Assistant United States Attorney
Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys
FreshPosted Mar 23
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Posted: March 23, 2026 (1 day ago)
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United States Magistrate Judge
U.S. Courts
Judicial Branch
Job Description
Summary
This role involves serving as a United States Magistrate Judge, handling trials for certain civil and criminal cases, managing pretrial proceedings like motions and discovery, and assisting district court judges with various legal matters in Pennsylvania's Western District.
It's a demanding position that requires strong legal expertise, fairness, and the ability to make thoughtful decisions under pressure.
A good fit would be an experienced attorney with at least five years of active law practice, who is committed to equal justice, emotionally stable, and under 70 years old.
Key Requirements
- Membership in good standing of the bar of a qualifying jurisdiction (state, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, or Virgin Islands) for at least five years
- At least five years of active practice of law (with some substitutes allowed)
- Competence to perform all duties, including good moral character, emotional stability, maturity, commitment to equal justice, good health, patience, courtesy, and ability to deliberate and decide decisively
- Under 70 years of age at the time of appointment
- Not related to any judge of the district court
- Ability to handle trials and dispositions of civil cases (with consent), misdemeanor cases, pretrial matters (e.g., motions to dismiss, summary judgment, discovery), and preliminary criminal proceedings
Full Job Description
The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of a full-time United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania at Pittsburgh and Johnstown.
The vacancy for Pittsburgh will occur as of October 17, 2026, upon the retirement of current United States Magistrate Judge Maureen P. Kelly.
The vacancy for Johnstown is expected to be filled on or after April 1, 2027.
To be qualified for appointment an applicant must: Be, and have been for at least five years, a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Territory of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands of the United States; Have been engaged in the active practice of law for a period of at least five years (with some substitutes authorized); Be competent to perform all the duties of the office, of good moral character, emotionally stable and mature, committed to equal justice under the law, in good health, patient, courteous, and capable of deliberation and decisiveness; Be less than 70 years old; and Not be related to a judge of the district court.
Major Duties:
The duties of the position are demanding and wide-ranging and will include, but are not limited to:
trial and disposition of civil cases upon consent of the litigants;
trial and disposition of misdemeanor cases;
conduct of various pretrial matters including motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment and discovery motions, and evidentiary proceedings on reference from the judges of the District Court;
conduct of most preliminary proceedings in criminal cases. The basic authority of a United States Magistrate Judge is specified in 28 U.S.C. § 636.
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