Thomas I. Vanaskie

Thomas Vanaskie
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Incumbent
Assumed office April 26, 2010
Appointed by	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Franklin Van Antwerpen
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
In office 1999–2006
Preceded by	Sylvia H. Rambo
Succeeded by	Yvette Kane
Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
In office February 10, 1994 – April 26, 2010
Appointed by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Matthew Brann
Personal details
Born	1953 (age 70–71) Shamokin, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater	Lycoming College Dickinson School of Law

Thomas Ignatius Vanaskie (born 1953) is a United States circuit judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. From February 10, 1994 to April 26, 2010, he served as a United States district judge on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He was confirmed to the Circuit Court of Appeals on April 21, 2010, and was commissioned April 26.

Early life and education, and professional career

Born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, Vanaskie received a B.A. from Lycoming College in 1975 and earned a J.D. from Dickinson School of Law in 1978. He was a law clerk for United States District Judge William Joseph Nealon Jr. on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania from 1978 to 1980. Vanaskie worked in private legal practice in Scranton, Pennsylvania from 1980 to 1994.

Federal judicial service

On November 17, 1993, President Bill Clinton nominated Vanaskie to a seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania that was created by 104 Stat. 5089. Vanaskie was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 10, 1994, and received his commission on February 11, 1994. Vanaskie served as chief judge from 1999-2006.

Nomination to the Third Circuit

On August 6, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Vanaskie to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit that was created when Judge Franklin Stuart Van Antwerpen took senior status in 2006. On November 5, 2009, Judge Vanaskie's nomination was considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee. He was reported to the full Senate by the committee on December 3, 2009.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on Vanaskie's nomination on April 15, 2010. Judge Vanaskie was confirmed, with a vote of 77-20, by the full Senate on April 21, 2010.

External links

• Thomas I. Vanaskie at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Legal offices
New seat	Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania 1994–2010	Succeeded by Matthew Brann
Preceded by Franklin Van Antwerpen	Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit 2010–present	Incumbent