[[New Jersey|NJ]]|
  borndied=1953–present|
  term=2003–2005|
  chief term=—|
  senior term=—|
  appointer={{sortname|G.W.|Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush}}|
  termination=resignation|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
 index=59|
 name={{sortname|Franklin|Van Antwerpen}}|
 state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
 borndied=1941–2016|
 term=2004–2006|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=2006–2016|
 appointer={{sortname|G.W.|Bush|List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush}}|
 termination=death|
}}
{{U.S. judgeship row Former|
 index=64|
 name={{sortname|Thomas I.|Vanaskie}}|
 state=[[Pennsylvania|PA]]|
 borndied=1953–present|
 term=2010–2018|
 chief term=—|
 senior term=2018–2019|
 appointer={{sortname||Obama|List of federal judges appointed by Barack Obama|Obama}}|
 termination=retirement|
}}
{{end U.S. judgeship Former}}

{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

== Chief judges ==
{{start U.S. judge succession
| float      = right
| seat title = Chief Judge
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name = [[John Biggs Jr.|Biggs Jr.]]
| term = 1948–1965
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name = [[Harry Ellis Kalodner|Kalodner]]
| term = 1965–1966
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name = [[Austin Leander Staley|Staley]]
| term = 1966–1967
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name = [[William H. Hastie|Hastie]]
| term = 1968–1971
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name = [[Collins J. Seitz|Seitz]]
| term = 1971–1984
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name = [[Ruggero J. Aldisert|Aldisert]]
| term = 1984–1986
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name = [[John Joseph Gibbons|Gibbons]]
| term = 1987–1990
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name = [[A. Leon Higginbotham|Higginbotham]]
| term = 1990–1991
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name = [[Dolores Sloviter|Sloviter]]
| term = 1991–1998
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name = [[Edward Roy Becker|Becker]]
| term = 1998–2003
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name = [[Anthony Joseph Scirica|Scirica]]
| term = 2003–2010
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name = [[Theodore McKee|McKee]]
| term = 2010–2016
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name = '''[[D. Brooks Smith|D. Smith]]'''
| term = 2016–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}

