Marilyn J. Horan
2018 - Present
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Marilyn Jean Horan is a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. She was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on December 20, 2017, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 6, 2018, by a voice vote.[1] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.
The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Prior to her appointment to the Western District of Pennsylvania, Horan was a judge on the Butler County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania.[2]
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (2018-present)
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
Horan was nominated to the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania by President Donald Trump (R) on December 20, 2017. The U.S. Senate confirmed Horan on September 6, 2018, by a voice vote.[3] She received commission on September 19.[4] To read more about the federal nomination process, click here.
Nominee Information |
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Name: Marilyn J. Horan |
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania |
Progress |
Confirmed 260 days after nomination. |
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Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
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QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
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Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Horan on September 6, 2018, by voice vote.[5]
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
Horan had her hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 15, 2018. The committee voted to advance Horan's nomination to the full Senate on that same day.[6]
Nomination
Horan was nominated to replace Judge Gary Lancaster, who passed away in April 2013.
The American Bar Association unanimously rated Horan well quallified for the position.[7] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (2015)
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Barack Obama
President Barack Obama previously nominated Horan to the Western District of Pennsylvania July 30, 2015.[8] On January 3, 2017, Horan's nomination was returned to President Obama at the sine die adjournment of the 114th Congress.[9]
Horan was nominated to be Article III federal judge July 30, 2015. On the nomination:
“ | Throughout their careers, these nominees have displayed unwavering commitment to justice and integrity. Their records are distinguished and impressive, and I am confident that they will serve the American people well from the United States District Court bench. I am honored to nominate them today.[8][10] | ” |
The American Bar Association unanimously rated Horan well qualified for the nomination.[11]
Horan's hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee was held December 9, 2015.[12] Her nomination was reported to the full Senate January 28, 2016, on a voice vote.[13]
On January 3, 2017, Horan's nomination was returned to President Obama at the sine die adjournment of the 114th Congress.[9]
Butler County Court of Common Pleas
1996 Election
Pennsylvania held local judicial elections on November 7, 2017. The filing deadline for judges running for retention was September 8, 2017. For the Courts of Common Pleas, after a judge has won an initial partisan election, subsequent terms are attained through retention elections.[14] [15]
Butler County Court of Common Pleas, Marilyn J. Horan Retention, 2016 | ||
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Name | Yes votes | |
![]() | 69.43% | |
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Election Unofficial Returns," accessed November 8, 2017 |
Selection method
- See also: Partisan election of judges
The 439 judges of the court of common pleas are elected to 10-year terms in partisan elections. Candidates may cross-file with both political parties for the partisan primaries, which are followed by general elections where the primary winners from each party compete.[16][17] Judges must run in yes-no retention elections if they wish to continue serving after their first term. A separate part of the ballot is designated for these elections, and judges' names appear without respect to party affiliation.[16][18]
- The president judge of each Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas is chosen by either peer vote or seniority, depending on the size of the court. Statewide, all courts composed of more than seven individuals must select their chief judge by peer vote. Those with seven or fewer members select their chief by seniority.[16][19]
Qualifications
To serve on an appellate or general jurisdiction court, a judge must:[16]
- have state residence for at least one year;
- be a district resident for at least one year (for common pleas judges);
- be a member of the state bar; and
- be under the age of 75.
While retirement at 75 is mandatory, judges may apply for senior judge status. Senior judges may serve as such until the last day of the calendar year in which they turn 78.[19]
Education
Horan earned her B.S., magna cum laude, from Pennsylvania State University in 1976 and her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1979.[20][1]
Professional career
- 2018-present: Judge, Western District of Pennsylvania
- 1996-2018: Judge, Butler County Court of Common Pleas, Pennsylvania
- 1979-1996: Attorney and partner, Murrin, Taylor, Flach and Horan.[1][8]
About the court
The Western District of Pennsylvania has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
The geographic jurisdiction of the Western District of Pennsylvania consists of all the following counties in the western part of the state of Pennsylvania.
- Allegheny County
- Armstrong County
- Beaver County
- Bedford County
- Blair County
- Butler County
- Cambria County
- Clarion County
- Clearfield County
- Crawford County
- Elk County
- Erie County
- Fayette County
- Forest County
- Greene County
- Indiana County
- Jefferson County
- Lawrence County
- McKean County
- Mercer County
- Somerset County
- Venango County
- Warren County
- Washington County
- Westmoreland County
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.
