Appeals to Third Circuit Judges assigned 22 | Established April 20, 1818 Chief Judge Petrese B. Tucker | |
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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 Eastern District federal courtrooms in Philadelphia, Allentown, Reading, and Easton.
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The Court's jurisdiction includes Philadelphia, as well as Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton counties. The district is a part of the Third Circuit, and 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 current Chief Judge for the Eastern Pennsylvania District Court is Judge Petrese B. Tucker.
The people in the district are represented by the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
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. It was subdivided on April 20, 1818, by 3 Stat. 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 31 Stat. 880. At the time of its initial subdivision, presiding judge Richard Peters, Jr. was reassigned to only the Eastern District.
Current judges
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has 22 authorized judgeships, filled by judges appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. In addition, judges who have taken senior status continue to hear cases. There are 36 judges, including both active and senior judges. The Chief Judge of the District is Judge Petrese B. Tucker.