WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Wendy Beetlestone, Victor Allen Bolden, Mark A. Kearney, Joseph F. Leeson, Jr., and Gerald J. Pappert to serve on the United States District Courts.

“I am honored to put forward these highly qualified candidates for the federal bench,” President Obama said.  “They will be distinguished public servants and valuable additions to the United States District Courts.”

Wendy Beetlestone:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Wendy Beetlestone is a shareholder at Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller, where she litigates a variety of commercial matters before both federal and state courts.  Prior to joining the law firm in 2005, Beetlestone served as General Counsel of the School District of Philadelphia from 2002 to 2005.  From 1994 to 2002, she worked at Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, becoming a partner at the firm in 2001.  Beetlestone began her legal career as a law clerk for Judge Robert S. Gawthrop, III, of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 1993 to 1994.  She received her J.D. in 1993 from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and her B.A. with honors in 1984 from Liverpool University. 

Victor Allen Bolden:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
Victor Allen Bolden has served as the Corporation Counsel for the City of New Haven since 2009.  He previously worked at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., serving as General Counsel from 2005 to 2009 and as Assistant Counsel from 1994 to 2000.  From 2000 to 2005, Bolden worked at the law firm Wiggin & Dana, where he handled a wide range of commercial litigation matters.  He began his legal career at the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, where he worked as a Staff Attorney from 1990 to 1994 and as a Marvin Karpatkin Fellow from 1989 to 1990.  Bolden received his J.D. in 1989 from Harvard Law School and his A.B. in 1986 from Columbia University.

Mark A. Kearney:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Mark A. Kearney is a shareholder at Elliott Greenleaf & Siedzikowski, P.C. in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, where he handles complex commercial litigation before both federal and state courts.  He joined the law firm as an associate in 1990 and was promoted to shareholder in 1995.  Previously, Kearney worked at Elliott Mannino & Flaherty, P.C. from 1988 to 1990 and clerked for Vice Chancellor Maurice A. Hartnett, III, of the Delaware Court of Chancery from 1987 to 1988.  Kearney received his J.D. in 1987 from Villanova University School of Law and his B.A. with honors in 1984 from Villanova University. 

Joseph F. Leeson, Jr.:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Joseph F. Leeson, Jr., has been a partner at Leeson, Leeson & Leeson in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania since joining the firm in 1980, where his practice has focused on civil litigation.  In addition, Leeson has been an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association since 1981.  Throughout his legal career, Leeson has served as a solicitor for several local municipalities in Pennsylvania.  Leeson received his J.D. in 1980 from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law and his B.A. cum laude in 1977 from DeSales University. 

Gerald J. Pappert:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Gerald J. Pappert has been a partner at Cozen O’Connor since 2012.  He also currently serves as the Chair of the Pennsylvania Banking and Securities Commission.  Previously, Pappert was Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of Cephalon, Inc. from 2008 to 2012 and a partner at Ballard Spahr LLP from 2005 to 2008.  Pappert served as the Attorney General of Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2005 and as the First Deputy Attorney General of Pennsylvania from 1997 to 2003.  He began his legal career working at Duane Morris LLP from 1988 to 1997.  Pappert received his J.D. in 1988 from the University of Notre Dame Law School and his B.A. cum laude in 1985 from Villanova University.