See also
- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit
- Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas
- Butler County, Pennsylvania
- Courts in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania local trial court judicial elections, 2017
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit
- Pennsylvania Courts, "Butler County Courts"
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Federal Judicial Center, "Horan, Marilyn Jean," accessed September 20, 2018
- ↑ Pennsylvania Courts, "Common Pleas Judges," accessed August 3, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov "PN1334 — Marilyn Jean Horan — The Judiciary," accessed April 22, 2020
- ↑ Congress.gov "PN1334 — Marilyn Jean Horan — The Judiciary," accessed April 22, 2020
- ↑ Congress.gov "PN1334 — Marilyn Jean Horan — The Judiciary," accessed April 22, 2020
- ↑ Congress.gov "PN1334 — Marilyn Jean Horan — The Judiciary," accessed April 22, 2020
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees," accessed April 22, 2020
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 The White House, "President Obama Nominates Seven to Serve on the United States District Courts," July 30, 2015
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 United States Congress, "PN 754 — Marilyn Jean Horan — The Judiciary," accessed January 3, 2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ American Bar Association, "RATINGS OF ARTICLE III JUDICIAL NOMINEES, 114th Congress," accessed December 15, 2015
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Nominations," December 9, 2015
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – January 28, 2016," January 28, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Election Calendar," accessed February 23, 2017
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Retention Listing," accessed September 12, 2017
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Pennsylvania," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ The Morning Call, "Ban Cross-filing As One Step," January 24, 1985
- ↑ The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, "In Re: Nomination Papers of Marakay Rogers, Christina Valente and Carl J. Romanelli," November 7, 2006
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 The Pennsylvania Code, "Chapter 7. Assignment of Judges," accessed September 3, 2014
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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Political offices | ||
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Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania 2018-Present |
Succeeded by - |
Preceded by - |
Butler County Court of Common Pleas -2018 |
Succeeded by - |
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Active judges |
Chief Judge: Mark Raymond Hornak • Cathy Bissoon • Susan Baxter • Robert J. Colville • Marilyn J. Horan • J. Nicholas Ranjan • Stephanie Haines • William Shaw Stickman • Scott Hardy • Christy Wiegand | ||
Senior judges |
Alan Bloch • Nora Fischer • Arthur Schwab • David Cercone • Kim Gibson • Joy Conti • | ||
Magistrate judges | Keith Pesto • Maureen Kelly • Patricia Dodge • Richard Lanzillo • Kezia Taylor • Christopher Brown (Pennsylvania) • | ||
Former Article III judges |
William Knox • Jonathan Hoge Walker • William Wilkins • Thomas Irwin • Wilson McCandless • Winthrop Welles Ketcham • Marcus Wilson Acheson • Joseph Weis (Third Circuit) • Brooks Smith • Thomas Hardiman • Joseph Buffington • Timothy Lewis (Pennsylvania) • James Hay Reed • Nathaniel Ewing • James Scott Young • Charles Prentiss Orr • W. H. Seward Thomson • Robert Murray Gibson • Maurice Cohill • Gustave Diamond • William Standish • Gary Lancaster • Terrence McVerry • Sean McLaughlin • Frederic Palen Schoonmaker • Nelson McVicar • Frederick Follmer • Carol Mansmann • Owen Burns • Robert Cindrich • Edward Dumbauld • Wallace Gourley • Rabe Marsh • Barron McCune • John McIlvaine • Glenn Mencer • John Lester Miller • Louis Rosenberg • Ralph Scalera • Daniel Snyder • Herbert Sorg • William Stewart (Pennsylvania) • Hubert Teitelbaum • Gerald Weber • Joseph Willson • Donald Ziegler • Donald Lee • Paul Simmons • Peter Phipps • | ||
Former Chief judges |
Robert Murray Gibson • Donetta Ambrose • Maurice Cohill • Gustave Diamond • Gary Lancaster • Nelson McVicar • Wallace Gourley • Rabe Marsh • Herbert Sorg • Hubert Teitelbaum • Gerald Weber • Donald Ziegler • |
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Nominated |
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Federal courts:
Third Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania
State courts:
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania Superior Court • Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court • Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas • Pennsylvania Magisterial Districts
State resources:
Courts in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania judicial elections • Judicial selection in Pennsylvania