Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) are announcing the confirmation of Judge Mia Perez, Judge Kai Scott, Kelley Hodge, and John Murphy to be United States District Judges for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
“I am proud to announce that the Senate confirmed Judge Mia Perez, Judge Kai Scott, Kelley Hodge, and John Murphy to be United States District Judges for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Judge Mia Perez’s impressive work as a former public defender and one of the youngest judges ever elected to the Court of Common Pleas demonstrates her bona fide credentials, as does Judge Kai Scott’s tenure as a youth counselor and more than two decades in public service. Kelley Hodge brings her legacy as the first Black woman to serve as Philadelphia’s District Attorney and school safety expert to the bench. And John Murphy brings a unique perspective to the federal bench as a well-respected and experienced intellectual property attorney,” said Senator Casey. “These Pennsylvanians have dedicated their lives to serving the people of the Commonwealth and I am confident that they will bring integrity and honor to their new positions.”
“I’m pleased the Senate has confirmed four well-qualified nominees to serve as federal district court judges for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. John Murphy, Kelley Hodge, Kai Scott, and Mia Perez will bring with them to the bench the experience, intellect, and integrity necessary to excel as federal judges. I appreciate their willingness to serve in this important role in our constitutional system,” said Senator Toomey.
For over a decade, Senators Casey and Toomey have worked together to recommend Federal District Court candidates to the White House with the experience, intellect, and temperament necessary to serve the Commonwealth. During this time, the Senate has confirmed 33 of the Senators’ recommendations to serve in Pennsylvania, which is more Federal District Court judges than all but two states—California and New York.
Judge Mia Perez: Candidate for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Judge Mia Roberts Perez has served as a judge on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas since her election in 2016. Judge Perez was previously in private practice at her own firm, Perez Law, from 2011 to 2016. From 2010 to 2011, Judge Perez was an associate at Friedman Schuman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was an Assistant Defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia from 2006 to 2010. Judge Perez received her J.D. from Temple University, Beasley School of Law in 2006 and her B.A. from Tufts University in 2003.
Judge Kai Scott: Candidate for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Judge Kai Scott has served as a judge on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas since her election in 2015. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Scott was the Trial Unit Chief for the Federal Community Defender Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2010 to 2015. Judge Scott was an Assistant Federal Defender from 2004 to 2010. From 1998 to 2004, Judge Scott was a Trial Attorney with the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Judge Scott served as a law clerk for Judge Donald Poorman of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers Compensation from 1996 to 1998. Judge Scott received her J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law in 1995 and her B.A. from Hampton University in 1991.
Kelley B. Hodge: Candidate for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Kelley B. Hodge is a partner at Fox Rothschild in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she has worked since 2020. Ms. Hodge was previously Of Counsel at Elliott Greenleaf in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania from 2016 to 2017 and 2018 to 2020. Ms. Hodge was the interim District Attorney for the City of Philadelphia from 2017 to 2018. From 2015 to 2016, she was the Title IX Coordinator and Executive Assistant to the President at the University of Virginia. From 2011 to 2015, she served as the Safe Schools Advocate under the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. From 2004 to 2011, she worked in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Ms. Hodge was a public defender in the Richmond, Virginia Public Defender’s Office from 1997 to 2003. Ms. Hodge received her J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law in 1996 and B.A. from the University of Virginia in 1993.
John Frank Murphy: Candidate for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
John Frank Murphy is a partner at Baker & Hostetler in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he has worked since 2007. Mr. Murphy has also been an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers Law School since 2014. Mr. Murphy served as a law clerk for Chief Judge Kimberly A. Moore on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit from 2008 to 2009. Mr. Murphy received his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 2007, his M.S. and Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology in 2002 and 2004, and his B.S., summa cum laude, from Cornell University in 1999.
