Robert J. Cindrich
Encyclopedia
Robert James Cindrich is a former U.S. district judge and a former federal judicial nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
, USA, Cindrich earned a bachelor's degree from Wittenberg University
in 1965 and earned a law degree magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law
in 1968. After law school, Cindrich clerked for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Ruggero Aldisert from 1968 until 1969.
. The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Cindrich in a voice vote on October 6, 1994.
, who had resigned at age 44 to work in private practice. With Republicans in control of the Senate in the final year of Clinton's presidency, however, Cindrich's nomination languished, never receiving a hearing before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Cindrich's nomination to the Third Circuit was terminated with the end of Clinton's presidency.
In 2001, President Bush nominated D. Brooks Smith
to the Third Circuit seat to which Cindrich had been nominated. Smith was confirmed by the U.S. Senate the following year.
, effective February 1, 2004. Cindrich said he was quitting in part for financial reasons, noting that his lifetime salary offered no survivor's benefit for his wife. "If death takes me early, she is stuck," he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
in an article that appeared on January 6, 2004. "She gets zero. In the private sector, by federal law, every pension must contain a survivor's benefit." Cindrich said he also was frustrated by strict sentencing guidelines that he believed removed discretion from judges. "When the law provides a result that is repugnant, we must still follow the law," Cindrich told the Associated Press in a story that appeared in its feed on February 2, 2004. "And you can only do that so many times before you start to wonder, 'How many more times am I going to put my name on this sentence that I don't believe in?'"
Early life and education
Born in Washington, PennsylvaniaWashington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
, USA, Cindrich earned a bachelor's degree from Wittenberg University
Wittenberg University
Wittenberg University is a private four-year liberal arts college in Springfield, Ohio serving 2,000 full-time students representing 37 states and approximately 30 foreign countries...
in 1965 and earned a law degree magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
The University of Pittsburgh School of Law was founded in 1895, and became a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools in 1900...
in 1968. After law school, Cindrich clerked for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Ruggero Aldisert from 1968 until 1969.
Professional career prior to becoming a judge
After a stint as a U.S. Army Reserve specialist from 1968 until 1971, Cindrich worked for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania as an assistant public defender from 1969 until 1970 and as an assistant district attorney from 1970 until 1972. Cindrich shifted to private legal practice from 1972 until 1978. Cindrich served as a U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania from 1978 until 1981, when he again returned to private legal practice until being appointed to the federal bench. While Cindrich was in private practice, he hired future Third Circuit Judge Thomas Hardiman as an associate at his firm.Federal judicial service
On August 12, 1994, President Clinton nominated Cindrich to become a judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of PennsylvaniaUnited States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania sits in Pittsburgh, Erie, and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is composed of ten judges as authorized by federal law. The Honorable Judge Gary L. Lancaster is currently Chief Judge of the Western Pennsylvania District...
. The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Cindrich in a voice vote on October 6, 1994.
Nomination to the Third Circuit
On February 9, 2000, President Clinton nominated Cindrich for a seat on the Third Circuit, to replace Timothy K. LewisTimothy K. Lewis
Timothy K. Lewis , is a former federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and is currently an attorney at the law firm of Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis LLP, where he serves as the co-chair of the firm's appellate practice. He also he also serves as a mediator,...
, who had resigned at age 44 to work in private practice. With Republicans in control of the Senate in the final year of Clinton's presidency, however, Cindrich's nomination languished, never receiving a hearing before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Cindrich's nomination to the Third Circuit was terminated with the end of Clinton's presidency.
In 2001, President Bush nominated D. Brooks Smith
D. Brooks Smith
David Brookman Smith , known professionally as D. Brooks Smith, is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.- Federal Service :...
to the Third Circuit seat to which Cindrich had been nominated. Smith was confirmed by the U.S. Senate the following year.
Resignation and life after being a judge
On January 5, 2004, Cindrich announced that he would resign as district judge on January 30, 2004 to become chief legal counsel to the University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is an $9 billion integrated global nonprofit health enterprise that has 54,000 employees, 20 hospitals, 4,200 licensed beds, 400 outpatient sites and doctors’ offices, a 1.5 million-member health insurance division, as well as commercial and...
, effective February 1, 2004. Cindrich said he was quitting in part for financial reasons, noting that his lifetime salary offered no survivor's benefit for his wife. "If death takes me early, she is stuck," he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
in an article that appeared on January 6, 2004. "She gets zero. In the private sector, by federal law, every pension must contain a survivor's benefit." Cindrich said he also was frustrated by strict sentencing guidelines that he believed removed discretion from judges. "When the law provides a result that is repugnant, we must still follow the law," Cindrich told the Associated Press in a story that appeared in its feed on February 2, 2004. "And you can only do that so many times before you start to wonder, 'How many more times am I going to put my name on this sentence that I don't believe in?'"