Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) announced that President Joe Biden has nominated Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr. to serve on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senators play an essential role in recommending to the White House U.S. District Court judge candidates with the commitment to equal justice, legal experience, and integrity necessary to serve the Commonwealth.
“Judge Saporito has served the people of Luzerne County and Northeastern Pennsylvania for nearly four decades, from his time as an Assistant Public Defender to his work as a magistrate judge,” said Senator Casey. “His diversity of professional experience, deep commitment to service, and unquestioned integrity will serve him and the people of the Middle District well in this new role. I look forward to voting to swiftly confirm him.”
“Judge Saporito’s nomination to serve as a District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is a testament to his remarkable qualifications,” said Senator Fetterman. “With more than four decades of dedicated service in the Luzerne County Public Defender's office, his commitment to public service shines through. His extensive experience makes him well-prepared to serve as a District Court Judge. It's my privilege to support his nomination, and I look forward to voting to confirm him.”
Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senators have a longstanding tradition of working together to recommend and confirm nominees to the federal bench. Senator Casey previously worked with then-Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA), with whom he confirmed 37 District Court Judges for Pennsylvania on a bipartisan basis from 2007-2022. Casey and Fetterman have continued this practice, most recently working together to recommend and confirm Judge Julia Munley and Judge Karoline Mehalchick in the Middle District.
Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr. has been a United States Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania since 2015 and has been the Court’s Chief United States Magistrate Judge since February 2024. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Saporito served as a part-time Assistant Public Defender in the Office of the Public Defender for the County of Luzerne, Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2015, while concurrently maintaining a private legal practice at Saporito & Saporito and then Saporito, Saporito & Falcone. Judge Saporito received his J.D. from the Dickinson School of Law in 1985, and his B.A. from Villanova University in 1982.
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