{{ChiefJudge}}

== Succession of seats ==
{{seatTableIntro|fourteen}}

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{{start U.S. judge succession
| seat title = Seat 1
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Established on December 10, 1869 by the [[Judiciary Act of 1869]] as a [[United States circuit court|circuit judgeship]] for the Third Circuit
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = 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]]
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Marcus Wilson Acheson|Acheson]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1892–1906
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Joseph Buffington|Buffington]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1906–1938
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Francis Biddle|Biddle]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1939–1940
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Herbert Funk Goodrich|Goodrich]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1940–1962
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Abraham Lincoln Freedman|Freedman]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1964–1971
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Joseph F. Weis Jr.|Weis, Jr.]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1973–1988
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Richard Lowell Nygaard|Nygaard]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1988–2005
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = '''[[Thomas Hardiman|Hardiman]]'''
| state = PA
| term  = 2007–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}
{{col-break}}
{{start U.S. judge succession
| seat title = Seat 2
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Established on June 16, 1891 by the [[Judiciary Act of 1891]]
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[George M. Dallas (judge)|Dallas]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1892–1909
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[William M. Lanning|Lanning]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1909–1912
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[John Bayard McPherson|McPherson]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1912–1919
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Thomas Griffith Haight|Haight]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1919–1920
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[John Warren Davis (judge)|Davis]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1920–1939
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Charles Alvin Jones|Jones]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1939–1944
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Harry Ellis Kalodner|Kalodner]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1946–1969
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Arlin M. Adams|Adams]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1969–1987
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[William D. Hutchinson|Hutchinson]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1987–1995
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Midge Rendell|Rendell]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1997–2015
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = '''[[Stephanos Bibas|Bibas]]'''
| state = PA
| term  = 2017–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}
{{col-break}}
{{start U.S. judge succession
| seat title = Seat 3
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Established on February 23, 1899 by 30&nbsp;Stat.&nbsp;846
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[George Gray (senator)|Gray]]
| state = DE
| term  = 1899–1914
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Victor Baynard Woolley|Woolley]]
| state = DE
| term  = 1914–1938
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Albert Branson Maris|Maris]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1938–1958
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Phillip Forman|Forman]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1959–1961
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[William Francis Smith|W. Smith]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1961–1968
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[James Hunter III|Hunter III]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1971–1986
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Robert Cowen|Cowen]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1987–1998
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Julio M. Fuentes|Fuentes]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 2000–2016
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = '''[[Paul Matey|Matey]]'''
| state = NJ
| term  = 2019–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}
{{col-break}}
{{start U.S. judge succession
| seat title = Seat 4
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Established on June 10, 1930 by 46&nbsp;Stat.&nbsp;538
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Joseph Whitaker Thompson|Thompson]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1931–1938
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[William Clark (judge)|Clark]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1938–1943
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Gerald McLaughlin|McLaughlin]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1943–1968
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[John Joseph Gibbons|Gibbons]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1969–1990
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Samuel Alito|Alito]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1990–2006
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = '''[[Joseph A. Greenaway Jr.|Greenaway, Jr.]]'''
| state = NJ
| term  = 2010–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{{start U.S. judge succession
| seat title = Seat 5
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Established as a temporary judgeship on June 24, 1936 by 49&nbsp;Stat.&nbsp;1903
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Made permanent on May 31, 1938 by 52&nbsp;Stat.&nbsp;584
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[John Biggs Jr.|Biggs, Jr.]]
| state = DE
| term  = 1937–1965
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Collins J. Seitz|Seitz]]
| state = DE
| term  = 1966–1989
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Jane Richards Roth|Roth]]
| state = DE
| term  = 1991–2006
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = '''[[Kent A. Jordan|Jordan]]'''
| state = DE
| term  = 2006–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}
{{col-break}}
{{start U.S. judge succession
| seat title = Seat 6
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Established on December 7, 1944 by 58&nbsp;Stat.&nbsp;796
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[John Joseph O'Connell|O'Connell]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1945–1949
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Austin Leander Staley|Staley]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1950–1967
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Ruggero J. Aldisert|Aldisert]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1968–1986
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Anthony Joseph Scirica|Scirica]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1987–2013
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = '''[[Luis Felipe Restrepo|Restrepo]]'''
| state = PA
| term  = 2016–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}
{{col-break}}
{{start U.S. judge succession
| seat title = Seat 7
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Established on August 3, 1949 by 63&nbsp;Stat.&nbsp;493
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[William H. Hastie|Hastie]]
| state = VI
| term  = 1950–1971
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[James Rosen (jurist)|Rosen]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1971–1972
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Leonard I. Garth|Garth]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1973–1986
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Morton Ira Greenberg|Greenberg]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1987–2000
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Michael Chertoff|Chertoff]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 2003–2005
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = '''[[Michael Chagares|Chagares]]'''
| state = NJ
| term  = 2006–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}
{{col-break}}
{{start U.S. judge succession
| seat title = Seat 8
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Established on May 19, 1961 by 75&nbsp;Stat.&nbsp;80
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[James Cullen Ganey|Ganey]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1961–1966
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Francis Lund Van Dusen|Van Dusen]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1967–1977
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[A. Leon Higginbotham Jr.|Higginbotham, Jr.]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1977–1991
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = '''[[Theodore McKee|McKee]]'''
| state = PA
| term  = 1994–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{{start U.S. judge succession
| seat title = Seat 9
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Established on June 18, 1968 by 82&nbsp;Stat.&nbsp;184
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[David Henry Stahl|Stahl]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1968–1970
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Max Rosenn|Rosenn]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1970–1981
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Edward Roy Becker|Becker]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1981–2003
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Franklin Van Antwerpen|Van Antwerpen]]
| state = PA
| term  = 2004–2006
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Thomas I. Vanaskie|Vanaskie]]
| state = PA
| term  = 2010–2018
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = '''[[Peter J. Phipps|Phipps]]'''
| state = PA
| term  = 2019–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}
{{col-break}}
{{start U.S. judge succession
| seat title = Seat 10
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Established on October 20, 1978 by 92&nbsp;Stat.&nbsp;1629
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Dolores Sloviter|Sloviter]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1979–2013
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = '''[[Cheryl Ann Krause|Krause]]'''
| state = PA
| term  = 2014–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}
{{col-break}}
{{start U.S. judge succession
| seat title = Seat 11
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Established on July 10, 1984 by 98&nbsp;Stat.&nbsp;333
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Carol Los Mansmann|Mansmann]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1985–2002
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[D. Michael Fisher|Fisher]]
| state = PA
| term  = 2003–2017
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = '''[[David J. Porter (judge)|Porter]]'''
| state = PA
| term  = 2018–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{{start U.S. judge succession
| seat title = Seat 12
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Established on July 10, 1984 by 98&nbsp;Stat.&nbsp;333
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Walter King Stapleton|Stapleton]]
| state = DE
| term  = 1985–1999
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = '''[[Thomas L. Ambro|Ambro]]'''
| state = DE
| term  = 2000–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}
{{col-break}}
{{start U.S. judge succession
| seat title = Seat 13
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Established on December 1, 1990 by 104&nbsp;Stat.&nbsp;5089
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Timothy K. Lewis|Lewis]]
| state = PA
| term  = 1992–1999
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = '''[[D. Brooks Smith|D. Smith]]'''
| state = PA
| term  = 2002–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}
{{col-break}}
{{start U.S. judge succession
| seat title = Seat 14
}}
{{U.S. judge succession note
| text = Established on December 1, 1990 by 104&nbsp;Stat.&nbsp;5089
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[H. Lee Sarokin|Sarokin]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1994–1996
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = [[Maryanne Trump Barry|Barry]]
| state = NJ
| term  = 1999–2011
}}
{{U.S. judge succession row
| name  = '''[[Patty Shwartz|Shwartz]]'''
| state = NJ
| term  = 2013–present
}}
{{end U.S. judge succession}}
{{col-end}}

== See also ==
* [[Judicial appointment history for United States federal courts#Third Circuit]]
* [[List of current United States Circuit Judges]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official|https://www.ca3.uscourts.gov/}}
* [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=3rd&navby=year&year=recent Recent opinions from Findlaw]

{{United States courts of appeals judges}}
{{United States 3rd Circuit district judges}}
{{United States 3rd Circuit senior district judges}}
{{United States Courts of Appeals}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit}}
[[Category:United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit| ]]
[[Category:Newark, New Jersey]]
[[Category:1891 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Courts and tribunals established in 1891]]