WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) today praised the Senate’s unanimous confirmation of Malachy Mannion and Matthew Brann as U.S. District judges for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The judges were nominated by President Obama in May.
“Mal Mannion has been an Assistant U.S. Attorney and a Federal Magistrate Judge, and his confirmation is another step in a life of committed public service. I have known Mal for years and he is an excellent lawyer whose integrity is beyond reproach,” Sen. Casey said. “Matthew Brann, along with an impressive career in private practice, has demonstrated a commitment to the community that will make him an outstanding judge.
“Recommending and confirming strong judicial candidates is among the most significant responsibilities of a U.S. Senator,” Sen. Casey continued, “which is why I’ve worked in a bipartisan fashion with Senator Toomey to make sure excellent candidates are nominated and confirmed.”
“Matthew Brann has a wealth of legal experience gained from more than two decades in private practice, and I am so pleased Williamsport will finally have a federal judge, especially one of his caliber,” Sen. Toomey said. “Malachy Mannion has distinguished himself as an outstanding U.S. magistrate judge for more than a decade, and his intellect, experience and knowledge of the law will serve him well in his new role.
“I am grateful to Sen. Casey for working closely with me on a bipartisan basis to help nominate and confirm qualified, experienced individuals with unquestioned honesty and integrity,” Sen. Toomey continued. “I am confident these two judges will live up to these standards and will serve Pennsylvania well.”
Biographies for both of the nominees are listed below:
Judicial Nomination of Malachy Mannion, Middle District of Pennsylvania
Since 2001, Malachy Mannion has served as a magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Before joining the bench, Mannion served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District from 1986 to 1993 and again from 1997 to 2001. He has also been a principal at Hourigan, Kluger, Spohrer & Quinn from 1993 to 1997 and served as the senior assistant district attorney and trial supervisor in the Nassau County (N.Y.) District Attorney’s office from 1980 to 1986.
Mannion received his Juris Doctor from Pace University School of Law in 1979 and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Scranton in 1976.
Judicial Nomination of Matthew Brann, Middle District of Pennsylvania
Matthew Brann is currently a partner at Brann, Williams, Caldwell & Sheetz, where he has worked since 1991 on civil trial litigation, corporate and commercial transactions, probate and estate planning, and general real estate transactions. Before joining the firm, he served as a law clerk to Bradford County Court of Common Pleas Judge John C. Mott.
He serves on the boards of a number of charitable and civic organizations, including the Lions Club, the Boy Scouts of America, the Martha Lloyd School, Guthrie Health, the Endless Mountain Music Festival, the Elmira City Club, and the Wheel Inn.
Brann graduated from the Pennsylvania State University’s Dickinson School of Law in 1990. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1987. Brann and his wife, Laura, have two sons, John and Peter.
###
