WASHINGTON, DC- Following President Obama’s nomination of Judge Thomas Vanaskie for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement:
“President Obama could not have made a better choice when he nominated Judge Vanaskie to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He will bring a wealth of experience and integrity to the Third Circuit.
“Tom Vanaskie has served with distinction as a federal district court judge for 15 years. His academic record, his work as a practicing lawyer and his work on the federal bench have been marked by a commitment to excellence. As an appellate judge he will apply the law in a fair and impartial manner.
“Judge Vanaskie also has a long history with my family. He practiced law with my father, Governor Robert P. Casey, and he administered the oath of office to me at my three swearing-in ceremonies when I served as Auditor General and State Treasurer.”
Judge Thomas Vanaskie currently serves as a federal district court judge in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He was appointed to that position in 1994, and served as Chief Judge of the District from 1996 to 2006. He has served as Co-Chair of the Third Circuit Library Resources Task Force and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Judges Association. He is also the Chair of the Third Circuit Judicial Council’s Information Technology Committee. He was previously a Vice-President and Board Member of the law firm Elliott, Vanaskie & Riley in Scranton and prior to that, a partner in the Scranton office of Dilworth, Paxson, Kalish, & Kauffman. After graduating from Lycoming College in 1975 and Dickinson School of Law in 1978, Judge Vanaskie began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable William J. Nealon, then Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
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