Cindy Chung

Third Circuit
	Court of Appeals
Judgeships
	Posts: 14
	Judges: 13
	Vacancies: 1
Judges
	Chief: Michael Chagares
	Active judges: Stephanos Bibas, Michael Chagares, Cindy Chung, Arianna Freeman, Thomas Hardiman, Kent Jordan, Cheryl Ann Krause, Paul Matey, Tamika Montgomery-Reeves, Peter Phipps, David Porter, Luis Felipe Restrepo, Patty Shwartz; Senior judges:; Thomas Ambro, Robert Cowen, D. Michael Fisher, Julio Fuentes, Theodore McKee, Richard Nygaard, Marjorie Rendell, Jane Roth, Anthony Scirica, David Brooks Smith, Walter Stapleton

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
	Name: Cindy Chung
	Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Progress
	Confirmed 216 days after nomination.
	Nominated: July 12, 2022
	ABA Rating: Well Qualified
	Questionnaire: Questionnaire
	Hearing: September 7, 2022
	Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript
	QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
	Reported: February 2, 2023
	Confirmed: February 13, 2023
	Vote: 50 - 44

Cindy Chung is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She was nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on July 12, 2022, and confirmed by the United States Senate on February 13, 2023, by a vote of 50 - 44.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4] To see a full list of judges appointed by Joe Biden, click here.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is one of 13 U.S. courts of appeal. They are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

Prior to her confirmation, Chung was the United States attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania.^[1]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (2023-Present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden

On July 12, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Chung to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.^[2] She was confirmed by a 50 - 44 vote of the U.S. Senate on February 13, 2023.^[3] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Chung on February 13, 2023, on a vote of 50 - 44.^[3] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Chung confirmation vote (February 13, 2023)
Party	Yea	Nay	No vote
Democratic	45	0	3
Republican	3	44	2
Independent	2	0	1
Total	50	44	9

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Chung's nomination on September 7, 2022. Chung was first reported to the full Senate on September 29, 2022, after a 12-10 committee vote.^[5] Chung's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023.^[6] The president renominated Chung on the same day.^[3] Chung was again reported to the full Senate on February 2, 2023, after an 11-9 committee vote.^[4] Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a committee vote.

Nomination

On July 12, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Chung to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

The American Bar Association rated Chung well qualified.^[7] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Chung was nominated to replace Judge D. Brooks Smith, who assumed senior status on December 4, 2021.^[2]

Chung's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023.^[8] The president renominated Chung on the same day.^[3]

Biography

Education

Chung earned a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2002 and her B.A. from Yale University in 1997.^[1]

Professional career

2023-present: Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
2021-2023: United States Attorney, Western District of Pennsylvania
2014-2021: Assistant United States Attorney, Western District of Pennsylvania
2009-2014: Trial attorney, Criminal Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division
2003-2009: Assistant District Attorney, New York County District Attorney’s Office
2002-2003: Law clerk, Judge Myron Thompson, United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama^[1]

About the court

The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal appellate court with appellate jurisdiction. It hears appeals from all of the circuit courts within its jurisdiction and its rulings may be appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Appeals are heard in the James A. Byrne Federal Courthouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It shares a courthouse with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

One judge of the Third Circuit went on to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. Samuel Alito was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2006 by George W. Bush (R).

Map of the Third Circuit. Click on a district to find out more about it.

The Third Circuit has appellate jurisdiction over cases heard in one of its subsidiary districts. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law. Appeals of rulings by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals are petitioned to the Supreme Court of the United States. Justice Samuel Alito is the circuit justice for the Third Circuit.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has appellate jurisdiction over the United States district court in the following federal judicial districts:

It also has appellate jurisdiction over the United States District Court for the U.S. Virgin Islands which, in spite of the name, is a territorial court and belongs to no federal judicial district.

To read opinions published by this court, click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.

As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.

After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.

If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.

The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.

If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.