United States Magistrate Judge

About the role

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. The vacancy will occur as of June 3, 2027 upon the retirement of current United States Magistrate Judge Patricia L. Dodge.

What you will do

• (1) trial and disposition of civil cases upon consent of the litigants; (2) trial and disposition of misdemeanor cases; (3) 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; (4) 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.

Requirements

• The court will make the appointment following an FBI full-field investigation and an IRS tax compliance check of the applicant selected by the court for appointment.
• The individual selected must comply with the financial disclosure requirements pursuant to the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, Pub.
• 1824 (1978) (as amended) (codified at 5 U.S.C. §§ 13101-13111) as implemented by the Judicial Conference of the United States.

Education

The court may consider as substitute experience for the active practice of law any combination of the following: Experience as a judge of a state court of record or other state judicial officer. Experience as a United States magistrate judge, bankruptcy judge, or other federal judicial officer. Experience as an attorney for federal or state agencies.

Experience as a law clerk to any judge or judicial officer, or as a staff attorney, or pro se law clerk in a court (limited to two years). Other legal experience suitable as a substitute in the opinion of the court.

How you will be evaluated

A merit selection panel composed of attorneys and other members of the community will review all applicants and recommend to the district judges in confidence the five persons it considers best qualified. The court will make the appointment following an FBI full-field investigation and an IRS tax compliance check of the applicant selected by the court for appointment.

The individual selected must comply with the financial disclosure requirements pursuant to the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, Pub. L. No. 95-521, 92 Stat. 1824 (1978) (as amended) (codified at 5 U.S.C. §§ 13101-13111) as implemented by the Judicial Conference of the United States.

The current annual salary of the position is $229,908. The term of the appointment is 8 years.

Documents you must provide

• Online Application for United States Magistrate Judge and any relevant attachments.
• See 'How to Apply' for instructions.

What to expect next

All applications will be kept confidential, unless the applicant consents to disclosure, and all applications will be examined only by members of the merit selection panel and the United States District Judges of the District Court. The panel's deliberations will remain confidential.

Additional information

THE DISTRICT COURT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER