Washington, D.C. - Following the announcement of President Trump's intent to nominate Judge John Milton Younge to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Nicholas Ranjan to the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) released the following statements:
"I am pleased that President Trump will nominate both Judge John Milton Younge and Mr. Nicholas Ranjan to serve as federal district judges in Pennsylvania," said Senator Toomey. “These nominees possess a wealth of legal experience from their work in the public and private sectors. I am confident they have the qualities necessary to serve as federal district court judges and look forward to supporting their nominations."
“I applaud the nominations of Judge John Younge and Mr. Nicholas Ranjan to the federal bench,” said Senator Casey. “Mr. Ranjan’s background in private practice and as a federal law clerk will serve him well on the bench. Judge Younge has distinguished himself in over two decades on the bench in Philadelphia, and the people of Pennsylvania will benefit from his extensive experience as a fair, thoughtful and independent jurist. I commend their willingness to serve and look forward to supporting the nominations of these well-qualified and experienced candidates.”
Since Senator Toomey joined the Senate in 2011, Senators Toomey and Casey have worked together, in a bipartisan fashion, to fill vacancies on the federal bench in Pennsylvania. Together they have vetted, recommended, and confirmed 14 Federal District Court Judges for Pennsylvania. Only three states — California, New York, and Texas — have had more district court judges confirmed to their federal benches during this time.
Background
Judge John Milton Younge: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
John Milton Younge is a Judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, where he has served since 1995 after being re-elected in 2005 and 2015. Raised in the southwest section of the city, Judge Younge is a product of the Philadelphia Public School system and a member of the 232nd graduating class of Central High School. Upon graduation from law school, Judge Younge started his own community-based law firm where he practiced for three years before joining the Redevelopment Authority of Philadelphia, where he served as Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel. Judge Younge earned his B.S. from Boston University, his J.D. from Howard University School of Law, and his Masters of Judicial Studies Degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. He teaches continuing legal education courses for judges and lawyers and is an adjunct professor at the Delaware County Community College.
Nicholas Ranjan: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Nicholas Ranjan is an equity partner in the Pittsburgh office of K&L Gates LLP, where he litigates commercial, energy, and appellate matters. He has been recognized by Chambers USA as one of the top commercial litigators in Pennsylvania multiple times, and has been a fellow with the Litigation Counsel of America and the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. While at K&L Gates, he has served on the firm’s global pro bono and diversity committees, and directed his office’s pro bono program—which was awarded “pro bono law firm of the year” in 2017 by the local bar association. He is active in the community, serving on legal diversity and symphony boards, as well as serving as a mentor to local middle school students. Prior to joining the firm in 2005, he served as a law clerk to Judge Deborah L. Cook of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Ranjan served as a Simon Karas Fellow with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, working with the State Solicitor General on the office’s major appeals. Mr. Ranjan earned his B.A., summa cum laude, from Grove City College and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was a note editor of The Michigan Law Review.
