Thomas I. Vanaskie
Encyclopedia
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.
, 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.
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.
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.
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...
. 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
United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is district level federal court with jurisdiction over approximately one half 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, PennsylvaniaShamokin, Pennsylvania
Shamokin is a city in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, at the western edge of the Anthracite Coal Region. At the 2000 census the population was 8,009 residents...
, Vanaskie received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Lycoming College
Lycoming College
Founded in 1812, Lycoming College is located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. One of the 50 oldest colleges in America, Lycoming enrolls 1400 undergraduate students from over 28 states and 12 foreign countries. Eighty percent of the college's students live on campus...
in 1975 and earned a J.D.
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 Dickinson School of Law
Dickinson School of Law
Penn State University Dickinson School of Law is the law school of The Pennsylvania State University...
in 1978. He was a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
for United States District Judge William Joseph Nealon Jr.
William Joseph Nealon Jr.
William Joseph Nealon Jr. is a United States federal judge.Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Nealon was a First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, from 1942 to 1945. He received a B.S. from Villanova University in 1947 and an LL.B. from Catholic University of America...
on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is district level federal court with jurisdiction over approximately one half of Pennsylvania...
from 1978 to 1980. Vanaskie worked in private legal practice in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
from 1980 to 1994.
Federal judicial service
On November 17, 1993, President Bill ClintonBill 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 Vanaskie to a seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is district level federal court with jurisdiction over approximately one half of Pennsylvania...
that was created by 104 Stat. 5089. Vanaskie 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 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 ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
nominated Vanaskie to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
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...
that was created when Judge Franklin Stuart Van Antwerpen
Franklin Stuart Van Antwerpen
Franklin Stuart Van Antwerpen is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He assumed senior status on October 23, 2006, on his 65th birthday.- Early life and education :...
took senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume 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
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
filed for cloture
Cloture
In parliamentary procedure, cloture is a motion or process aimed at bringing debate to a quick end. It is also called closure or, informally, a guillotine. The cloture procedure originated in the French National Assembly, from which the name is taken. Clôture is French for "ending" or "conclusion"...
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.