Theodore McKee
Encyclopedia
Theodore Alexander McKee (born June 5, 1947) is the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
. He had previously served on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
.
Judge McKee was born in Rochester, New York
. He received a B.A. from the State University of New York at Cortland
in 1969 and earned his Juris Doctor
from Syracuse University College of Law
where he was an honor student graduating magna cum laude in 1975.
Judge McKee was in private practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
from 1975 to 1977. From 1977 to 1980 he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. McKee began in the General Crimes Unit, moved to the Narcotics and Firearms Unit, and finally worked in the Political Corruption Unit. In his first year as an A.U.S.A., Judge McKee investigated allegations of police brutality before a special grand jury, as part of a nationwide probe into police brutality by the United States Civil Rights Commission.
In 1980 he became a Deputy City Solicitor in the Philadelphia City Solicitor's office, where he remained until 1983 when he became General Counsel for the Philadelphia Parking Authority
. In 1984 he was elected as a Judge on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, where he served until 1994.
President Clinton
nominated Judge McKee to the Third Circuit on March 22, 1994, to a seat vacated by A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr.. Judge McKee was confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 8, 1994, and received his commission on June 9, 1994.
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
. He had previously served on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
The First Judicial District is the judicial body governing the county of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It consists of the Court of Common Pleas, the Municipal Court, and Traffic Court for the jurisdiction of Philadelphia....
.
Judge McKee was born in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. He received a B.A. from the State University of New York at Cortland
State University of New York at Cortland
The State University of New York College at Cortland, also officially called SUNY Cortland or informally known as Cortland State, is a coeducational university located in Cortland, New York...
in 1969 and earned his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Syracuse University College of Law
Syracuse University College of Law
Syracuse University College of Law , founded in 1895, is a Juris Doctor degree-granting law school of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. It is one of only four law schools in Upstate New York Syracuse University College of Law (SUCOL), founded in 1895, is a Juris Doctor degree-granting law...
where he was an honor student graduating magna cum laude in 1975.
Judge McKee was in private practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
from 1975 to 1977. From 1977 to 1980 he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. McKee began in the General Crimes Unit, moved to the Narcotics and Firearms Unit, and finally worked in the Political Corruption Unit. In his first year as an A.U.S.A., Judge McKee investigated allegations of police brutality before a special grand jury, as part of a nationwide probe into police brutality by the United States Civil Rights Commission.
In 1980 he became a Deputy City Solicitor in the Philadelphia City Solicitor's office, where he remained until 1983 when he became General Counsel for the Philadelphia Parking Authority
Philadelphia Parking Authority
The Philadelphia Parking Authority was created by a Philadelphia City Council ordinance adopted on January 11, 1950, as authorized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Parking Authority Law The Philadelphia Parking Authority was created by a Philadelphia City Council ordinance adopted on January 11,...
. In 1984 he was elected as a Judge on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, where he served until 1994.
President Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
nominated Judge McKee to the Third Circuit on March 22, 1994, to a seat vacated by A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr.. Judge McKee was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on June 8, 1994, and received his commission on June 9, 1994.