Marilyn J. Horan

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Marilyn J. Horan
Image of Marilyn J. Horan

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Tenure

2018 - Present

Years in position

5

Prior offices
Butler County Court of Common Pleas

Education

Bachelor's

Pennsylvania State University, 1976

Law

University of Pittsburgh, 1979

Personal
Birthplace
Butler, Pa.


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.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Marilyn J. Horan
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Progress
Confirmed 260 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: December 20, 2017
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: February 15, 2018
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: February 15, 2018 
ApprovedAConfirmed: September 6, 2018

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

See also: Pennsylvania local trial court judicial elections, 2017

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
Name Yes votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMarilyn J. Horan69.43%
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

About the court

The Counties of the Western District of Pennsylvania (click for larger map)

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.

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

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Federal Judicial Center, "Horan, Marilyn Jean," accessed September 20, 2018
  2. ↑ Pennsylvania Courts, "Common Pleas Judges," accessed August 3, 2015
  3. ↑ Congress.gov "PN1334 — Marilyn Jean Horan — The Judiciary," accessed April 22, 2020
  4. ↑ Congress.gov "PN1334 — Marilyn Jean Horan — The Judiciary," accessed April 22, 2020
  5. ↑ Congress.gov "PN1334 — Marilyn Jean Horan — The Judiciary," accessed April 22, 2020
  6. ↑ Congress.gov "PN1334 — Marilyn Jean Horan — The Judiciary," accessed April 22, 2020
  7. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees," accessed April 22, 2020
  8. ↑ 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. ↑ 9.0 9.1 United States Congress, "PN 754 — Marilyn Jean Horan — The Judiciary," accessed January 3, 2017
  10. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  11. ↑ American Bar Association, "RATINGS OF ARTICLE III JUDICIAL NOMINEES, 114th Congress," accessed December 15, 2015
  12. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Nominations," December 9, 2015
  13. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – January 28, 2016," January 28, 2016
  14. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Election Calendar," accessed February 23, 2017
  15. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Retention Listing," accessed September 12, 2017
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Pennsylvania," archived October 3, 2014
  17. ↑ The Morning Call, "Ban Cross-filing As One Step," January 24, 1985
  18. ↑ The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, "In Re: Nomination Papers of Marakay Rogers, Christina Valente and Carl J. Romanelli," November 7, 2006
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 The Pennsylvania Code, "Chapter 7. Assignment of Judges," accessed September 3, 2014
  20. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named nomination

Political offices
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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