The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (in case citations, 3d Cir.) is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:

This circuit also hears appeals from the District Court of the Virgin Islands, which is an Article IV territorial court and not a district court under Article III of the Constitution.

The court is composed of 14 active judges and is based at the James A. Byrne United States Courthouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The court also conducts sittings in other venues, including the United States Virgin Islands. It is one of 13 United States courts of appeals. Due to the court's appellate jurisdiction over Delaware, where more than half of publicly traded companies in the United States incorporate, the court handles a significant number of influential commercial cases in the United States.

Current composition of the court

As of October 9, 2025[update]:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
ActiveChiefSenior
61Chief JudgeMichael ChagaresNewark, NJ19622006–present2021–present—G.W. Bush
63Circuit JudgeThomas HardimanPittsburgh, PA19652007–present——G.W. Bush
66Circuit JudgePatty ShwartzNewark, NJ19612013–present——Obama
67Circuit JudgeCheryl Ann KrausePhiladelphia, PA19682014–present——Obama
68Circuit JudgeL. Felipe RestrepoPhiladelphia, PA19592016–present——Obama
69Circuit JudgeStephanos BibasPhiladelphia, PA19692017–present——Trump
70Circuit JudgeDavid J. PorterPittsburgh, PA19662018–present——Trump
71Circuit JudgePaul MateyNewark, NJ19712019–present——Trump
72Circuit JudgePeter J. PhippsPittsburgh, PA19732019–present——Trump
73Circuit JudgeArianna J. FreemanPhiladelphia, PA19782022–present——Biden
74Circuit JudgeT. Montgomery-ReevesWilmington, DE19812023–present——Biden
75Circuit JudgeCindy K. ChungPittsburgh, PA19752023–present——Biden
76Circuit JudgeEmil BoveNewark, NJ19812025–present——Trump
77Circuit JudgeJennifer MascottWilmington, DE19762025–present——Trump
45Senior JudgeAnthony Joseph SciricaPhiladelphia, PA19401987–20132003–20102013–presentReagan
46Senior JudgeRobert Coweninactive19301987–1998—1998–presentReagan
47Senior JudgeRichard Lowell NygaardErie, PA19401988–2005—2005–presentReagan
49Senior JudgeJane Richards RothWilmington, DE19351991–2006—2006–presentG.H.W. Bush
51Senior JudgeTheodore McKeePhiladelphia, PA19471994–20222010–20162022–presentClinton
53Senior JudgeMarjorie RendellPhiladelphia, PA19471997–2015—2015–presentClinton
55Senior JudgeThomas L. AmbroWilmington, DE19492000–2023—2023–presentClinton
56Senior JudgeJulio M. FuentesNewark, NJ19462000–2016—2016–presentClinton
57Senior JudgeD. Brooks SmithDuncansville, PA19512002–20212016–20212021–presentG.W. Bush
59Senior JudgeD. Michael FisherPittsburgh, PA19442003–2017—2017–presentG.W. Bush

