Thomas M. Hardiman
Encyclopedia
Thomas Michael Hardiman (born July 8, 1965 in Winchester, Massachusetts
) is a federal judge
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
. He was previously a United States District Court
judge.
He maintains chambers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
.
on September 13, 2006 to fill a seat vacated by Judge Richard Lowell Nygaard
, who assumed senior status
in 2005. He was confirmed to that seat over seven months later by the U.S. Senate on March 15, 2007 by a vote of 95-0. He is the seventh judge appointed to the Third Circuit by Bush.
Hardiman was earlier appointed by Bush to be a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
. He was nominated to that position on April 9, 2003 and confirmed by voice vote
on October 22, 2003.
, where he received a B.A.
in 1987. He studied law at the Georgetown University Law Center
and received a J.D.
in 1990.
Hardiman worked in private practice in Washington, DC and Pittsburgh prior to joining the federal bench. He was part of the firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in D.C. from 1989-1992. From 1992-1999, he practiced with the Pittsburgh firm of Titus & McConomy, first as an associate, and then from 1996-1999, as a partner. From 1999-2003, he was a partner in the law firm of Reed Smith, also in Pittsburgh. His practice consisted mainly of civil and white collar criminal litigation.
His first precedential opinion for the Third Circuit, United States v. Fisher, was published on September 10, 2007. In that case, he wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel that held a judge could find facts to enhance a criminal sentence according to the preponderance of the evidence standard of proof.
Hardiman is a member of the Pennsylvania State Bar.
Winchester, Massachusetts
Winchester is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, eight miles north of Boston. With its agricultural roots having mostly disappeared, it is now an affluent suburb...
) is a federal judge
Federal judge
Federal judges are judges appointed by a federal level of government as opposed to the state / provincial / local level.-Brazil:In Brazil, federal judges of first instance are chosen exclusively by public contest...
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
. He was previously a United States District Court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
judge.
He maintains chambers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
.
Federal bench nominations and confirmations
Hardiman was nominated to the Third Circuit by President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on September 13, 2006 to fill a seat vacated by Judge Richard Lowell Nygaard
Richard Lowell Nygaard
Richard Lowell Nygaard is a United States federal judge.Born in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, Nygaard received a B.S. cum laude from the University of Southern California in 1969 and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1971. He was a Petty Officer Second Class in the U.S. Naval...
, who assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
in 2005. He was confirmed to that seat over seven months later by the U.S. Senate on March 15, 2007 by a vote of 95-0. He is the seventh judge appointed to the Third Circuit by Bush.
Hardiman was earlier appointed by Bush to be a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
United 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...
. He was nominated to that position on April 9, 2003 and confirmed by voice vote
Voice vote
A voice vote is a voting method used by deliberative assemblies in which a vote is taken on a topic or motion by responding verbally....
on October 22, 2003.
Education and career
Hardiman went to college at the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, where he received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1987. He studied law at the Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
and received a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1990.
Hardiman worked in private practice in Washington, DC and Pittsburgh prior to joining the federal bench. He was part of the firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in D.C. from 1989-1992. From 1992-1999, he practiced with the Pittsburgh firm of Titus & McConomy, first as an associate, and then from 1996-1999, as a partner. From 1999-2003, he was a partner in the law firm of Reed Smith, also in Pittsburgh. His practice consisted mainly of civil and white collar criminal litigation.
His first precedential opinion for the Third Circuit, United States v. Fisher, was published on September 10, 2007. In that case, he wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel that held a judge could find facts to enhance a criminal sentence according to the preponderance of the evidence standard of proof.
Hardiman is a member of the Pennsylvania State Bar.
External links
- U.S. Department of Justice Nominee Resume
- United States v. Fisher (Hardiman's first opinion)
- Ward, Pamela Reed, "Hardiman newest judge on federal appeals court." Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh Post-GazetteThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
, April 6, 2007 - Ward, Pamela Reed, "Hardiman named to U.S. court of appeals." Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh Post-GazetteThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
, March 17, 2007. - O'Toole, James, "Bush picks Hardiman for appeals post," Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh Post-GazetteThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
, September 14, 2006. - Cato, Jason, "Bush nominates area judge to appeals court," Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewPittsburgh Tribune-ReviewThe Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, also known as "the Trib," is the second largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, September 14, 2006. - Ward, Pamela Reed, "Judge Hardiman considered for federal appeals post." Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh Post-GazetteThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
, August 23, 2006. - Cato, Jason, "U.S. judge here eyed for court of appeals." Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewPittsburgh Tribune-ReviewThe Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, also known as "the Trib," is the second largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, August 23, 2006.