Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) are announcing that the White House has nominated Judge Mia Perez, Judge Kai Scott, Kelley Hodge and John Murphy to be United States District Judges for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 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.
“A product of Philadelphia’s public schools and Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, Judge Mia Perez has served the people of Philadelphia for years as a former public defender, a solo practitioner and one of the youngest judges ever elected to the Court of Common Pleas. For over 25 years, Judge Kai Scott, also educated in the Philadelphia Public School system, has dedicated her entire career to public service in the Eastern District as a youth counselor, law clerk, public defender and a Judge on the Court of Common Pleas. Kelley Hodge has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to equal justice under law not only as the first Black woman to serve as Philadelphia’s District Attorney, but also as a former public defender and school safety expert. John Murphy will also bring an important and unique perspective to the federal bench as a well-respected intellectual property attorney. I am proud that these distinguished individuals have been nominated by the White House to serve the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. I know they will bring the leadership, independence and commitment to the rule of law necessary for these critical roles. I am confident that they will serve the people of the Eastern District well, and I look forward to their swift confirmation,” said Senator Casey.
“President Biden has selected four strong, well-qualified candidates to serve as judges for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Attorneys John Murphy and Kelley Hodge and Judges Kai Scott and Mia Perez will all diligently serve the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I look forward to seeing their efforts to protect and uphold the rule of law,” said Senator Toomey.
Since 2011, Senators Casey and Toomey have worked together to vet, recommend and confirm 29 Federal District Court Judges for Pennsylvania. Only three states—New York, Texas and California—have had more district court judges confirmed to their federal benches during this time.
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 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.
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.