List of former judges

#JudgeStateBorn–diedActive serviceChief JudgeSenior statusAppointed byReason for termination
1Marcus Wilson AchesonPA1828–19061891–1906——B. Harrison / Operation of lawdeath
2George M. DallasPA1839–19171892–1909——B. Harrisonretirement
3George GrayDE1840–19251899–1914——McKinleyretirement
4Joseph BuffingtonPA1855–19471906–1938—1938–1947T. Rooseveltdeath
5William M. LanningNJ1849–19121909–1912——Taftdeath
6Robert W. ArchbaldPA1848–19261911–1913——removal
7John Bayard McPhersonPA1846–19191912–1919——Taftdeath
8Victor Baynard WoolleyDE1867–19451914–1938—1938–1945Wilsondeath
9Thomas Griffith HaightNJ1879–19421919–1920——Wilsonresignation
10John Warren DavisNJ1867–19451920–1939—1939–1941Wilsonresignation
11Joseph Whitaker ThompsonPA1861–19461931–1938—1938–1946Hooverdeath
12John Biggs Jr.DE1895–19791937–19651948–19651965–1979F. Rooseveltdeath
13Albert Branson MarisPA1893–19891938–1958—1958–1989F. Rooseveltdeath
14William ClarkNJ1891–19571938–1943——F. Rooseveltresignation
15Francis BiddlePA1886–19681939–1940——F. Rooseveltresignation
16Charles Alvin JonesPA1887–19661939–1944——F. Rooseveltresignation
17Herbert Funk GoodrichPA1889–19621940–1962——F. Rooseveltdeath
18Gerald McLaughlinNJ1893–19771943–1968—1968–1977F. Rooseveltdeath
19John Joseph O'ConnellPA1894–19491945–1949——Trumandeath
20Harry Ellis KalodnerPA1896–19771946–19691965–19661969–1977Trumandeath
21William H. HastieVI1904–19761949–19711968–19711971–1976Trumandeath
22Austin Leander StaleyPA1902–19781950–19671966–19671967–1978Trumandeath
23Phillip FormanNJ1895–19781959–1961—1961–1978Eisenhowerdeath
24James Cullen GaneyPA1899–19721961–1966—1966–1972Kennedydeath
25William Francis SmithNJ1903–19681961–1968——Kennedydeath
26Abraham Lincoln FreedmanPA1904–19711964–1971——L. Johnsondeath
27Collins J. SeitzDE1914–19981966–19891971–19841989–1998L. Johnsondeath
28Francis Lund Van DusenPA1912–19931967–1977—1977–1993L. Johnsondeath
29Ruggero J. AldisertPA1919–20141968–19861984–19861986–2014L. Johnsondeath
30David Henry StahlPA1920–19701968–1970——L. Johnsondeath
31Arlin M. AdamsPA1921–20151969–1987——Nixonretirement
32John Joseph GibbonsNJ1924–20181969–19901987–1990—Nixonretirement
33Max RosennPA1910–20061970–1981—1981–2006Nixondeath
34James RosenNJ1909–19721971–1972——Nixondeath
35James Hunter IIINJ1916–19891971–1986—1986–1989Nixondeath
36Joseph F. Weis Jr.PA1923–20141973–1988—1988–2014Nixondeath
37Leonard I. GarthNJ1921–20161973–1986—1986–2016Nixondeath
38A. Leon Higginbotham Jr.PA1928–19981977–19911990–19911991–1993Carterretirement
39Dolores SloviterPA1932–20221979–20131991–19982013–2022Carterdeath
40Edward R. BeckerPA1933–20061981–20031998–20032003–2006Reagandeath
41Carol Los MansmannPA1942–20021985–2002——Reagandeath
42Walter King StapletonDE1934–20241985–1999—1999–2024Reagandeath
43Morton Ira GreenbergNJ1933–20211987–2000—2000–2021Reagandeath
44William D. HutchinsonPA1932–19951987–1995——Reagandeath
48Samuel AlitoNJ1950–present1990–2006——G.H.W. Bushelevation
50Timothy K. LewisPA1954–present1992–1999——G.H.W. Bushresignation
52H. Lee SarokinNJ1928–20231994–1996——Clintonretirement
54Maryanne Trump BarryNJ1937–20231999–2011—2011–2019Clintonretirement
58Michael ChertoffNJ1953–present2003–2005——G.W. Bushresignation
60Franklin Van AntwerpenPA1941–20162004–2006—2006–2016G.W. Bushdeath
62Kent A. JordanDE1957–present2006–2025——G.W. Bushretirement
64Joseph A. Greenaway Jr.NJ1957–present2010–2023——Obamaretirement
65Thomas I. VanaskiePA1953–present2010–2018—2018–2019Obamaretirement

Chief judges

Chief Judge
Biggs Jr.1948–1965
Kalodner1965–1966
Staley1966–1967
Hastie1968–1971
Seitz1971–1984
Aldisert1984–1986
Gibbons1987–1990
Higginbotham1990–1991
Sloviter1991–1998
Becker1998–2003
Scirica2003–2010
McKee2010–2016
D. Smith2016–2021
Chagares2021–present

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their circuits, and preside over any panel on which they serve, unless the circuit justice (the Supreme Court justice responsible for the circuit) is also on the panel. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the circuit judges.

To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge. A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges, with seniority determined first by commission date, then by age. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. If no judge qualifies to be chief, the youngest judge over the age of 65 who has served on the court for at least one year shall act as chief until another judge qualifies. If no judge has served on the court for more than a year, the most senior judge shall act as chief. Judges can forfeit or resign their chief judgeship or acting chief judgeship while retaining their active status as a circuit judge.

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

The court has fourteen seats for active judges, numbered in the order in which they were initially filled. Judges who assume senior status enter a kind of retirement in which they remain on the bench but vacate their seats, thus allowing the U.S. President to appoint new judges to fill their seats.

Seat 1
Seat 1 Established on December 10, 1869 by the Judiciary Act of 1869 as a circuit judgeship for the Third Circuit Reassigned on June 16, 1891 to the newly formed United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit by the Judiciary Act of 1891 Acheson PA 1892–1906 Buffington PA 1906–1938 Biddle PA 1939–1940 Goodrich PA 1940–1962 Freedman PA 1964–1971 Weis, Jr. PA 1973–1988 Nygaard PA 1988–2005 Hardiman PA 2007–presentSeat 2 Established on June 16, 1891 by the Judiciary Act of 1891 Dallas PA 1892–1909 Lanning NJ 1909–1912 McPherson PA 1912–1919 Haight NJ 1919–1920 Davis NJ 1920–1939 Jones PA 1939–1944 Kalodner PA 1946–1969 Adams PA 1969–1987 Hutchinson PA 1987–1995 Rendell PA 1997–2015 Bibas PA 2017–presentSeat 3 Established on February 23, 1899 by 30 Stat. 846 Gray DE 1899–1914 Woolley DE 1914–1938 Maris PA 1938–1958 Forman NJ 1959–1961 W. Smith NJ 1961–1968 Hunter III NJ 1971–1986 Cowen NJ 1987–1998 Fuentes NJ 2000–2016 Matey NJ 2019–presentSeat 4 Established on June 10, 1930 by 46 Stat. 538 Thompson PA 1931–1938 Clark NJ 1938–1943 McLaughlin NJ 1943–1968 Gibbons NJ 1969–1990 Alito NJ 1990–2006 Greenaway, Jr. NJ 2010–2023 Bove III NJ 2025–present
Established on December 10, 1869 by the Judiciary Act of 1869 as a circuit judgeship for the Third Circuit
Reassigned on June 16, 1891 to the newly formed United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit by the Judiciary Act of 1891
AchesonPA1892–1906
BuffingtonPA1906–1938
BiddlePA1939–1940
GoodrichPA1940–1962
FreedmanPA1964–1971
Weis, Jr.PA1973–1988
NygaardPA1988–2005
HardimanPA2007–present
Seat 2
Established on June 16, 1891 by the Judiciary Act of 1891
DallasPA1892–1909
LanningNJ1909–1912
McPhersonPA1912–1919
HaightNJ1919–1920
DavisNJ1920–1939
JonesPA1939–1944
KalodnerPA1946–1969
AdamsPA1969–1987
HutchinsonPA1987–1995
RendellPA1997–2015
BibasPA2017–present
Seat 3
Established on February 23, 1899 by 30 Stat. 846
GrayDE1899–1914
WoolleyDE1914–1938
MarisPA1938–1958
FormanNJ1959–1961
W. SmithNJ1961–1968
Hunter IIINJ1971–1986
CowenNJ1987–1998
FuentesNJ2000–2016
MateyNJ2019–present
Seat 4
Established on June 10, 1930 by 46 Stat. 538
ThompsonPA1931–1938
ClarkNJ1938–1943
McLaughlinNJ1943–1968
GibbonsNJ1969–1990
