President Obama Nominates Seven to Serve on the United States District Courts

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, President Obama nominated Judge Susan Paradise Baxter, Inga S. Bernstein, Judge Gary Richard Brown, Judge Robert John Colville, Judge Marilyn Jean Horan, Judge Dax Eric López, and Judge John Milton Younge to serve on the United States District Courts.

“Throughout their careers, these nominees have displayed unwavering commitment to justice and integrity,” said President Obama.  “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.”

Judge Susan Paradise Baxter:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Judge Susan Paradise Baxter has been a United States Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Pennsylvania since 1995, where she served as Chief Magistrate Judge from 2005 to 2009.  Prior to her appointment as a Magistrate Judge, she worked briefly as the Court Solicitor for the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County.  From 1983 to 1992, Judge Baxter worked at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Cole, Raywid & Braverman (now Davis Wright Tremaine LLP), where she was elevated to partner in 1989.  Judge Baxter received her J.D. from Temple University School of Law in 1983, a M.Ed. from Temple University in 1980, and a B.S. from Pennsylvania State University in 1978.

Inga S. Bernstein:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Inga S. Bernstein is currently a partner at Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP in Boston, Massachusetts, where she specializes in employment litigation and criminal law.  Bernstein joined the firm as an associate in 1995 and was made a partner in 2001.  Prior to joining Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Douglas P. Woodlock of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts from 1994 to 1995.  Bernstein received her J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1994 and her B.A. magna cum laude from Wellesley College in 1984, after spending her junior year at the University of California, Berkeley.

Judge Gary Richard Brown:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Judge Gary Richard Brown has been a United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of New York since 2011.  From 2005 to 2011, Judge Brown worked at CA Technologies, where he served as Senior Counsel, Associate General Counsel and Director for Litigation, and then Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Counsel of Litigation.  From 1996 to 2005, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Long Island Criminal Division at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, where he was elevated to Deputy Chief in 2001 and Chief in 2003.  From 1989 to 1996, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Division, where he also served as Affirmative Litigation Coordinator from 1994 to 1996.  Judge Brown began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Jacob Mishler of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York from 1988 to 1989.  He received his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1988 and his A.B. cum laude from Columbia College in 1985.

Judge Robert John Colville:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Judge Robert John Colville has served as a judge on the Court of Common Pleas for Allegheny County since 2000, where he currently presides over civil matters.  Since 2012, he has also served as a judge on the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline.  Previously, Judge Colville worked as an associate at the law firm of Pietragallo Bosick & Gordon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1994 to 1999.  He began his legal career by serving as a law clerk from 1992 to 1994 to the Honorable Ralph J. Cappy, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.  Judge Colville received his J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 1992 and his B.A. from Pennsylvania State University in 1989.

Judge Marilyn Jean Horan:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Judge Marilyn Jean Horan has been a judge on the Court of Common Pleas for Butler County, Pennsylvania since 1996, where she currently serves in the civil division.  During her tenure on the bench, she has also presided over criminal and family law cases.  Previously, from 1979 to 1996, Judge Horan worked at the law firm of Murrin, Taylor, Flach and Horan, where she was elevated to partner in 1982.  Judge Horan received her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1979 and her B.A. magna cum laude from Pennsylvania State University in 1976.  

Judge Dax Eric López:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Judge Dax Eric López has served as a judge on the State Court of Dekalb County since 2010, where he presides over both civil and criminal matters.  Previously, he worked as an attorney at Foltz Martin LLC (now dissolved) in Atlanta, Georgia from 2008 to 2010.  From 2005 to 2008, he worked at the law firm of Ashe, Rafuse & Hill, LLP (now Polsinelli PC), and from 2002 to 2005, he worked at Holland & Knight.  Judge López began his legal career by serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Héctor Laffitte, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, from 2001 to 2002.  Judge López received his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in 2001 and his B.S. from Vanderbilt University in 1998.

Judge John Milton Younge:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Judge John Milton Younge has been a Judge on the Court of Comment Pleas for the First Judicial Circuit of Pennsylvania since 1996, where he has presides over both criminal and civil cases.  From 1985 to 1995, Judge Younge worked at the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, serving as Deputy Executive Director and subsequently as General Counsel from 1991 to 1995.  He began his legal career as a solo practitioner in Philadelphia from 1982 to 1985.  Judge Younge received his M.J.S. in 2011 from the University of Nevada, Reno, his J.D. in 1981 from Howard University School of Law, and his B.S. in 1977 from Boston University.