Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey applauded the Senate confirmation of Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The Senate confirmed Judge Vanaskie with a strong bipartisan vote of 77-20.
“Judge Vanaskie is eminently qualified to serve on the United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals,” said Senator Specter, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “His outstanding academic record and experience on the Middle District will make him an excellent addition to the appellate bench where I’m confident he’ll continue to serve with great distinction.”
“Judge Vanaskie has a long and distinguished career on the federal bench and as a legal scholar,” said Senator Casey. “His legal acumen, experience and commitment to the rule of law will be an asset to the United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals.”
Judge Vanaskie has served for the past 16 years as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the last 7 as chief judge. Prior to his nomination to the District Court by President Bill Clinton, Judge Vanaskie practiced law at a firm in Scranton, Pennsylvania from 1980 to 1994. He graduated magna cum laude from the Dickinson School of Law in 1978 and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in 1975 from Lycoming College.
President Obama nominated Judge Vanaskie for the Third Circuit in August of 2009. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 16-3 in support of his nomination on December 3, 2009. The American Bar Association Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary has unanimously rated Judge Vanaskie well qualified to serve as a Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
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