AlitoNJ1990–2006
Greenaway, Jr.NJ2010–2023
Bove IIINJ2025–present
Seat 5
Seat 5 Established as a temporary judgeship on June 24, 1936 by 49 Stat. 1903 Made permanent on May 31, 1938, by 52 Stat. 584 Biggs, Jr. DE 1937–1965 Seitz DE 1966–1989 Roth DE 1991–2006 Jordan DE 2006–2025 Mascott DE 2025–presentSeat 6 Established on December 7, 1944, by 58 Stat. 796 O'Connell PA 1945–1949 Staley PA 1950–1967 Aldisert PA 1968–1986 Scirica PA 1987–2013 Restrepo PA 2016–presentSeat 7 Established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493 Hastie VI 1950–1971 Rosen NJ 1971–1972 Garth NJ 1973–1986 Greenberg NJ 1987–2000 Chertoff NJ 2003–2005 Chagares NJ 2006–presentSeat 8 Established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80 Ganey PA 1961–1966 Van Dusen PA 1967–1977 Higginbotham, Jr. PA 1977–1991 McKee PA 1994–2022 Freeman PA 2022–present
Established as a temporary judgeship on June 24, 1936 by 49 Stat. 1903
Made permanent on May 31, 1938, by 52 Stat. 584
Biggs, Jr.DE1937–1965
SeitzDE1966–1989
RothDE1991–2006
JordanDE2006–2025
MascottDE2025–present
Seat 6
Established on December 7, 1944, by 58 Stat. 796
O'ConnellPA1945–1949
StaleyPA1950–1967
AldisertPA1968–1986
SciricaPA1987–2013
RestrepoPA2016–present
Seat 7
Established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493
HastieVI1950–1971
RosenNJ1971–1972
GarthNJ1973–1986
GreenbergNJ1987–2000
ChertoffNJ2003–2005
ChagaresNJ2006–present
Seat 8
Established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
GaneyPA1961–1966
Van DusenPA1967–1977
Higginbotham, Jr.PA1977–1991
McKeePA1994–2022
FreemanPA2022–present
Seat 9
Seat 9 Established on June 18, 1968 by 82 Stat. 184 Stahl PA 1968–1970 Rosenn PA 1970–1981 Becker PA 1981–2003 Van Antwerpen PA 2004–2006 Vanaskie PA 2010–2018 Phipps PA 2019–presentSeat 10 Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 Sloviter PA 1979–2013 Krause PA 2014–presentSeat 11 Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333 Mansmann PA 1985–2002 Fisher PA 2003–2017 Porter PA 2018–present
Established on June 18, 1968 by 82 Stat. 184
StahlPA1968–1970
RosennPA1970–1981
BeckerPA1981–2003
Van AntwerpenPA2004–2006
VanaskiePA2010–2018
PhippsPA2019–present
Seat 10
Established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
SloviterPA1979–2013
KrausePA2014–present
Seat 11
Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
MansmannPA1985–2002
FisherPA2003–2017
PorterPA2018–present
Seat 12
Seat 12 Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333 Stapleton DE 1985–1999 Ambro DE 2000–2023 Montgomery-Reeves DE 2023–presentSeat 13 Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 Lewis PA 1992–1999 D. Smith PA 2002–2021 Chung PA 2023–presentSeat 14 Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 Sarokin NJ 1994–1996 Barry NJ 1999–2011 Shwartz NJ 2013–present
Established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
StapletonDE1985–1999
AmbroDE2000–2023
Montgomery-ReevesDE2023–present
Seat 13
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
LewisPA1992–1999
D. SmithPA2002–2021
ChungPA2023–present
Seat 14
Established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
SarokinNJ1994–1996
BarryNJ1999–2011
ShwartzNJ2013–present

See also

External links