The 3rd circuit is comprised of six districts: Western Pennsylvania, Middle Pennsylvania, Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (District Courts sit in our territories as well as our states and the District of Columbia). There are 62 seats in the entire circuit and at present 10 are vacant. While judges serve for life and there are judges in the Federal circuit system still serving who were appointed as far back as the Carter administration (you will recall that in the 4th circuit one judge was appointed by Ford, and four by Reagan who still serve) this is a relatively young circuit. The two longest serving judges were appoint by President George H.W. Bush, seven by President Clinton and the vast majority--28--by President George W. Bush. President Obama has appointed half that number so far with 14, and of the 10 open seats, Obama has only nominated 2 judges for 2 or 7 open seats in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Looking at gender diversity in the circuit is also interesting.
Of the 52 seats currently filled, 15 are held by women or roughly 29%. Compared to the 4th Circuit's 26%, this is a slight improvement, if statistically insignificant. A break down by district looks like this:
New Jersey = 35% (6 out of 17)
U.S. Virgin Islands = 33% (1 out of 3)
Western Pennsylvania = 30% (3 out of 10)
Delaware = 25% (1 out of 4)
Middle Pennsylvania = 17% (1 out of 6)
Eastern Pennsylvania = 14% (3 out of 22)
Of the two nominees for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, both are men. Therefore, at the present time, no positive alteration of these percentages is on the horizon.
Serving judges by president:
George H. W. Bush = 50% (1 out of 2)
Bill Clinton = 43% (3 out of 7)
George W. Bush = 21% (6 out of 28)
Barack Obama = 36% (5 out of 14)--dropping to 31% if his nominees are confirmed
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